Wild Apple Growth and Climate Change in Southeast Kazakhstan

Abstract

Wild populations of Malus sieversii [Ldb.] M. Roem are valued genetic and watershed resources in Inner Eurasia. These populations are located in a region that has experienced rapid and on-going climatic change over the past several decades. We assess relationships between climate variables and wild apple radial growth with dendroclimatological techniques to understand the potential of a changing climate to influence apple radial growth. Ring-width chronologies spanning 48 to 129 years were developed from 12 plots in the Trans-Ili Alatau and Jungar Alatau ranges of Tian Shan Mountains, southeastern Kazakhstan. Cluster analysis of the plot-level chronologies suggests different temporal patterns of growth variability over the last century in the two mountain ranges studied. Changes in the periodicity of annual ring-width variability occurred ca. 1970 at both mountain ranges, with decadal-scale variability supplanted by quasi-biennial variation. Seascorr correlation analysis of primary and secondary weather variables identified negative growth associations with spring precipitation and positive associations with cooler fall-winter temperatures, but the relative importance of these relationships varied spatially and temporally, with a shift in the relative importance of spring precipitation ca. 1970 at Trans-Ili Alatau. Altered apple tree radial growth patterns correspond to altered climatology in the Lake Balkhash Basin driven by unprecedented intensified Arctic Oscillations after the late 1970s.

Biological Peculiarities of Archips rosana, the Insect Pest of the Sievers Apple Tree (Malus sieversii) in the Trans-Ili Alatau Ridge (the North Tien Shan)

“…In addition, wild populations of the fruit forests are in direct proximity to cultivated apple orchards which represent a serious problem (Zhang et al, 2014). The buffer protection zone along the natural populations is often not maintained (Panyushkina et al, 2017). Apart from alien plant species, there are threats to the wild fruit forests from insect pests and diseases of wild apple trees and of other wild fruit species (Jashenko and Tanabekova, 2019).…”

Tree-Ring Reconstruction of Bark Beetle Disturbances in the Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey. Forests of Southeast Kazakhstan

“…Changes in tree growth response to climate occurred in the next lower vegetation zone ca. 1970, with increasing sensitivity to spring precipitation [65]. I. hauseri outbreaks are known to be associated with drought [11,12].…”

“…Spring 2016 precipitation in Almaty Oblast was in the highest 10th percentile since 1940 [64]. Spring moisture shortens the montane growing season in the Ile Alatau due to snow insulation and/or cold rains cooling the soil [65,69]. Drought-responsive multi-voltine bark beetles, particularly Ips, often respond rapidly to drought, and terminate abruptly with a shift to wetter conditions [2].…”

Do Extreme Climate Events Cause the Degradation of Malus sieversii Forests in China?

“…Following the increasing mortality of M. sieversii , the wild fruit forest ecosystem has been seriously damaged and some wild fruit forest region degraded obviously ( Fang et al, 2019 ). One study showed that M. sieversii growth was associated with spring precipitation and winter temperature ( Panyushkina et al, 2017 ). However, whether extreme climate change has positive or negative effects on this forest growth has not been determined, and we wonder if the degradation of wild fruit forest may be caused by extreme change, these scientific problems are addressed in this study.…”