The variation of tree-ring widths of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) affected by air pollution

Abstract

Using eight populations of Scots pine growing in foothills of the Sudetes (southern Poland) as an example, the character and causes of annual ring variation in 1900-1999 were studied. The climate had a short-term effect on radial growth during the whole period investigated. A long-term decrease of radial growth occurred after 1960, but only in some localities. It was probably caused by non-climatic factors, most likely by industrial pollution. The decline of trees during that period is mainly evidenced by a high variation of width of annual rings, a small similarity of chronologies of annual ring widths, and a lack of signal years. After 1990, the tree recovery process was evident. It was most intensive in localities where the earlier stress was the most severe. Then, trees started to produce wide annual rings, homogeneity of the growth reaction increased, and the signal years began to occur.

Climatic signals in tree-ring width and stable isotopes composition of <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L. Growing in the industrialized area nearby Kędzierzyn-Koźle

“…Scientific literature reviews show, that the industrial pollutants usually have a negative impact on vitality and annual radial growth of trees. The strength of the negative impact of pollution on trees can be varied in space and depends on the habitat conditions and distance from the source of pollution, directions of prevailing winds (Wilczyński, 2006;Danek, 2007;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012). The trees, growing under stress of the pollutants, reduce their radial growth and height growth (Kienast, 1985, Schweingruber, 1986Krąpiec and Szychowska-Krapiec, 2001;Danek, 2007;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012;Crecente-Campo et al, 2010).…”

Variations of tree ring width and chemical composition of wood of pine growing in the area nearby chemical factories

“…Scientific literature reviews have shown that, the size of reduction also depends on the distance from the source of pollution, directions prevailing winds and area orography (Krąpiec and Szychowska Krąpiec, 2001;Juknys et al, 2003Juknys et al, , 2014Wilczyński, 2006;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012;Rydval and Wilson, 2012;Bošela et al, 2014).…”

“…The size of the ring is treated as a measure of vitality of the trees and their incremental potential (Swetnam and Lynch, 1993;Pedersen, 1998;Krause et al, 2003). In the absence of information about immisions, data on emissions of various pollutants are used (Krąpiec and Szychowska-Krąpiec, 2001;Wilczyński, 2006;Danek, 2007;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012). (Na, Mg, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) in pine wood from area nearby chemical factories.…”

“…It affected on major limiting factors that controlled the functioning of many ecosystems (Vitousek et al, 1997), the condition of forests and trees physiology (Breymeyer, 1998). Pine (Pinus silvestris L.) has been used in bio-monitoring studies (De Vries et al, 2000;Lombardo et al, 2001;Juknys et al,, 2003;Wilczyński, 2006;Pearson et al, 2006;Danek 2007;Sensuła et al, 2011aSensuła et al, , 2011bSensuła and Wilczyński, 2017). However there is still a lack of data concerning the environmental changes in the most industrialized part of Poland over the last century.…”

Species-site matching in mixed species plantations of native trees in tropical Australia

“…Although alternatives have been proposed (e.g., Vanclay and Henry 1988;Vanclay 1989), height-based SI remains one of the preferred methods for assessing site productivity in mixed-species stands (Vanclay 1992), notwithstanding the challenges of estimation. SI equations have been produced for many important temperate forestry species (Alemdag 1988;Brown 2006;Elfving and Kiviste 1997;Wilczynski and Slawomir 2006) but are lacking for most tropical species (Pancel 1993). Here, we aimed to determine SI equations for a selection of Australian tree species at contrasting sites in context of the main variables determining the growth of mixed species tree plantations in tropical Queensland.…”