Growth response of Pinus tabulaeformis to climate along an elevation gradient in the eastern Qinling Mountains, central China

Abstract

Tree growth response to climate is not well understood in the eastern Qinling Mountains of central China, an East Asian monsoon dominated region. In this study, we developed 4 robust tree-ring width chronologies using Chinese pine Pinus tabulaeformis along an elevation gradient. The 4 chronologies were significantly correlated with each other. Through standard correlation function analysis, we found that each of the 4 chronologies correlated negatively with temperature, especially with maximum temperature in May and June, and positively with precipitation from prior December to current May. Principal component analysis and composite analysis of years when extremely narrow rings were common to all 4 chronologies confirmed this relationship. However, precipitation in the current September and October was positively correlated to tree growth at lower sites and negatively at higher ones, and temperature stress effects increased with elevation. The findings will help understand the growth response of this tree species to climate change in the southern part of its range, and provide critical information for future climate reconstructions using this tree species in humid or semi-humid regions.

Warm-season hydroclimate variability in Central China since 1866 AD and its relations with the East Asian Summer Monsoon: evidence from tree-ring earlywood width

“…The elevations of BYS and LCM range from 1200-1300 m above sea level (asl), and 1340-1400 m asl, respectively. Although 5 there are some differences in elevation, the TRW chronologies of these two sites were significantly correlated (r = 0.75, p < 0.01) from 1887 to 2005, and share a similar climate-growth relationship (Shi et al, 2012). The regional annual mean temperature and annual total precipitation are 13.9°C and 752 mm, respectively.…”

“…Dated tree-ring samples of P. tabulaeformis used in this study were provided by Shi et al (2012). They were collected from two sampling sites in Mount Funiu in 2006 and2008: BYS (33.63° N, 111.85° E) and LCM (33.68° N,112.05° E) ( Fig.…”

“…In this region, only a few tree-ring based hydroclimate reconstructions have been conducted in Mount Hua (Chen et al, 2016b;Hughes et al, 1994;Liu et al, 2002), and Mount Yao (Liu et al, 2017a). Shi et al (2012) studied the climate-growth relationships of Pinus tabulaeformis along an elevation gradient in Mount Funiu. All sampling sites in Shi et al (2012) were located on mountain tops, where soils are thin and well-drained.…”

“…Shi et al (2012) studied the climate-growth relationships of Pinus tabulaeformis along an elevation gradient in Mount Funiu. All sampling sites in Shi et al (2012) were located on mountain tops, where soils are thin and well-drained. The TRW chronologies at the two 25 low-altitude sites, Baiyunshan (BYS) and Longchiman (LCM), exhibited a weak response to summer hydroclimate variability.…”

Response of radial growth to climate change for Larix olgensis along an altitudinal gradient on the eastern slope of Changbai Mountain, Northeast China

“…生长与环境因子的关系 (Hasenauer et al, 1999)。山 地森林生态系统对气候变化反映比较敏感 (Fritts, 1976), 这为研究树木生长对气候变化的时空响应 提供了极佳条件 。树木生长与气 候的关系随海拔梯度变化存在差异 (Fritts et al, 1965)。通常情况下, 高海拔地区树木径向生长主要 受温度控制, 低海拔地区主要与降水量有关 (Yu et al, 2007)。 然而, 由于各地区气候的空间差异, 这一 规律并不是在所有地区都适用的 Esper et al, 2007;Liang et al, 2010;Shi et al, Fritts, 1976;Cullen et al, 2001)。 然而, 林线处小生境 的异质性较大及自然干扰事件频发均会降低林线处 树木对气候变化的敏感性 (Norton, 1985;Scherrer & Körner, 2011)。林线下方显示有较少的干扰证据, 可 能会提供更多的气候信号 (Yu et al, 2007) …”