Stability assessment of tree ring growth of Pinus armandii Franch in response to climate change based on slope directions at the Lubanling in the Funiu Mountains, China

Abstract

Global warming will affect growth strategies and how trees will adapt. To compare the response of tree radial growth to climate warming in different slope directions, samples of Pinus armandii Franch were collected and tree-ring chronologies developed on northern and western slopes from the Lubanling in the Funiu Mountains. Correlation analyses showed that two chronologies were mainly limited by temperatures in the previous June–August and the combination of temperatures and moisture in the current May–July. The difference of the climate response to slopes was small but not negligible. Radial growth of the LBL01 site on the northern slope was affected by the combined maximum and minimum temperatures, while that of the LBL02 site was affected by maximum temperatures. With regards to moisture, radial growth of the trees on the north slope was influenced by the relative humidity in the current May–July, while on the western slope, it was affected by the relative humidity in the previous June–August, the current May–July and the precipitation in the current May–July. With the change in climate, the effects of the main limiting factors on growth on different slopes were visible to a certain extent, but the differences in response of trees on different slopes gradually decreased, which might be caused by factors such as different slope directions and the change in diurnal temperature range. These results may provide information for forest protection and ecological construction in this region, and a scientific reference for future climate reconstruction.

Keywords

Tree ring width / Lubanling / Pinus armandii Franch / Slope direction / Climate response

References

[1]	Barber VA, Juday GP, Finney BP (2000) Reduced growth of Alaskan white spruce in the twentieth century from temperature-induced drought stress. Nature 405(6787):668–673. https://doi.org/10.1038/35015049
[2]	Benniea J, Huntley B, Wiltshire A, Hill MO, Baxter R (2008) Slope, aspect, and climate: spatially explicit and implicit models of topographic microclimate in chalk grasslands. Ecol Modell 216:47–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.04.010
[3]	Biondi F, Waikul K (2004) Dendroclim902: a C++ program for statistical calibration of climate signals in tree-ring chronologies. Comput Geosci 30(3):303–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2003.11.004
[4]	Briffa K, Schweingruber F, Jones P, Osborn TJ, Shiyatov SG, Vaganov EA (1998) Reduced sensitivity of recent tree growth to temperature at high northern latitudes. Nature 391:678–682. https://doi.org/10.1038/35596
[5]	Buentgen U, Martinez-Pena F, Aldea J, Rigling A, Fischer EM, Camarero JJ, Hayes MJ, Fatton V, Egli S (2013) Declining pine growth in Central Spain coincides with increasing diurnal temperature range since the 1970s. Glob Planet Change 107:177–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2013.05.013
[6]	Cai QF, Liu Y, Qian HJ, Liu RS (2019) Inverse effects of recent warming on trees growing at the low and high altitudes of the Dabie Mountains, subtropical China. Dendrochronologia 59:125649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2019.125649
[7]	Cao RJ, Yin DC, Tian K, Xiao DR, Li ZJ, Zhang XG, Li ZH, Zhang Y, Cao RJ (2020) Response of radial growth of Abies georgei and Tsuga dumosa to climate change at upper distributional limits on Laojun Mountain, Lijiang, Yunnan China. Acta Ecol Sin 40(17):6067–6076. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201905171019. (in Chinese)
[8]	Cook ER, Holmes RL (1986) User’s manual for ARSTAN. Laboratory of Tree-ring Research. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 302. https://doi.org/10.2172/138036
[9]	Cui J, Peng JF, Li JR, Li X, Peng M, Yang L (2021) Response of tree ring width of Pinus tabuliformis plantation to climatic factors in Songshan Mountain, central China. Chin J Appl Ecol 32(10):3497–3504. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.202110.002. (in Chinese)
