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Abstract
Background and Purpose: Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) is the most widespread species in Albania and less investigated from dendroclimatological point of view. Previous studies have reported that Q. cerris is sensitive to the environment when growing at different latitudes and ecological conditions. Based on this fact we have explored the response of different Q. cerris populations located along the longitudinal gradient. Materials and Methods: The stem discs were sampled from six sites (Kukes, Diber, Rreshen, Ulez, Elbasan, Belsh) along longitudinal gradient ranging from north-east to central Albania. All oak forests stands grow under the influence of specific local Mediterranean climate. Tree-ring widths were measured to the nearest 0.001 mm using a linear table, LINTAB and the TSAP-Win program. Following the standard dendrochronological procedures residual tree-ring width chronologies were built for each site. Statistical parameters commonly used in dendrochronology were calculated for each site chronology. Relations between the tree-ring chronologies were explored using Hierarchical Factor Classification (HFC) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), while the radial growth-climate relationship was analyzed through correlation analysis using a 19-month window from April in the year prior to tree-ring formation (year t - 1) until October in the year of growth (year t). Results and Conclusions: The length of the site chronologies ranged from 16 to 36 years, with the Elbasan site chronology being the longest and the Belsh site chronology the shortest one. Trees at lower elevation were younger than trees at higher elevation. Statistical parameters (mean sensitivity (MS) and auto correlation (AC)) of site chronologies were different among them and lower values of AC1 showed a weaker dependence of radial growth from climatic conditions of the previous growing year. Principal component analysis showed that Belsh, Rreshen and Elbasan site chronologies were clustered in the first principal component accounted 36.6% of the total variance. The HFC indicated grouping of the site chronologies in two clusters, where Belsh, Rreshen and Elbasan site chronologies were grouped in the first cluster while Kukes, Diber and Ulez in the second one, confirming the results previously provided from
Highlights
The genus Quercus is one of the most important clades of woody angiosperms in the Central and Western Europe, in terms of species diversity, ecological dominance, and economic value [1]
The genus Quercus in Albania is mainly represented by Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.), Italian oak (Quercus frainetto Ten.), Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and Sessile oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.)
Our study provides evidence about the growth of young Q. cerris coppice forest stands along longitudinal gradient in Albania
Summary
The genus Quercus is one of the most important clades of woody angiosperms in the Central and Western Europe, in terms of species diversity, ecological dominance, and economic value [1]. Because they are managed as coppice, oak forests are often clear cut and managed with short rotation This is the reason why they are so young. Previous studies have reported that Q. cerris is sensitive to the environment when growing at different latitudes and ecological conditions. Based on this fact we have explored the response of different Q. cerris populations located along the longitudinal gradient. Materials and Methods: The stem discs were sampled from six sites (Kukes, Diber, Rreshen, Ulez, Elbasan, Belsh) along longitudinal gradient ranging from north-east to central Albania. Statistical parameters (mean sensitivity (MS) and auto correlation (AC)) of site chronologies were different among them and lower values of AC1 showed a weaker dependence of radial growth from climatic conditions of the previous growing year. The HFC indicated grouping of the site chronologies in two clusters, where Belsh, Rreshen and Elbasan site chronologies were grouped in the first cluster while Kukes, Diber and Ulez in the second one, confirming the results previously provided from
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