Abstract
Hydric seasonality, dry or flooding periods, has been the explanation given by dendrochronologists for the formation of growth rings in tropical trees. However, under tropical hyper-humid conditions, there are species with growth periodicity and, therefore, with visible growth rings useful for dendrochronology. We classify, for the first time, the anatomical structures of the growth rings of the tropical trees from the Biogeographic Choco Region. An annual rainfall >7200 mm without hydric seasonality characterizes the studied forest. We classify the tree rings as present (well or poorly defined) or absent. We also took into account the feasibility of tree-ring dating (dendrochronological potential). We characterized 81 species of trees belonging to 38 families. About 82% of species had growth rings, 46% well defined, and 36% poorly defined, and 18% with absent rings. Dendrochronological potential was high (14%), medium (25%), low (43%), and null (18%). We contrast our results with vast literature around tropics. Our results suggest that still without any hydric seasonality, many tropical tree species develop growth rings. Our findings drive to new questions: What is the periodicity of tree rings in these non-seasonal hyper-humid environments? What other subtle seasonality could be involved in the growth periodicity of these species, or are they genetic?
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