[10]	Dang HS, Jiang MX, Zhang YJ, Zhang QF (2007) Growth responses of subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) to climate variability in the Qinling Mountain, China. Forest Ecol Manag 240(1):143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.12.021
[11]	D’Arrigo R, Wilson R, Liepert B, Cherubini P (2008) On the ‘Divergence Problem’ in Northern Forests: a review of the tree-ring evidence and possible cause. Glob Planet Change 60:289–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.03.004
[12]	Easterling DR, Horton B, Jones PD, Peterson TC, Parker DE, Salinger M, Razuvayev V, Plummer N, Jamason P (1997) Maximum and minimum temperature trends for the globe. Science 277(5324):364–367. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.277.5324.364
[13]	Fang KY, Chen QY, Liu CZ, Cao CF, Chen YJ, Zhou FF (2014) Research advances in dendrochronology. Chin J Appl Ecol 25(7):1879–1888. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.2014.0125. (in Chinese)
[14]	Gai XR, Yu DP, Wang SL, Jia X, Dai LM (2017) A review of formation mechanism on the ‘divergence problem’ of tree growth-climate relationship. Chin J Ecol 36(11):3273–3280. https://doi.org/10.13292/j.1000-4890.201711.005. (in Chinese)
[15]	Gao LL, Gou XH, Deng Y, Zhang F, Fang KY (2011) An overview of the divergence phenomenon in dendroclimatology. J Glaciol Geocryol 33(2):453–460. https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2011.0060. (in Chinese)
[16]	Gou XX, Zhang TW, Yuan YJ, Yu SL, Zhang RB, Jiang SX, Guo YL (2021) Radial growth of dominant coniferous species and their responses to climate changes in the Altay Mountains China. Chin J Appl Ecol 32(10):3594–3608. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.202110.041. (in Chinese)
[17]	Guo BD, Zhang YD, Wang XC (2016) Response of Picea purpurea and Abies faxoniana tree rings at different slope aspects to rapid warming in western Sichuan China. Chin J Appl Ecol 27(2):354–364. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.201602.034. (in Chinese)
[18]	Guo D, Zhang TW, Turson K, Zhang RB, Yu SL, Liu KX, Gou XX, Liu R, Shi RNJH, Wang ZP, Ruxianguli A, Ayimuguli S (2022a) Radial growth of two coniferous species in the western Kunlun Mountains and its response to climate change. Acta Ecol Sin 42(24):10226–10240. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb202110112844. (in Chinese)
[19]	Guo YL, Li SH, Wang JC, Hang YJ (2022b) Response divergence of radial growth to climate change in earlywood and latewood of Larix principis-rupprechtii in Luya Mountain. Arid Zone Res 39(5):1449–1463. https://doi.org/10.13866/j.azr.2022.05.10. (in Chinese)
[20]	Holmes RL (1983) Computer-assisted quality control in tree-ring dating and measurement. Tree Ring Res 43:69–78. https://doi.org/10.1006/biol.1999.0214
[21]	IPCC (2021) Climate change 2021: the physical science basis. CUP, Cambridge
[22]	Jacoby GC, D’Arrigo RD (1995) Tree-ring width and density evidence of climatic and potential forest change in Alaska. Global Biogeochem Cycles 9(2):227–234. https://doi.org/10.1029/95gb00321
[23]	Jiao L, Wang LL, Li L, Chen XX, Yan XX (2019) Divergent responses of radial growth of Larix sibirica to climate change in Altay Mountains of Xinjiang, China. Chin J Plant Ecol 43(4):320–330. https://doi.org/10.17521/cjpe.2019.0014. (in Chinese)
[24]	Jiao L, Wang SJ, Chen K, Liu XP (2022) Dynamic response to climate change in the radial growth of Picea schrenkiana in western Tien Shan, China. J for Res 33:147–157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-021-01336-6
[25]	Kirchhefer AJ (2000) The influence of slope aspect on tree-ring growth of Pinus sylvestris L. in northern Norway and its implications for climate reconstruction. Dendrochronologia 18:27–40
[26]	Leonelli G, Pelfini M, Battipaglia G, Cherubini P (2009) Site-aspect influence on climate sensitivity over time of a high-altitude Pinus cembra tree-ring network. Clim Change 96(1–2):185–201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-009-9574-6
