Dendroclimatic studies of Larix cajanderi Mayr. in the Omoloy River Basin

Abstract

This study presents the results of research on the climatic signal of radial growth of Siberian larch (Larix cajanderi Mayr.) in the Omoloy River Basin, (north-eastYakutia). Tree-ring width chronologies were obtained from three sites located in the valley complexes of subarctic tundra and forest-tundra ecotone, with chronologies spanning up to 498 years. Comparative analysis of radial growth dynamics and its statistical parameters indicated similar variability patterns within the study region. Dendroclimatic analysis revealed that the primary limiting factor determining the magnitude of radial growth in Siberianlarch is the air temperature during the first half of the growing season. Increasing temperatures have led to an increased role of precipitation and changes in the strength of growth-temperature correlations, especially in northern sites.This study highlights the potential for dendroclimatic and dendroecological researchin northern Yakutia.