Tree-ring characteristics of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) in relation to elevation and climatic fluctuations (original) (raw)
Related papers
We examined modulus of elasticity (MoE) derived from SilviScan in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) at the site, tree, and ring levels across the Boreal Plains ecozone in Canada. Area-weighted averages of MoE were calculated for juvenile and mature wood and were examined in relation to radial growth, climate, and location. Correlations indicated that there was a negative relationship between radial growth and MoE in the juvenile wood that was detectable at the site and tree levels; however, the relationship weakened in the mature wood, particularly at the site level. Few climate variables were correlated with MoE in juvenile wood, whereas multiple summer and fall climate variables showed a significant correlation with MOE in mature wood. A model describing the radial profile of MoE explained 58% of the variability in MoE, with 10% of the random variability attributed to between-tree differences. Elevation and summer water balance accounted for nearly all of the between-site variability. A decrease in MoE with increasing elevation was noted and has been previously linked to a decrease in cell wall thickness due to a shorter growing season at higher elevations. Integration of the MoE profile model into an individual-tree growth and yield simulator is the next logical step. Résumé : Nous avons étudié le module d'élasticité (MoE) dérivé de SilviScan chez l'épinette blanche (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) a ` l'échelle de la station, de l'arbre et du cerne annuel a ` travers l'écozone des plaines boréales au Canada. Des moyennes du MoE pondérées par la superficie ont été calculées pour le bois juvénile et le bois mature et ont été étudiées en relation avec la croissance radiale, le climat et la station. Les corrélations indiquent qu'il existe une relation négative entre la croissance radiale et le MoE dans le bois juvénile qui est détectable a ` l'échelle de la station et de l'arbre. Cependant, cette relation s'atténue dans le bois mature, particulièrement a ` l'échelle de la station. Peu de variables climatiques sont corrélées avec le MoE dans le bois juvénile tandis que de multiples variables climatiques d'été et d'automne sont significativement corrélées avec le MoE dans le bois mature. Un modèle décrivant le profil radial du MoE explique 58 % de la variabilité du MoE et 10 % de la variabilité aléatoire est attribuée aux différences entre les arbres. L'altitude et le bilan hydrique estival expliquent presque toute la variabilité entre les stations. Une diminution du MoE avec l'augmentation de l'altitude a été notée et a précédemment été reliée a ` une diminution de l'épaisseur de la paroi cellulaire due a ` une saison de croissance plus courte a ` plus haute altitude. L'intégration du modèle du profil du MoE dans un simulateur de croissance et rendement d'arbres individuels est la prochaine étape logique. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : rigidité du bois, épinette blanche, climat, plaines boréales, croissance radiale.
Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2005
This paper investigates the influence of surface climate and atmospheric circulation on radial growth of eight boreal tree species growing in the Duck Mountain Provincial Forest, Manitoba, Canada. Tree-ring residual chronologies were built, transformed into principal components (PCs), and analysed through correlation and response functions to reveal their associations to climate (temperature, precipitation, and drought data for the period 1912-1999, as well as local geopotential height data for the period 1948-1999). Geopotential height correlation and composite charts for the Northern Hemisphere were also constructed. Correlation and response function coefficients indicated that radial growth of all species was negatively affected by temperature-induced drought stresses from the summers previous and current to ring formation. The summer drought stress alone explained nearly 28% of the variance in PC1. Warm spring temperature was also a positive factor for Pinus banksiana Lamb. and Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, but a negative one for all hardwoods. Analyses performed on geopotential height highlighted the importance of the Northern Hemispheric atmospheric circulation in the species' response to climate. The variability within the 500-hPa level over southern Manitoba explained 39% and 58% of the variability in PC1 and PC2, respectively. The relationships were highly significant with the middle and high troposphere during spring and late summer (determinant factor for growing season length) and with the troposphere and stratosphere during summer. The sensitivity of tree growth to atmospheric circulation exceeded the synoptic scale, with a response associated with yearly variations in the amplitude of the mid-tropospheric longwaves.
