Abstract
In order to explore climate-growth relationships at different elevations, tree-ring width chronologies of Betula ermanii were developed from three sampling sites on the northern slope of the Changbai Mountains, northeastern China. Monthly mean temperature and monthly total precipitation were used for the analysis. The study found more climatic signals revealed by statistical characteristics of the tree-ring chronologies in higher elevations. Response function analysis indicated that on the lower tree-line site(1 700 m a.s.l.), radial growth of Betula ermanii was negatively correlated with temperature of January, but positively correlated with precipitation of previous September(P 0.05). On the mid-elevation interior forest site(1 850 m a.s.l.), growth of Betula ermanii responded negatively to temperature of previous June and July(P 0.05). On the upper tree-line site(2 000 m a.s.l.), tree-ring growth of Betula ermanii was negatively correlated with temperature of March and previous July, but positively correlated with that of June and previous September(P 0.05). Besides, on upper tree line, growth of Betula ermanii benef ited from high level of precipitation during current June. Our results suggested that along the altitudinal gradient, Betula ermanii tree-ring growth responds differently to local climatic conditions. In general, the climatic sensitivity of Betula ermanii chronologies increases with the elevation. Fig 4, Tab 1, Ref 54
Published Version
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