Tree-ring response of Larix chinensis on regional climate and sea-surface temperature variations in alpine timberline in the Qinling Mountains

Tree-ring width chronologies of Larix chinensis were developed from the northern and southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province,and climatic factors affecting the tree-ring widths of L.chinensis were examined.Correlation analysis showed that similar correlations between tree-ring width chronologies and climatic factors demonstrated that radial growth responded to climate change on both slopes.The radial growth of L.chinensis was mainly limited by temperature,especially the growing season.In contrast,both chronologies were negatively correlated with precipitation in May of the previous year and April of the current year.Spatial climate-correlation analyses with gridded land-surface climate data revealed that our tree-ring width chronologies contained a strong regional temperature signal over much of northcentral and eastern China.Spatial correlation with seasurface temperature fields highlights the influence of the Pacific Ocean,Indian Ocean,and North Atlantic Ocean.Wavelet coherence analysis indicated the existence of some decadal and interannual cycles in the two tree-ring width chronologies.This may suggest the influences of El Nin˜o-Southern Oscillation and solar activity on tree growth in the Qinling Mountains.These findings will help us understand the growth response of L.chinensis to climate change in the Qinling region,and they provide critical information for future climate reconstructions based on this species in semi-humid regions.     

Comparison of growth response ofAbies andPicea species to climate in Mt. Norikura, Central Japan

Tree-ring chronologies were developed fromAbies mariesii Masters andPicea jezoensis ssp.hondoensis (Mayr) P. Schmidt collected at different altitudes of Mt. Norikura, central Japan. The tree-ring parameters of ring width and maximum density were measured by soft X-ray densitometry. The measurement series were detrended by fitting a 33-year cubic smoothing spline and autoregressive model. The correlation between species and between sites showed different responses of the species to climate in terms of ring width and maximum density. The correlation coefficient between sites within a species was higher than that between species for a site in the ring width, and the coefficient between species for a site was higher in maximum density. The correlation coefficient between tree-ring chronology and monthly climate data set showed different responses of radial growth to climate. The different response was probably explained by the difference in the length of the growing season. High summer temperature increased the maximum density of the two species and the radial growth inAbies mariesii. Summer precipitation correlated negatively to maximum density, but it did not affect the ring width of either species. The climatic signals could be extracted from ring-width and maximum-density chronologies of both species.     

暖温带幼林树轮宽度气候变化响应分析--以山东蒙山黑松树轮气候研究为例

根据采自山东蒙山地区两组幼龄黑松树木年轮样本,研制出单点和区域树轮宽度年表,分析了蒙山黑松树轮宽度年表的统计参数和径向生长的气候限制因子,并尝试重建相关密切的气候因子,探讨蒙山黑松径向生长与大范围气候变化的关联。研究结果表明,（1）蒙山黑松树轮宽度年表的统计参数都比较高,说明蒙山黑松树轮宽窄变化包含有较多的气候环境变化信息。（2）蒙山黑松径向生长变化与当年4-9月降水量呈显著正相关。同时,当年5-7月异常高温也对蒙山黑松径向生长变化产生显著抑制。通过黑松树轮宽度年表对4-9月降水量的模拟重建结果表明蒙山黑松具有较大树轮气候研究潜力。（3）蒙山黑松树轮宽度生长与太平洋大范围气候波动存在显著关联。     

帽儿山地区不同种源樟子松树轮对气候因子的响应

[目的]为了进一步了解不同种源的樟子松在帽儿山地区的生长差异,研究该地区气候因子对樟子松径向生长的影响,本文建立了来自于阿尔山、高峰、红花尔基、卡伦山、图强罕达盖和金山等7个种源樟子松树轮年表。[方法]通过年轮-气候响应分析、相关分析、主成分分析,探讨了不同种源樟子松径向生长与气候因子的响应差异。[结果]表明:7个种源地樟子松树轮年表整体变化趋势基本相似,但局部也有不同之处,除图强种源外,其余6个种源地樟子松在生长初期年轮宽度呈增加趋势。阿尔山、高峰、红花尔基和卡伦山种源地樟子松径向生长与当年2月平均温度显著正相关,罕达盖种源地樟子松径向生长与前一年4月平均温度显著正相关;高峰、图强、卡伦山种源地樟子松径向生长与当年6月降水显著正相关,阿尔山、高峰、金山、卡伦山、红花尓基、图强种源樟子松的径向生长主要与前一年8月降水显著负相关。[结论]多数种源的樟子松在初期径增长较快,与当年2月份的温度和6月份的降水量有正相关的响应性,而与前一年8月份的降水量有负相关的响应性。     

