Alpine Holocene Tree-Ring Dataset: Age-related trends in the stable isotopes of cellulose show species-specific patterns

Abstract

Abstract. Stable isotopes in tree-ring cellulose are important tools for climatic reconstructions even though their interpretation could be challenging due to non-climate signals, primarily those related to tree ageing. Previous studies on the presence of tree-age related trends during juvenile as well as adult growth phases in δD, δ18O and δ13C time series yielded variable results that are not coherent among different plant species. We analysed possible trends in the extracted cellulose of tree-rings of 85 larch trees and 119 cembran pine trees, i.e. in samples of one deciduous and one evergreen conifer species collected at the treeline in the Alps covering nearly the whole Holocene. The age trend analyses of all tree-ring variables were conducted on the basis of mean curves established by averaging the cambial-age aligned tree series. For cambial ages over 100 years, our results prove the absence of any age-related effect in the δD, δ18O and δ13C time series for both the evergreen as well the deciduous conifer species, with the only exception of larch δD. However, for lower cambial ages, we found trends that differ for each isotope and species. I.e., mean δ13C values in larch do not vary with ageing and can be used without detrending, whereas those in cembran pine show a juvenile effect and the data should be detrended. Mean δ18O values present two distinct ageing phases for both species complicating detrending. Similarly, mean δD values in larch change in the first 50 yr whereas cembran pine between 50–100 yr. Values for these two periods of cambial age for δD and δ18O should be used with caution for climatic reconstructions, ideally complemented by additional information regarding mechanisms for these trends.

No Long‐Term Decay in α‐Cellulose of Living and Relict Trees From the European Alps Over the Past 8,000 years

“…Holocene wood remains ( n = 183) and wood material from modern, that is, living trees ( n = 16) were collected at the alpine treeline environment. Cores from living trees of the two species were taken in 2015 at three treeline sites in the Swiss Alps (sites FPCR, UAZR, VRR, in Arosio et al., 2022) with up to five trees sampled per species at breast height, avoiding compression wood.…”

“…The data set spans from 6,980 BCE (8,880 BP) to 2015 CE with a 5‐year temporal resolution and the data are in the publicly available “Alpine Holocene Triple Tree Ring Isotope Record” (AHTTRIR) (Arosio et al., 2022). The α‐cellulose record, however, starts only around 8,000 BP, as some trees have not been measured for CC.…”

“…Tree‐ring stable isotopes and Cellulose Content measurements are available on Pangaea (Arosio et al., 2022).…”

No Long‐Term Decay in α‐Cellulose of Living and Relict Trees From the European Alps Over the Past 8,000 years

“…Holocene wood remains ( n = 183) and wood material from modern, that is, living trees ( n = 16) were collected at the alpine treeline environment. Cores from living trees of the two species were taken in 2015 at three treeline sites in the Swiss Alps (sites FPCR, UAZR, VRR, in Arosio et al., 2022) with up to five trees sampled per species at breast height, avoiding compression wood.…”

“…The data set spans from 6,980 BCE (8,880 BP) to 2015 CE with a 5‐year temporal resolution and the data are in the publicly available “Alpine Holocene Triple Tree Ring Isotope Record” (AHTTRIR) (Arosio et al., 2022). The α‐cellulose record, however, starts only around 8,000 BP, as some trees have not been measured for CC.…”

“…Tree‐ring stable isotopes and Cellulose Content measurements are available on Pangaea (Arosio et al., 2022).…”

No Long‐Term Decay in α‐Cellulose of Living and Relict Trees From the European Alps Over the Past 8,000 years

“…Holocene wood remains ( n = 183) and wood material from modern, that is, living trees ( n = 16) were collected at the alpine treeline environment. Cores from living trees of the two species were taken in 2015 at three treeline sites in the Swiss Alps (sites FPCR, UAZR, VRR, in Arosio et al., 2022) with up to five trees sampled per species at breast height, avoiding compression wood.…”

“…The data set spans from 6,980 BCE (8,880 BP) to 2015 CE with a 5‐year temporal resolution and the data are in the publicly available “Alpine Holocene Triple Tree Ring Isotope Record” (AHTTRIR) (Arosio et al., 2022). The α‐cellulose record, however, starts only around 8,000 BP, as some trees have not been measured for CC.…”

“…Tree‐ring stable isotopes and Cellulose Content measurements are available on Pangaea (Arosio et al., 2022).…”

No Long‐Term Decay in α‐Cellulose of Living and Relict Trees From the European Alps Over the Past 8,000 years

“…Holocene wood remains ( n = 183) and wood material from modern, that is, living trees ( n = 16) were collected at the alpine treeline environment. Cores from living trees of the two species were taken in 2015 at three treeline sites in the Swiss Alps (sites FPCR, UAZR, VRR, in Arosio et al., 2022) with up to five trees sampled per species at breast height, avoiding compression wood.…”

“…The data set spans from 6,980 BCE (8,880 BP) to 2015 CE with a 5‐year temporal resolution and the data are in the publicly available “Alpine Holocene Triple Tree Ring Isotope Record” (AHTTRIR) (Arosio et al., 2022). The α‐cellulose record, however, starts only around 8,000 BP, as some trees have not been measured for CC.…”

“…Tree‐ring stable isotopes and Cellulose Content measurements are available on Pangaea (Arosio et al., 2022).…”