The effect of climate on tree-ring of Fir, Spruce and Scotch pine in Karçal Mountains

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effects of temperature and precipitation on tree-ring growth in the lower and upper growing borders of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L. subsp. hamata), Caucasian Fir (Abies nordmanniana (Stev.) Spach. subsp. nordmanniana) and Oriental Spruce (Picea orientalis L.carr.) in the Karçal Mountains (Artvin). This area hosts the first and pioneering biosphere reserve area of Türkiye in terms of biodiversity. This area is also one of the rare areas in Türkiye where Scots pine Fir and Spruce trees coexist. For dendrochronological analysis, 2 core samples were taken from each of the 15 trees using an increment borer from the lower and upper growth limits of Fir, scotch pine and Spruce. Tree-ring series are standardized. To reveal the statistical relationships between tree-ring growth and temperature and precipitation, Response functions were calculated separately for each site chronology. The rainy month of September has a positive effect on the tree-ring growth of Spruce. In the study area, a generally positive relationship was determined between July precipitation and the tree-ring growth for the lower and upper growing limits of Scots pine. In the study area, the precipitations of April and October affect the tree ring negatively for all regional chronologies, and May and June precipitation positively. The average temperatures between October of the previous year and May-June of the current year were negative; The positive relationship between the average temperatures of February, March and July and the growth of the ring predominates.