Effect of climate on extreme radial growth of Scots pine growing on bogs in Latvia

Abstract

Tree rings are one of the most important indicators for reconstructing past history of climate variability as well as anthropogenic and ecological processes. The climatic signal for the past centuries recorded on tree rings is well known in regions of Europe for Scots pine growing in dry conditions, but little knowledge is available regarding pines growing on peatlands. Extreme changes of environmental conditions limit the radial increment of trees and influence the formation of very wide or very thin tree rings. Usually, these extreme events (pointer years) are best explained by climatic factors. The study was carried out on five bogs with variable evidence of past human disturbance. A large number of pointer years common between study sites were identified (positive ). Correlation analysis between climatic variables (maximal, minimal, and mean air temperature and precipitation sum) and pointer years indicated that the response to precipitation sum was mainly local and low compared to the response to air temperature. The main climatic variables influencing the development of pointer years were the mean air temperature in the growing season (May-September) and minimal air temperature in February, as well as the precipitation sum in February (positive response) and in the growing season (negative response). However, pointer year development of Scots pine on bogs is mainly determined by local factors.

Tree Growth and Climate Relationship: Dynamics of Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) Growing in the Near-Source Region of the Combined Heat and Power Plant During the Development of the Pro-Ecological Strategy in Poland

“…The other two populations have been growing in the poorer habitats of a mixed coniferous forest site type. It is known that the site type has an influence on the incremental rhythm of the trees (Friedrichs et al 2009 ; Cedro and Lamentowicz 2011 ; Dauskane et al 2011 ; Wilczyński and Kulej 2013 ). This most probably resulted in the incremental index series of the pines from the position of the LM was different.…”

Synchronous Growth Releases in Peatland Pine Chronologies as an Indicator for Regional Climate Dynamics—A Multi-Site Study Including Estonia, Belarus and Sweden

“…This limitation is apparent in studies exploring tree cover development and growth dynamics on peatland sites in the region. Results from several studies in bog sites of Latvia suggest a link between long-term changes in GWL and climatic variability [52][53][54]. Scots pine recruitment was enhanced for drained and undrained sites [54] during periods of favourable temperature and precipitation (warm summers, especially if precipitation was low).…”

“…In addition, a decrease in GWL was observed during the 1960s and 1970s from instrumental data. Increased growth rates and positive pointer years were detected during almost all of the above-mentioned periods in tree-ring series from several bog sites of Latvia [52,53].…”

Contemporaneousness of Trackway Construction and Environmental Change: a Dendrochronological Study in Northwest-German Mires

“…This was evident on the basis of upward growing roots, the composition of peat forming plants and the degree of decomposition Eckstein et al 2009;. Tree die-off phases are a good indicator for mire water table rise Eckstein 2009;, whereas tree-ring-width (TRW) has been found to reflect hydrological changes not exclusively at central European mire sites (Dauskane et al 2011). The meteorological implication of mire water table rise and mire expansion varies, but here, we focus on the timing of such landscape-level changes rather than their causes.…”