[27]	Li ZS, Liu GH, Fu BJ, Zhang QB, Hu CJ, Luo SZ (2010) Evaluation of temporal stability in tree growth-climate response in Wolong National Natural Reserve, western Sichuan, China. Chin J Plant Ecol 34(9):1045–1057. https://doi.org/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.09.005m. (in Chinese)
[28]	Li GQ, Bai F, Sang WG (2011) Different responses of radial growth to climate warming in Pinus koraiensis and Picea jezoensis var. komarovii at their upper elevational limits in Changbai Mountain, China. Chin J Plant Ecol 35(5):500–511. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00500. (in Chinese)
[29]	Li XN, Huo JX, Yang L, Peng JF (2020) Development and climatic response of the tree-ring width chronology of Pinus armandii at Muzhaling Mountain. J Nanjing for Uni 44(3):157–162. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201901030. (in Chinese)
[30]	Li YJ, Fang KY, Bai MW, Cao XG (2021a) Ecological resilience of ancient Pinus massoniana trees to climate change and insect infestation in southeastern Fujian,China. Chin J Appl Ecol 32(10):3539–3547. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.202110.010. (in Chinese)
[31]	Li ZS, Chen WL, Wei JS, Maierdang KYM, Zhang YX, Zhang S, Wang XC (2021b) Tree-ring growth responses of Liaodong Oak (Quercus wutaishanica) to climate in the Beijing Dongling Mountain of China. Acta Ecol Sin 41(1):27–37. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201910212210. (in Chinese)
[32]	Li JR, Peng JF, Yang L, Cui JY, Li X, Peng M (2021c) Responses of radial growth of two coniferous species to climate factors in western Sichuan Plateau, China. Chin J Appl Ecol 32(10):3512–3520. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.202110.032. (in Chinese)
[33]	Li X, Peng JF, Li JR, Yang L, Cui JY, Peng M, Li CX (2022) Climate-growth response of Pinus tabulaeformis in the south slope of Longchiman, Mt. Funiu, central China. Acta Ecol Sin 42(7):2865–2877. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb202101070076. (in Chinese)
[34]	Liu Y, Linderholm HW, Song HM, Cai QF, Tian QH, Sun JY, Chen DL, Simelton E, Seftigen K, Tian H, Wang RY, Bao GA, An ZS (2009) Temperature variations recorded in Pinus tabulaeformis tree rings from the southern and northern slopes of the central Qinling Mountains, central China. Boreas 38(2):285–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3885.2008.00065.x
[35]	Liu Y, Zhang YH, Song HM, Ma YY, Wang YC (2014) Tree-ring reconstruction of seasonal mean minimum temperature at Mt. Yaoshan, China since 1873 and its relevance to 20th-century warming. Clim past 10(2):859–894. https://doi.org/10.5194/cpd-10-859-2014
[36]	Liu KX, Zhang TW, Zhang RB, Yu SL, Huang LP, Jiang SX, Hu DY (2022) Characteristics of radial growth at different trunk heights of Picea schrenkiana and its climate response in the mountainous area of the Ili Region. Arid Land Geogr 45(4):1010–1021. https://doi.org/10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2021.482. (in Chinese)
[37]	Lloyd AH, Fastie CL (2002) Spatial and temporal variability in the growth and climate response of tree line trees in Alask. Clim Change 52(4):481–509. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014278819094
[38]	Pellizzari E, Camarero JJ, Gazol A, Granda E, Shetti R, Wilmking M, Moiseev P, Pividori M, Carrer M (2016) Diverging shrub and tree growth from the polar to the Mediterranean biomes across the European continent. Global Change Biol 23(8):3169–3180. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13577
[39]	Peng JF, Wang T (2015) Response and model of tree-rings growth to climate factors at Huangbaishan Mountain in Henan Province. Sci Geol Sin 35(5):644–651. https://doi.org/10.13249/j.cnki.sgs.2015.05.018. (in Chinese)
[40]	Peng JF, Gou XH, Chen FH, Fang KY, Zhang F (2010) Influences of slope aspect on the growth of Sabina przewalskii along an elevation gradient in China’s Qinghai Province. Chin J Plan Ecol 34(5):517–525. https://doi.org/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.05.005. (in Chinese)
[41]	Peng JF, Liu YZ, Wang T (2014) A tree-ring record of 1920’s–1940’s droughts and mechanism analyses in Henan Province. Acta Ecol Sin 34(13):3509–3518. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201306121687. (in Chinese)
[42]	Peng JF, Peng KY, Li JB (2018a) Climate-growth response of Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) at different age groups in the Baiyunshan National Nature Reserve, central China. Dendrochronologia 49:102–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2018.02.004
[43]	Peng KY, Peng JF, Huo JX, Yang L (2018b) Assessing the adaptability of alien (Larix kaempferi) and native (Pinus armandii) tree species at the Baiyunshan Mountain, central China. Ecol Indic 95:108–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.07.023
[44]	Peng JF, Li JB, Wang T, Huo JX, Yang L (2019) Effect of altitude on climate-growth relationships of Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) in the northern Funiu Mountain, central China. Clim Change 12(1):273–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02416-7
[45]	Peng ZT, Zhang YD, Zhu LJ, Guo MM, Lu QG, Xu K, Shao H, Mo QF, Liu SR (2023) Spatial and temporal patterns of the sensitivity of radial growth response by Picea schrenkiana to regional climate change in the Tianshan Mountains. J for Res 34:1669–1681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-023-01629-y
[46]	Qin J, Bai HY, Li SH, Wang J, Gan ZT, Huang A (2016) Differences in growth response of Larix chinensis to climate change at the upper timberline of southern and northern slopes of Taibai Mountain in central Qinling Mountains, China. Acta Ecol Sin 36(17):5333–5342. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201502060304(inChinese)
[47]	Shao XM (1997) Adv Dendrochronology Quat Sci 17:265–271 (in Chinese)
[48]	Shi JF, Lu HY, Wan JD, Li SF, Nie HS (2009) Winter-half year temperature reconstruction of the last century using Pinus armandii Franch tree-ring width chronology in the eastern Qinling Mountains. Quat Sci 29(4):831–836. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-7410.2009.04.20. (in Chinese)
[49]	Shi JF, Li JB, Cook ER, Zhang XY, Lu HY (2012) Growth response of Pinus tabulaeformis to climate along an elevation gradient in the eastern Qinling Mountains, central China. Clim Res 53(2):157–167. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01098
[50]	Stokes M, Smiley TL (1968) An introduction to tree ring dating. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. https://doi.org/10.1038/268402b0
[51]	Sun ZJ, Zhao HY, Zhu LJ, Li ZS, Zhang YD, Wang XC (2019) Differences in response of Larix gmelinii growth to rising temperature under different precipitation gradients in northern Daxing’an Mountains of northeastern China. J Beijing for Univ. 41(6):1–14. https://doi.org/10.13332/j.1000?1522.20190007. (in Chinese)
[52]	Tian QH, Liu Y, Cai QF, Bao T, Wang WP, Xue WL, Zhu WJ, Song HM (2009) The maximum temperature of May–July inferred from tree-ring in Funiu Mountain since 1874 AD. Acta Geogr Sin 64(7):879–887. https://doi.org/10.11821/xb200907012. (in Chinese)
[53]	Wang T, Shen LF, Ye YZ, Gao HQ, Xu M (2010) Response analysis between climate chang and tree-ring widths of Pinus armandi in Funiu Mountain. Henan Sci 28(12):1549–1551. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1004-3918.2010.12.015. (in Chinese)
[54]	Wang T, Li C, Zhang H, Ren SY, Li LX, Pan N, Yuan ZL, Ye YZ (2016) Response of conifer trees radial growth to climate change in Baotianman National Nature Reserve, central China. Acta Ecol Sin 36(17):5324–5332 (in Chinese)
[55]	Wilmking M (2005) Increased temperature sensitivity and divergent growth trends in circumpolar boreal forests. Geophys Res Lett 32(15):291–310. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005gl023331
[56]	Wilmking M, Juday GP, Barber VA, Zald HSJ (2004) Recent climate warming forces contrasting growth responses of white spruce at tree line in Alaska through temperature threshold. Glob Change Biol 10(10):1724–1736. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00826.x
[57]	Wilson R, Luckman BH (2002) Tree-ring reconstruction of maximum and minimum temperatures and the diurnal temperature range in British Columbia, Canada. Dendrochronologia 20:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1078/1125-7865-00023
[58]	Wilson R, Luckman BH (2003) Dendroclimatic reconstruction of maximum summer temperatures from upper tree-line sites in interior British Columbia. Holocene 13:853–863. https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl663rp
[59]	Wu XD (1990) Tree rings and climate change. CMP. (in Chinese)
[60]	Yadav RR, Singh J, Dubey B, Chaturvedi R (2004) Varying strength of relationship between temperature and growth of high-level fir at marginal ecosystems in western Himalaya, India. Curr Sci 86(8):1152–1156
[61]	Yang L, Li JR, Peng JF, Huo JX, Chen L (2021a) Temperature variation and influence mechanism of Pinus tabulaeformis ring width recorded since 1801 at Yao Mountain, He’nan Province. Acta Ecol Sin 41(1):79–91. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201908101675. (in Chinese)
[62]	Yang JW, Zhang QL, Song WQ, Zhang X (2021b) Response differences of radial growth of Larix gmelinii and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica to climate change in Daxing’ an Mountains, Northeast China. Chin J Appl Ecol 32(10):3415–3427. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.202110.005. (in Chinese)
[63]	Yao CL, Hu YC, Fan XY, Jiao JF, Ye YZ, Zhang ZM (2019) Intraspecific and interspecific relationships of the dominant species Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata in Muzhaling World Geopark. J Henan Agric Univ 53(1):56–63. https://doi.org/10.16445/j.cnki.1000-2340.2019.01.009. (in Chinese)
[64]	Yu DP, Wang SZ, Tang LN, Dai LM, Wang QL, Wang SX (2005a) Relationship between tree-ring chronology of Larix olgensis in Changbai Mountains and the climate change. Chin J Appl Ecol 16(1):14–20. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.2005.0378. (in Chinese)
[65]	Yu DP, Gu HY, Wang JD, Wang QL, Dai LM (2005b) Relationships of climate change and tree ring of Betula ermanii tree line forest in Changbai Mountain. J for Res 16(3):187–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02856812
[66]	Yu J, Xu QQ, He X, Luo CW (2013) Response divergence of Larix olgensis tree-ring widths to climate variation in eastern slope of Changbai Mountain, northeast China. J Cent South Univ for Technol 33(3):89–97. https://doi.org/10.14067/j.cnki.1673-923x.2013.03.001. (in Chinese)
[67]	Zhang XL, He XY, Chen ZJ, Cui MX, Li N (2011) Responses of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica radial growth to climate warming in Great Xing’an Mountains: A case study in Mangui. Chin J Appl Ecol 22(12):3101–3108. https://doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.2011.0473. (in Chinese)
[68]	Zhang H, Xie B, Liu Y, Wang F, Wang ZZ, Zhang JQ, Li JD, Hu SLT, Shang HZ, Chen YH, Yi YJ (2017) Study on the influence of clouds on the earth radiation budget and precipitation changes in east asia region China. Basic Sci 19(5):18–22. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1009.2412.2017.05.004. (in Chinese)
[69]	Zhao YS, Shi JF, Shi SY, Ma XQ, Zhang WJ, Wang BW, Sun XG, Lu H, Brauning A (2019) Early summer hydroclimatic signals are captured well by tree-ring earlywood width in the eastern Qinling Mountains, central China. Clim past 15:1113–1131. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-15-1113-2019
[70]	Zhou ZJ, Jiang Y, Dong MY, Tao Y, Wang MC, Ding XY (2018) Response of the relationship between radial growth and climatic factors to abrupt change of temperature along an altitudinal gradient on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, Northeast China. Acta Ecol Sin 38(13):4668–4676. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201706171104. (in Chinese)
[71]	Zhu HF, Wang LL, Shao XM, Fang XQ (2004) Tree ring-width response of Picea schrenkiana to climate change. Acta Geogr Sin 59(6):863–870. https://doi.org/10.11821/xb200406008. (in Chinese)