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

Climate Research

Edward R. Cook¹  Xiaoye Zhang¹  Jinbao Li¹  Huayu Lu¹  Jiangfeng Shi¹ 

关键词: Tree ring;    Growth response;    Pinus tabulaeformis;    Qinling Mountains;    Central China;   

DOI  :  10.3354/cr01098

来源: Inter-Research Science Publishing

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown