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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2021, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (10): 3594-3608.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202110.041

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Radial growth of dominant coniferous species and their responses to climate changes in the Altay Mountains, China

GOU Xiao-xia1, ZHANG Tong-wen1*, YUAN Yu-jiang1, YU Shu-long1, ZHANG Rui-bo1, JIANG Sheng-xia1, GUO Yu-lin2   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Tree-ring Physical and Chemical Research of China Meteorological Administration, Key Laboratory of Tree-ring Ecology of Uygur Autonomous Region, Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, China;
    2Altay Prefecture Meteorological Bureau of Xinjiang, Altay 836500, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2021-08-12 Revised:2021-09-26 Online:2021-10-15 Published:2022-04-15
  • Contact: * E-mail: zhangtw@idm.cn
  • Supported by:
    Tianshan Youth Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region-Outstanding Young Talent (2019Q007), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41975095), the Key Laboratory Opening Subject of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2018D04028), and the Desert Meteorological Science Research Foundation of China (Sqj2020002).

Abstract: Based on the standard method of dendrochronology, we examined the tree-ring width index of two dominant tree species in the Altay Mountains, China, including Picea obovata and Larix sibirica. We analyzed the basal area increments (BAI) of those two species and the relationships between their radial growth and the climatic factors, which were compared in similar habitats. The results showed that the BAI of P. obovata was greater than L. sibirica, but the radial growth rate of L. sibirica was greater. In recent 60 years, the radial growth of P. obovata negatively correlated with high temperature in the fast growing stage of previous year, while the high temperature in June of current year promoted the radial growth of L. sibirica. There was a significantly negative correlation between radial growth of L. sibirica with temperature in January of current year. The sensitivity of tree growth to climate showed an obvious increase after an abrupt climate change under the background of recent warming and wetting trend in mid-1980s. Results of the moving correlation analysis showed that the response of the radial growth of P. obovata and L. sibirica to temperature and precipitation were enhanced under the background of climate change in the study area.

Key words: Altay Mountains, Picea obovata, Larix sibirica, tree ring, radial growth, climatic response