Climatic signal from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus leucodermis</Emphasis> axial resin ducts: a tree-ring time series approach

Developing long-term chronologies of tree-ring anatomical features to evaluate climatic relationships within species might serve as an annual proxy to explore and elucidate the climatic drivers affecting xylem differentiation. Pinus leucodermis response to climate was examined by analyzing vertical xylem resin ducts in wood growing at high elevation in the Apennines of peninsular Southern Italy. Early- and latewood tree-ring resin duct chronologies, spanning the 1804–2010 time period, were constructed. We analyzed the relationships between resin duct chronologies and climate over the last century using correlation and response function analyses. Overall, results showed that ring width and resin duct relationships differed between early- and latewood, which indicated conditions affecting growth were not associated with resin duct production. Results also revealed differential responses to climate between early- and latewood resin duct chronologies. A notable observation was a positive and stable relationship between latewood resin duct number chronology and July maximum temperature throughout the twentieth century. This result suggested resin ducts might be a suitable proxy to evaluate P. leucodermis response to climate in the study area.     

Age effects and climate response in trees: a multi-proxy tree-ring test in old-growth life stages

Aging in trees implies a progressive reduction in the growth rate, related to a shortening of the growing period and changes in the photosynthetic capability and efficiency. These changes may continue during the old-growth life stages following the juvenile phase and are reflected in tree-ring properties such as growth increment, density or stable isotopes. We studied possible climate age effects in time series of several tree-ring parameters (ring width, wood density and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes) of mature individuals from two age groups of Pinus uncinata and P. nigra at two locations in Spain. The aim was to test whether age differences in trees in the old-growth life stages could lead to diverging climate responses. The results show some differences in response to climate between age groups at a monthly level, but most of these divergences are not significant for seasonal climate variables. Regardless of the age group, the main limiting climate factors constrained tree growth equally. Although our findings do not support the idea of an age-dependent response to climate that may lead to inaccurate climate reconstructions, further studies using tree-ring density and stable isotope series are urgently needed to verify the current results.     

Larix olgensis growth-climate response between lower and upper elevation limits:an intensive study along the eastern slope of the Changbai Mountains,northeastern China

Larix olgensis is a dominant tree species in the forest ecosystems of the Changbai Mountains of northeast China.To assess the growth response of this species to global climate change,we developed three tree-ring width and biomass chronologies across a range of elevations in the subalpine forests on the eastern slope of the Changbai Mountains.We used dendroclimatic analyses to study key factors limiting radial growth in L.olgensis and its variation with elevation.The statistical characteristics of chronologies suggested that elevation is a determinant of tree growth patterns in the study area.Response function analysis of chronologies with climate factors indicated that climate–growth relationships changed with increasing elevation:tree growth at high elevation was strongly limited by June temperatures of the previous year,and as elevation decreases,the importance of temperature decreased;tree radial growth at mid-elevation was mainly controlled by precipitation towards the end of the growing season of the current year.Biomass chronologies reflected a stronger climatic signal than tree-ring width chronologies.Spatial correlation with gridded climate data revealed that our chronologies contained a strong regional temperature signal for northeast China.Trees growing below timberline appeared to be more sensitive to climate,thus optimal sites for examining growth trends as a function of climate variation are considered to be just below timberline.Our study objective was to provide information for more accurate prediction of the growth response of L.olgensis to future climate change on the eastern slope of the Changbai Mountains,and to provide information for future climate reconstructions using this tree species in humid and semi humid regions.     