Climate/growth relationships in a Pinus cembra high-elevation network in the Southern French Alps
Annals of Forest Science, 2011
•Introduction In the context of climate change, assessing climate–growth relationships is of high importance in order to understand how forest ecosystems evolve and to test climate models at regional scale. •Objectives This study aims to identify the climate variables that explain most of the variation in Pinus cembra radial growth at different spatial–temporal scales, response functions and moving response functions were processed on chronologies from a dense tree ring network. This original network is centred on the French Alps influenced by the Atlantic, Continental, and Mediterranean synoptic systems. •Results A spatial clustering pattern matching the latitudinal climatic gradient was observed in tree ring indexed chronologies and climate responses. The stationary response functions computed for each cluster-averaged population evidenced a thermo-dependent northern cluster (Cl1), a rainfall-dependent southern cluster (Cl3), and an alternative response for the intermediate cluster in between (Cl2). Since the late nineteenth century, the moving response functions indicate an increasing influence of winter precipitation for the northern and the intermediate clusters. •Conclusion Considering the increase in temperature and reduction both of summer precipitation predicted by general circulation models and of the snow cover and duration in the French Alps, stone pine is likely to be exposed to stressful conditions during the twenty-first century. Dans le contexte actuel de changement climatique, l’amélioration des connaissances concernant les relations entre le climat et la croissance des arbres est primordiale pour comprendre l’évolution des écosystèmes forestiers et tester des modèles climatiques à l’échelle régionale. Afin de déterminer les variables climatiques expliquant significativement les variations de la croissance radiale du Pin cembro à différentes échelles spatiales et temporelles, un vaste réseau de données dendrochronologiques a été utilisé pour le calcul de fonctions de réponse fixes et mobiles. Ce vaste réseau original est centré sur les Alpes françaises soumises à des influences climatiques océaniques, continentales et méditerranéennes. Les analyses en composante principale réalisées sur les chronologies indicées et sur les résultats des fonctions de réponse révèlent l’influence d’un gradient climatique latitudinal permettant d’identifier différents groupes de populations. Les fonctions de réponses calculées pour chaque groupe de populations moyennées mettent en évidence une dépendance aux températures des populations septentrionales (Cl1), une dépendance aux précipitations des populations méridionales (Cl3) et une réponse alternative d’un groupe intermédiaire Cl2). Depuis la fin du 19ème siècle les fonctions de réponse mobiles révèlent une augmentation de l’influence positive des précipitations hivernales pour les populations des groupes septentrionale et intermédiaire. Compte tenu de l’augmentation des températures et de la réduction à la fois des précipitations estivales prédites par les Modèles Globaux de Circulation et de l’épaisseur et de la durée de la couche nivale dans les Alpes françaises, le Pin cembro pourrait être soumis à une augmentation des conditions de stress au cours du 21ème siècle.
Growth response of spruce saplings in relation to climatic conditions along a gradient of gap size
Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2000
To evaluate the relative importance of climatic factors and the level of natural canopy disturbance on sapling growth rates, terminal shoot increment of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) saplings was analyzed in old-growth Sphagnum-Myrtillus forests of the European southern boreal zone (Tver Region, Russia). For a 5-year period, terminal increments were retrospectively measured in 225 saplings in a range of naturally created canopy gaps. Climatic variability was estimated by Seljaninov hydrothermal coefficient. Variation in the growth rate was partitioned as (i) annual variation observed within a particular sapling over a 5-year period ("within-stem variation," WSV) and (ii) variation of 5-year cumulative height increments within a particular location ("within-location variation," WLV). Sapling growth was positively related to gap size and, except when under canopy location, with the height of the saplings. For the growth, differences in sapling location along a gradient of gap sizes were more important than annual dynamics of water availability. Impact of the annual climatic variability was less pronounced in large gap, compared with other locations. Absolute values of WSV and WLV were similar under an intact canopy. WSV had a tendency to decrease in greater gaps, whereas WLV variation increased. Résumé : Pour évaluer l'importance relative des facteurs climatiques et le niveau de perturbation du couvert naturel sur le taux de croissance des gaules, l'accroissement de la pousse terminale des gaules de l'épicéa commun (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) a été analysé dans de vieilles forêts du type Sphagnum-Myrtillus de la partie sud de la zone boréale européenne (région de Tver en Russie). L'accroissement terminal a été mesuré rétrospectivement sur une période de 5 ans chez 225 gaules, réparties dans une gamme d'ouvertures naturelles du couvert. La variabilité climatique a été estimée par le coefficient hydrothermique de Seljaninov. La variation du taux de croissance a été divisée (i) en variation annuelle observée chez une gaule particulière sur une période de 5 ans ("variation intra-tige," VIT) et (ii) en variation de l'accroissement cumulatif en hauteur, sur une période de 5 ans, à l'intérieur d'un site particulier ("variation intrasite," VIS). La croissance des gaules était reliée positivement avec la dimension des ouvertures et, sauf dans le cas des sites sous couvert, avec la hauteur des gaules. Pour ce qui est de la croissance, les différences dans la position des gaules le long d'un gradient dans la dimension des ouvertures étaient plus importantes que la dynamique annuelle de la disponibilité en l'eau. L'impact de la variabilité climatique annuelle était moins prononcé dans les grandes ouvertures que dans d'autres sites. Sous un couvert intact, les valeurs absolues de VIT et de VIS étaient semblables. La valeur de VIT avait tendance à diminuer dans les grandes ouvertures, alors que la variation de VIS augmentait.
Trees-Structure and Function
In high-elevation forests, growth is limited by low temperatures, while in Mediterranean climates drought and high temperatures are the main limiting factors. Consequently, the climate-growth relationships on Mont Ventoux, a mountain in the Mediterranean area, are influenced by both factors. Two co-occurring species were studied: silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), whose geographical distribution depends on their low tolerance to summer drought at low altitude/latitude, and low temperatures (late frost and short length of the growing season) at high altitude/latitude. Firs and beeches distributed along an elevational gradient were investigated using dendroecological methods. Silver fir growth was found to be more sensitive to summer water stress than beech. On the other hand, beech growth was more impacted by extreme events such as the 2003 heat wave, and negatively related to earlier budburst, which suggests a higher sensitivity to late frost. These results are confirmed by the different altitudinal effects observed in both species. Beech growth decreases with altitude whereas an optimum of growth potential was observed at intermediate elevations for silver fir. Recent global warming has caused a significant upward shift of these optima. As found for the period 2000–2006, rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall may restrain growth of silver fir. If these trends continue in the future beech might be favored at low altitudes. The species will have a reduced capacity to migrate to higher altitudes due to its sensitivity to late frosts, although an upward shift of silver fir is likely.
Annals of Forest Science
& Key message The ongoing global warming tends to reduce Larix decidua radial growth and ring wood density at the bottom of an elevational gradient in the French Alps, while it has a less marked effect at the top. & Context The ongoing climate warming affects most tree species across their biogeographic distribution range. The bottom and the top of an elevational gradient are appropriate environments to observe the effect of climate warming in contrasted temperature conditions. & Aims To retrospectively study the effect of the ongoing climate warming on Larix decidua trees located in warm and cold conditions, i.e., at the bottom (1200 m) and the top (2300 m) of an elevational gradient, respectively. & Methods Dendroecological analysis of two groups of Larix decidua trees located at very low (1200 m) and very high (2300 m) elevations. Construction of climatic response curves for annual ring variables. Decomposition of the variance of the response models into their high and low frequency components. & Results At Briançon, in the French Alps, the increase of the daily maximum temperature during the last 50 years is already almost 3°C for the March-October period. The results reveal contrasted behaviors at both ends of the investigated elevational gradient. Basal area increment, ring width, and their earlywood and latewood components increase or level off at the top of the gradient, while they all strongly decrease at the bottom. At the bottom, the low frequency warming effect explains the recent ring width decrease, with no influence of the high frequency temperature variation. At the top, both the low frequency warming effect Handling Editor: Patrick Fonti This article is part of the topical collection on Wood formation and tree adaptation to climate
Annals of Forest Science, 2010
