Growth response to climate and drought change along an aridity gradient in the southernmost Pinus nigra relict forests

• Published in: Annals of Forest Science
• Main Authors: Camarero, J. J., Manzanedo, R. D., Sánchez-Salguero, R., Navarro-Cerrillo, Rafael M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BioMed Central 2013
• Subjects: Atmospheric circulation patterns; Dendroecology; Drought; Mediterranean forests; Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/291466; https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0321-9

Context Tree populations at the rear edge of species distribution are sensitive to climate stress and drought. However, growth responses of these tree populations to those stressors may vary along climatic gradients. Aims To analyze growth responses to climate and drought using dendrochronology in rear-edge Pinus nigra populations located along an aridity gradient. Methods Tree-ring width chronologies were built for the twentieth century and related to monthly climatic variables, a drought index (Standardized Precipitation- Evapotranspiration Index), and two atmospheric circulation patterns (North Atlantic and Western Mediterranean Oscillations). Results Growth was enhanced by wet and cold previous autumns and warm late winters before tree-ring formation. The influence of the previous year conditions on growth increased during the past century. Growth was significantly related to North Atlantic and Western Mediterranean Oscillations in two out of five sites. The strongest responses of growth to the drought index were observed in the most xeric sites. Conclusion Dry conditions before tree-ring formation constrain growth in rear-edge P. nigra populations. The comparisons of climate-growth responses along aridity gradients allow characterizing the sensitivity of relict stands to climate warming. © 2013 INRA and Springer-Verlag France.