Climatic responses of tree-ring widths of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix gmelinii</Emphasis> on contrasting north-facing and south-facing slopes in central Siberia

An analysis was performed on the climatic responses of the radial growth of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. on contrasting north-facing and south-facing slopes in Tura, central Siberia. We developed chronologies of tree-ring width for four plots, designated as north-upper, northlower, south-upper, and south-lower. Both residual and standard chronologies of tree-ring widths exhibited a significant positive correlation with temperature from the end of May until early June in all four plots. The chronologies of ring width did not reveal any major difference in the response to temperature among the four plots. The standard chronologies of ring widths on the north-facing slope were negatively correlated with precipitation during the winter (October–April) and in early and mid-May, whereas the residual chronologies did not reveal clear relationships with precipitation during the winter and May. The significant correlation between ring width and temperature from the end of May until early June indicates that temperatures in springtime play a significant role in the radial growth of L. gmelinii. The negative correlations between standard chronologies of tree-ring width and precipitation in the winter and in May on the north-facing slope indicate that lowfrequency fluctuations in snowfall have negative effects on the radial growth. However, these effects vary and depend on the microscale topography. Part of this report was presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Society, March 2005, Kyoto     

The influence of climate on the radial increment of larches of different provenances on the basis of the experiment in the Carpathian Mountains in Southern Poland

The study evaluated the sensitivity of larch (Larix decidua Mill.) of 20 provenances growing in the Polish lower mountain region to different climatic elements. The provenances were grown on an experimental plot located in the Polish Carpathians. Analysis of the year-to-year tree-ring width of larch of particular provenances has been undertaken. The larch populations examined were subjected to high stresses induced by the local climatic conditions. The tested larch populations were characterised by a similar sensitivity to the various climatic elements occurring during the development of the annual ring in the current and the previous year. The most limiting element of the climate, which had the strongest influence on the variation in the radial growth of larch, is air temperature. Precipitation and sunshine played an important, but slightly less significant role. A similar influence on the changes of the tree-ring width of larches of all provenances was exerted by the solar conditions in September and pluvial conditions in November of the previous year as well as thermal, pluvial and solar conditions in March and July in addition to the thermal conditions in August of the year in which the tree ring was formed. The consequence was the strong uniformity of the incremental rhythm, which is illustrated by the standardised chronologies of tree-ring widths. However, the larches of particular provenances indicated different sensitivity to the temperature in September of the previous year and to the precipitation in August of the year of tree-ring formation. It was reflected in the short-term rhythm of the changes in the tree-ring widths.     

Radial growth variations of black pine along an elevation gradient in the Cazorla Mountains (South of Spain) and their relevance for historical and environmental studies

In southern Spain, the Cazorla Mountains (500–2,100 m a.s.l.) have supplied construction timber from black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) for buildings and ships since at least the Middle Ages. To establish the age and provenance of wooden cultural heritage originating from this area, well-replicated long-span chronologies are needed. Old-living trees occur at high elevations, whereas many historical timbers originated from lower altitudes; hence, crossdating possibilities were questionable. To assess the potential of this species for the development of a multi-millennia tree-ring data set with living trees and historical timbers for the western Mediterranean, we developed four ring-width chronologies along the circa 1,000 m altitudinal range of black pine in these mountains and examined crossdating patterns and climate–growth responses along with altitude and through time. Teleconnections with other Iberian and Mediterranean tree-ring data were also tested. A well-replicated chronology spanning AD 1331–2009 was obtained at the upper site, while lower elevations delivered shorter chronologies. Similarity among chronologies and responses to climate were dependent on elevation. Tree-ring width was negatively related to temperature in previous late summer and positively to February–March, whereas precipitation had an opposite effect; some negative influence of early summer temperature was also observed. However, growth responses were rather unstable throughout the twentieth century. These chronologies showed good tele- and heteroconnections with conifer chronologies from Iberia, northern Morocco and Turkey, evidencing the existence of a common macroclimatic signal, which also varied along with elevation. The relevance of these results for dendrohistorical studies is discussed.     

