Growth responses of<i>Abies spectabilis</i>to climate variations along an elevational gradient in Langtang National Park in the central Himalaya, Nepal

Shrestha, Krishna B.; Chhetri, Parveen K.; Bista, Raju

doi:10.1080/13416979.2017.1351508

Cited by 16 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Tree growth at upper treeline in the dry regions of the Himalaya was also found to be moisture limited in other studies (Liang et al, 2014;Sigdel et al, 2018). Similarly, positive (winter and summer) temperature sensitivity at higher (mainly 3,900 and 3,600 m) and lowest (2,800 m) elevation belts is clearly visible in the wet region, and was supported by the earlier findings of Shrestha et al (2017) in the humid northfacing slopes of the Himalaya.…”

Section: Sensitivity Of Tree Radial Growth To Climate Variabilitysupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Tree‐ring studies have revealed that tree radial growth of Himalayan fir in dry regions is primarily limited by spring moisture availability (Gaire, Bhuju, et al, ; Kharal et al, ; Sigdel et al, ). At higher elevations in wet regions, tree growth is sensitive to growing season temperature (Gaire, Koirala, Bhuju, & Carrer, ; Shrestha, Chhetri, & Bista, ). Dendroecological studies of Himalayan montane forests along elevation gradients are scant (Kharal et al, ; Shrestha et al, ), and were all restricted to reporting growth–climate response in a specific region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At higher elevations in wet regions, tree growth is sensitive to growing season temperature (Gaire, Koirala, Bhuju, & Carrer, ; Shrestha, Chhetri, & Bista, ). Dendroecological studies of Himalayan montane forests along elevation gradients are scant (Kharal et al, ; Shrestha et al, ), and were all restricted to reporting growth–climate response in a specific region. Yet, such studies are of limited use to estimate effects of future environmental changes (warming, drying CO 2 rise) on Himalayan fir.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At higher elevations in wet regions, tree growth is sensitive to growing season temperature Shrestha, Chhetri, & Bista, 2017). Dendroecological studies of Himalayan montane forests along elevation gradients are scant (Kharal et al, 2017;Shrestha et al, 2017), and were all restricted to reporting growth-climate response in a specific region.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Long‐term physiological and growth responses of Himalayan fir to environmental change are mediated by mean climate

Panthi

Fan

Sleen

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

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High‐elevation forests are experiencing high rates of warming, in combination with CO2 rise and (sometimes) drying trends. In these montane systems, the effects of environmental changes on tree growth are also modified by elevation itself, thus complicating our ability to predict effects of future climate change. Tree‐ring analysis along an elevation gradient allows quantifying effects of gradual and annual environmental changes. Here, we study long‐term physiological (ratio of internal to ambient CO2, i.e., Ci/Ca and intrinsic water‐use efficiency, iWUE) and growth responses (tree‐ring width) of Himalayan fir (Abies spectabilis) trees in response to warming, drying, and CO2 rise. Our study was conducted along elevational gradients in a dry and a wet region in the central Himalaya. We combined dendrochronology and stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) to quantify long‐term trends in Ci/Ca ratio and iWUE (δ13C‐derived), growth (mixed‐effects models), and evaluate climate sensitivity (correlations). We found that iWUE increased over time at all elevations, with stronger increase in the dry region. Climate–growth relations showed growth‐limiting effects of spring moisture (dry region) and summer temperature (wet region), and negative effects of temperature (dry region). We found negative growth trends at lower elevations (dry and wet regions), suggesting that continental‐scale warming and regional drying reduced tree growth. This interpretation is supported by δ13C‐derived long‐term physiological responses, which are consistent with responses to reduced moisture and increased vapor pressure deficit. At high elevations (wet region), we found positive growth trends, suggesting that warming has favored tree growth in regions where temperature most strongly limits growth. At lower elevations (dry and wet regions), the positive effects of CO2 rise did not mitigate the negative effects of warming and drying on tree growth. Our results raise concerns on the productivity of Himalayan fir forests at low and middle (<3,300 m) elevations as climate change progresses.

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Section: Sensitivity Of Tree Radial Growth To Climate Variabilitysupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long‐term physiological and growth responses of Himalayan fir to environmental change are mediated by mean climate

Panthi

Fan

Sleen

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

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“…In the central Himalayas, several studies have investigated tree growth response to climate in recent decades (Cook et al 2003;Dawadi et al 2013;Liang et al 2014Liang et al , 2019Thapa et al 2014;Panthi et al 2017;Shrestha et al 2017;Sigdel et al 2018a). Based on published results, tree growth showed diverse responses to climatic change in the central Himalayas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth response of Abies spectabilis to climate along an elevation gradient of the Manang valley in the central Himalayas

et al. 2019

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The Himalayas are characterized by a broad gradient of bioclimatic zones along their elevation. However, less is known how forest growth responds to climatic change along elevation. In this study, four standard treering width chronologies of Himalayan fir (Abies spectabilis) were developed, spanning 142-649 years along an elevation gradient of 3076-3900 m a.s.l. Principal component analysis classified the four chronologies into two groups; the ones at lower elevations (M1 and M2) and higher elevations (M3 and M4) show two distinct growth trends. Radial growth is limited by summer (June-August) precipitation at M3, and by precipitation during spring (March-May) and summer at M4. It is limited by spring temperatures and winter precipitation (December-February) at M1. Tree-ring width chronologies also significantly correlate with winter and spring Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) at M1, and with summer PDSI at M3 and M4. Thus, Himalayan fir growth at high elevations is mainly limited by moisture stress rather than by low temperatures. Furthermore, the occurrence of missing rings coincides with dry periods, providing additional evidence for moisture limitation of Himalayan fir growth.

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Tree-Ring-Based Hydrological Records Reconstructions of the Himalayan Rivers: Challenges and Opportunities

et al. 2022

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Growth responses ofAbies spectabilisto climate variations along an elevational gradient in Langtang National Park in the central Himalaya, Nepal

Cited by 16 publications

References 49 publications

Long‐term physiological and growth responses of Himalayan fir to environmental change are mediated by mean climate

Long‐term physiological and growth responses of Himalayan fir to environmental change are mediated by mean climate

Growth response of Abies spectabilis to climate along an elevation gradient of the Manang valley in the central Himalayas

Tree-Ring-Based Hydrological Records Reconstructions of the Himalayan Rivers: Challenges and Opportunities

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