Dendroclimatic models for tree radial growth

Abstract

Dendrochronology is a useful tool for analyzing the relationships between climate and trees. However, there are few studies in Mexico that have examined details of how the sensibility of radial growth in Pinus cooperi can vary according to the local climate. Understanding the implications of each climatic variable is essential for the future study of the different ecological processes that the species may experience: extinction, migration or physiological adjustments. Tree ring width indexes have been documented as a useful signal to better understand tree growth response to regional climate variables. In this study models of tree ring growth response to the weather were made by using three representations of one dendrochronological series (TRI): Standard (Sd), Residual (Rd) and Arstan (Ar). The study area is located in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Durango, Mexico. From multiple regression procedures, the first series with historical data of precipitation and temperature were associated. Regression analyses revealed sensibility differences of TRI to climatic variables. In particular, the strongest responses of TRI to monthly weather were observed for maximum and minimum temperatures.