Climatic response of ring width and maximum latewood density of Larix sibirica in the Altay Mountains, reveals recent warming trends

? Introduction

Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) is a highly climate sensitive species. Presently, the Altay Mountains is covered by widespread forests dominated by Siberian larch and thus has a great potential for dendroclimatological studies. However, tree-ring network of the Altay Mountains has not yet been well developed. The development of the new chronologies and the knowledge about the influence of climatic variables on tree growth is needed.

? Method

X-ray densitometric techniques were applied to obtain ring width (RW) and maximum latewood density (MXD) of Siberian larch from two upper tree line sites in the Altay Mountains, China. Climatic responses in ring widths and maximum latewood densities from the Altay Mountains (China, Russia, and Mongolia) were investigated by simple correlation analyses. To assess the common growth forces among the individual sites of the Altay Mountains, simple correlation, principal component analyses, and spatial correlation analysis were applied over the common period of the chronologies.

? Results

Ring width and maximum latewood density increases with decreasing precipitation, increasing temperature from late spring to late summer during the growing season. Based on the results of principal component analyses and spatial correlation analysis, summer temperature (June?CJuly) is the most important forces on the Siberian larch growth of the Altay Mountains. The growth of Siberian larch in the Altay Mountains captures the current warming trend. The growth of Siberian larch did not clearly lose its sensitivity under most recent warming in our study areas.

? Conclusions

The new MXD chronologies is presently the longest, absolutely dated, tree-ring density record yet developed from China. The climate response analysis shows that the RW and MXD of Siberian larch have strong responses to temperature in the growing season. Thus, MXD and RW of Siberian larch provides the best information for climate reconstruction in the warm season. Tree-rings of Siberian larch allow detecting the recently observed warming trend and putting it into the long-term climatic context in the Altay Mountains, due to the strong growth sensitivity to temperature change.     

Climate signal age effects—Evidence from young and old trees in the Swiss Engadin

A potential limitation of tree-ring based climate reconstructions is related to climate signal age effects (CSAE). CSAE may arise if the climatic response of young tree-rings differs from that of old tree-rings. This could mean that climatic signals become stronger (or weaker) with tree aging, or that the seasonality of signals or the sensitivity to a specific element (e.g., temperature, precipitation) changes over time. Such changes would affect the interpretation of dendroclimatic reconstructions, as the tree-rings included in these records are generally oldest at the end of a record (e.g., 21st century)—which is the time period generally used for calibration with instrumental data.We here addressed this concern by analyzing young and old Pinus cembra trees from three high elevation sites in the central European Alps. Core and disc samples were collected in pre-defined plots to allow for a representative analysis of tree ages with tree-ring width (TRW) measurement series categorized into age classes (i) >1880, (ii) 1880–1939, and (iii) 1940–2002. Notably we report on the signal of the very young category (iii) not yet described in literature, and thus allow estimation of climate response and signal strength characteristics during the first years of the trees’ lifespans.Comparison of age classes (i)–(iii) revealed differences in TRW coherence and size, but little change in climatic signal. CSAE are in the order of the differences recorded among high elevation sites—a conclusion that holds for inter-annual to decadal scale TRW variations at near-treeline Swiss stone pine. Such data are typically included in regional and larger-scale temperature reconstructions; thus, our results add confidence to long-term climate estimates integrating a range of tree-ring age classes. Other findings, such as the reaction wood in juvenile tree-rings, and sensitivity of the climate signal to sample replication, suggest that comparisons of young and old age classes, and separate calibration of these categories against instrumental climate data might further the estimation of long-term uncertainty changes in tree-ring based climate reconstructions.     

Forest decline: modeling the effect of climate in tree rings

Tree rings provide an historical record of forest growth that reflects changes with time in site factors including, competition, tree and stand age, fire and other disturbances, and climate. Statistical methods can be used to factor out climatic influences on radial growth to yield a climate response model that can indicate whether declines in forest productivity are related to the modeled climatic variables or to other influences such as atmospheric pollutants. A general method, based on ordinary least squares, is presented for creating climatic response models for forest decline studies. The crux of the method is model verification, whereby the time-stability of the model is tested before it is used to forecast tree-ring variations during a period of decline. Three studies are described that employ monthly mean temperatures to predict tree-ring indices in declining red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) stands in the Appalachian Mountains of North America. The results indicate that, since 1960, red spruce trees at most of the sites sampled have undergone a period of growth decline that is unrelated to changes in mean monthly temperature. However, an association between annual ring width and unusual departures from the mean summer and winter temperatures during both present and past periods of decline suggests that climatic effects are implicated to some degree in the current decline.     

侧柏年轮宽度和年轮密度对气候变化的响应

通过响应函数分析和多元回归分析等年轮气候学方法,研究北京地区侧柏年轮宽度和年轮密度对气候变化的响应.结果表明:侧柏年轮宽度序列和年轮密度序列对气候变化相当敏感.前一年10月到当年9月的月平均气温和月降水量的响应函数模型可解释年轮宽度变化的58.45%,年轮密度变化的77.81%.夏季降水对侧柏年轮宽度有显著的正效应,而对年轮密度则表现出负效应.与降水的影响相反,夏季气温对侧柏年轮宽度表现出显著的负效应,对年轮密度表现出显著的正效应.其中,当年7月的气温和降水对侧柏年轮宽度和年轮密度的作用尤为显著.说明侧柏的年轮宽度和年轮密度均可用于年轮气候学研究,且年轮密度包含的信息量高于年轮宽度.     

Relationships between climate and tree radial growth in interior British Columbia,Canada

Climate is a main driving factor of the formation of annual tree-rings, but which climatic variables are the most influential on radial growth may vary among species and sites. To explore these interactions, tree-ring chronologies along a major elevation gradient were examined for three tree species in southern interior British Columbia (Canada): Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, and Picea glauca × engelmannii. We used correlations and linear and multiple regressions to explore the relationships between tree-ring radial growth and climate variables in the area from 1922 to 1997. All correlation coefficients between ring chronologies and monthly climatic variables were medium to low (from −0.3 to 0.4); nevertheless, moderate but significant trends could be identified. Multivariate models explained up to 53%, 43% and 32% of radial growth variability for P. contorta, P. menziesii and P. glauca × engelmannii, respectively. All three species showed similar radial growth–climate patterns across the elevational gradient, but they had different details that made ring width–climate relationships species-specific. Precipitation-related variables were more related to radial growth at low-elevations, changing into temperature-related variables at high-elevations. Tree-ring width for all three species was primarily and significantly affected by climate variables from the year previous to the growing season and only secondly by current year conditions, but the critical months varied for different species and altitudes. Winter precipitation also affected radial growth, either as a source of water or as a possible agent of physical damage. Although our work showed significant climate influences on breast height tree radial growth, our results also indicated that other site factors such as microclimate or stand dynamics can be as or more important than climate variability.     

三峡库区秭归县不同海拔马尾松径向生长对气候的响应

利用采自三峡库区秭归县不同海拔高度的马尾松树轮样芯,分别建立树木年轮宽度年表.包括标准年表和差值年表,并对2种年表进行比较.运用相关函数及单年分析等树木年轮学方法,研究秭归县马尾松在不同海拔高度处的径向生长与气候变化的关系.最后通过多元回归得出不同海拔高度处马尾松年轮指数与气候因子的关系模型.结果表明:在正常的气候条件下,海拔300 m处马尾松生长受上年6和10月份降雨量和湿润指数的影响,与当年气候因子的关系不显著;海拔600 m处马尾松生长与上年6月份温度呈显著相关,还受当年7月份的月平均降雨量和湿润指数的影响;海拔900 m处马尾松生长不仅与当年2月份温度呈显著相关,还受当年12月份月平均降雨量和湿润指数的影响,单年分析进一步印证了这种关系.     