• Most studies of tree-growth and climate report positive responses to global warming in high latitudes and negative responses at lower ones. • We analyzed tree-ring width of Pinus nigra Arn. along a 500 km latitudinal transect in the Iberian Peninsula to study the temporal trend and climate forcing in tree radial growth during the last century. • Tree growth was enhanced by cool summers and moist cold seasons. Increased moisture stress has decreased tree growth rates. However, we present evidence of growth increases in some trees in all sampled populations after 1980’s. Climate change negatively (positively) affected between 72% (5%) of trees in the southern populations and 40% (25%) in the north Trees with positive growth trends were favored by winter temperatures and their abundance was inversely correlated with forest productivity. • Our findings add evidences of tree growth divergence in the Mediterranean basin and show the gradual transition between forests where positive (temperate and boreal) and negative (Mediterranean) growth trends dominate. • La plupart des études sur la croissance de l’arbre en relation avec le climat rapportent des réponses positives au réchauffement climatique dans les hautes latitudes et des réponses négatives dans les basses latitudes. • Pour étudier l’évolution temporelle et le forçage climatique dans la croissance radiale des arbres au cours du siècle dernier, nous avons analysé la largeur des cernes chez Pinus nigra Arn. le long d’un transect latitudinal de 500 km dans la Péninsule Ibérique. • La croissance des arbres a été augmentée par des étés frais et des saisons froides humides. L’augmentation du stress hydrique a diminué les taux de croissance des arbres. Cependant, nous présentons la preuve de l’augmentation de la croissance de certains arbres dans toutes les populations échantillonnées après 1980. Le changement climatique a négativement (positivement) affecté entre 72 % (5 %) des arbres dans les populations du Sud et 40 % (25 %) dans les arbres du Nord avec des tendances de croissance positives qui ont été favorisées par les températures hivernales et leur abondance étaient inversement corrélée à la productivité forestière. • Nos résultats ajoutent des preuves de la divergence de croissance des arbres dans le bassin méditerranéen et montrent la transition progressive entre les forêts où les tendances positives (zones tempérées et boréales) et négatives (zone méditerranéenne) de croissance dominent.
Radial growth response of white oak to climate in eastern North America
Canadian Journal of Forest Research-revue Canadienne De Recherche Forestiere, 2009
Predicting forest responses to climate change requires an understanding of the cause-effect relationships linking climate to tree growth. Dendroecological analyses across sites that span climate gradients provide one means of characterizing such relationships. Dendroecological analyses for white oak (Quercus alba L.) at 149 sites spanning the species range in eastern North America identified spatially replicated growth-climate associations. Early growing season site water balance variables for the year of annual ring formation had the strongest, most spatially replicated associations with growth. There was little evidence of phenological variation of these associations related to the latitudinal temperature gradient. Most spatial variation in growth-climate associations was along an east-to-west precipitation gradient. Radial growth was most strongly correlated with site water balance at sites in the northwest quadrant of the range, characterized by continental climate and high interannual variability in precipitation. There was little evidence that dormant season temperature affects white oak growth, even at the northern range limit. Correlations with dormant season precipitation were common in the northwest part of the range, where winter soil water recharge may be more variable. Spatial replication was a useful criterion for distinguishing growth-climate correlations that reflect cause-effect relationships.
Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2001
The radial growth of Pinus sylvestris L. from nine sites at the semiarid lower forest border of the central Alps (Switzerland) and central Siberia (Russia) has been investigated using dendroecological methods. Tree growth differed according to soil substrate, with trees on dune sites showing lower mean ring widths, lower mean sensitivities, and higher autocorrelation. The relationships between climate and tree-ring width were studied using response function analysis. Independent of the climatic zone and the soil substrate, precipitation just before and at the beginning of the growing season is positively correlated with radial growth. The climatic response of dune sites is low, possibly because of the poor water-holding capacity and the high permeability of the sandy soils. Intraannual density fluctuations (IADFs) were observed at all the sites. Most IADFs were found in latewood. On dunes, fewer cores contain IADFs, and their frequency is lower. All stands showed significant relationships between IADF frequency and tree-ring width (positive) and ring age (negative). For Swiss sites, moist-cool conditions in the middle of the growing season are demonstrated as the triggering factor for IADFs. For the Russian sites, inadequate climatic data made it impossible to demonstrate any climate dependence of IADFs.