人工林红松过渡带宽度对气候变化的响应

为了减少红松二次生长影响,正确设计和科学实施红松营林措施,文章运用响应函数分析,研究了人工林红松二次生长造成的过渡带宽度对气候变化的响应。结果表明,气候变化可以说明过渡带宽度径向变异的43．9％。过渡带宽度主要对温度变化响应显著,当年2、3月份最高地温升高有利于过渡带木材的形成,但是当年4月和7月最低地温升高会抑制过渡带木材的形成。另外,前一年9月和10月日照时间对过渡带木材的形成有显著的滞后影响。     

Growth response of Pinus pinaster Ait. to climatic variables in central Spanish forests

? The effect of climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) on radial growth of the Mediterranean Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) was studied using dendrochronological techniques in the Iberian Peninsula.

? Ten tree-ring width chronologies, along the central distribution area of the species, were built. Chronology variability was analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for the period 1952–2005.

? The first principal component (PC1) explained 56% of tree-growth variability. Tree-growth association with climate was analysed at regional and local scales using correlation coefficient and bootstrapped response functions.

? Radial growth at both scales was positively correlated with rainfall during and prior to the growing season at all sites, and with summer rainfall before the growing season at five sites. Mean temperature effect changed according to the sampling site, from non-significant at the highest sites to significant (positive relationship in winter) at the lowest sites. Growth season temperature also had a negative effect.

? The Kalman filter was applied to estimate changing association between growth and climate over-time. Results suggested a change in association, initiated in the 80s, from non-significant to significant (*p < 0.05) at six of the sampling sites.

? Pinus pinaster is an accurate species for analysing tree-growth association with climate and for studying plant behaviour under global change conditions.

     

Size-mediated climate-growth relationships in temperate forests: A multi-species analysis

In most dendrochronological studies, climate-growth relationships are established on dominant trees to minimize non-climatic signals. However, response to environmental factors may be affected by tree-size, which begs the question of the representativeness of dominant trees on the stand level. To highlight the variations in climate-growth relationships among sizes and species, under a wide range of ecological conditions (climate and soil properties), 61 pure even-aged stands were sampled across France. At each stand, two tree-ring chronologies were established from 10 big- to 10 small-diameter trees. Our objectives were, (1) to assess variations in climate sensitivity between the two size-diameter classes, and (2) to investigate the role of species and ecological conditions on these variations. The climate-growth relationships were evaluated from 122 tree-ring chronologies (1 220 trees) through extreme growth years and correlation function analyses. Sensitivity to climate of shade-intolerant and moderately shade-tolerant species (Picea abies (L.) Karst., Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) remained constant between the size-diameter classes for both temperature and hydric balance, while the shade-tolerant species Abies alba Mill. and Fagus sylvatica L. displayed significant differences, with larger trees being more sensitive to summer drought than smaller trees. This difference increased with increasing climatic xericity. Our results suggest that, for shade-tolerant species, (1) big trees could be more sensitive to climatic change especially under xeric climate, and (2) future tree ring studies should include trees stratified by size to produce unbiased estimation of sensitivity to climate.     

Ecological and climatological signals in tree-ring width and density chronologies along a latitudinal boreal transect

Shifts in the climate sensitivity of trees throughout the twentieth century might indicate climate change effects in the boreal forest ecosystem. We here evaluated such potential changes by analyzing six tree-ring width (TRW) and maximum latewood density (MXD) chronologies from northern, central and southern boreal forests in Finland (60°N–69°N). Besides latitudinal effects, differing micro-sites (lakeshore and inland) were considered to evaluate the influence of ground water access on twentieth-century tree-ring formation and climate sensitivity. Overall, the boreal MXD chronologies appeared less affected by micro-site conditions compared to the TRW chronologies. Along the boreal transect, mean growth rates decrease with increasing latitude, but the ratio of earlywood-to-latewood (～70%/～30%) remains stable. However, latewood is slightly denser at the dry inland micro-sites. The correlations with climate data showed that TRW and MXD at all sites are positively related with summer temperature. The MXD chronologies are also negatively correlated with precipitation, a feature that is largely missing in TRW. A recent trend toward wetter and cloudier conditions in the study region coincides with a shift of the MXD signal from a distinct temperature limitation toward an additional sensitivity to precipitation, which in turn stimulated the trees’ competition for sunlight.