Ten ring-width based chronologies from Nepal are described and the prospects for further dendroclimatic work there reviewed briefly. The initial results are encouraging, and more intensive subregional sampling is called for. All the cores examined showed distinct annual rings, and there was little evidence of double or missing rings, except juniper at some sites and in some Pinus roxburghii trees. Difficulty was encountered in dating Pinus wallichiana and Cupressus dumosa. Individual site chronologies of Cedros deodora, P. roxburghii and P. wallichiana were particularly promising, and of high elevation Abies spectabilis moderately so. Densitometric data are likely to be more useful for this species. The paucity of meteorological data in Nepal represents an obstacle to further dendroclimatic work there.

The relationships between the tree-rings of the white fir (Abies alba Mill.) and climate in the French internal Alps are indicated by correlation functions. This fir shows an accurate response to climate as well as long term persistence for at least six years (MS =0.18, R1 =0.65, and R6= 0.27). Its growth is strongly influenced by the previous year's climate, especially by prior August rainfall, which enhances ring size, or by high temperatures, which show the opposite effect. The most critical period extends from prior July to prior September. This species responds positively to warm temperature from current January to April, followed by rainfall in May and June, which leads to a longer growth period. A favorable water balance seems to be decisive. Abies alba can be affected by frost and seems to prefer a low thermal amplitude as demonstrated by the analysis of the extreme temperature data. Moreover, even a few days of excessive heat can reduce its growth.

Le Queyras est un territoire situé à la confluence d'influences climatiques océaniques continentales et méditerranéennes. Cette spécificité a permis le développement d'une biodiversité exceptionnelle mais particulièrement vulnérable aux changements globaux. Pour mieux comprendre leur dynamique actuelle, et afin de contribuer à élaborer des scenarii prédictifs de leur évolution basés sur leur dynamique passée, une approche paléoécologique pluridisciplinaire, associant pédoanthracologie et dendrochronologie, a été menée dans des forêts matures de mélèze (Larix decidua), de pin cembro (Pinus cembra) et de sapin (Abies alba). L'analyse des charbons de bois recueillis dans les sols de ces peuplements révèlent que la composition passée a pu être bien différente de l'actuelle. Le mélèze et le pin cembro sont présents dès la recolonisation postglaciaire (respectivement 8873-9014 cal. BP et 8702 – 9024 cal. BP). Les relations cernes-climat révèlent la sensibilité du pin cembro et du sapin aux conditions hydrologiques, confirmant le caractère xérique de ce massif. D'autre part, l'étude de la dynamique holocène des forêts subalpines et des variations de leur limite supérieure révèlent que les changements globaux semblent favoriser le mélèze. Alors que les résultats pédoanthracologiques montrent que le pin cembro et le mélèze se sont succédé à l'étage subalpin tout au long de l'Holocène, la dendrochronologie met en évidence les conséquences des changements globaux : le pin cembro devient de plus en plus sensible au réchauffement climatique tandis que le mélèze semble profiter des changements d'occupation du sol associés à une augmentation des températures. / The Queyras is a region located at the limit of oceanic, continental and Mediterranean climatic influences. This specificity led to a level of biodiversity exceptional but particularly sensitive to global changes. We used a pluridisciplinary paleocological approach by means of pedoanthracology and dendrochronology applied in old growth forests of Larch (Larix decidua), Stone pine (Pinus cembra) and Fir (Abies alba) to assess the present forest dynamics and to contribute to forecast the probable future forest dynamics. Wood charcoal analyses issued from natural soils sampled in these forests reveal past periods with vegetation composition sometimes quite different from the present one . Larch and Stone pine installed in the early Holocene (respectively 8873-9014 cal. BP and 8702 – 9024 cal. BP). Climate-growth relationship evidence the high sensitivity of both stone pine and fir to hydrological conditions which attests the dry conditions of this massif. In addition to that, the study of the upper limit dynamics of subalpine forests during the Holocene reveals that global changes seem to favour Larch. Whereas pedoanthracology results show permanent succession of Larch and Stone pine at the subalpine vegetation stage over the Holocene period, dendrochronology emphasizes the consequences of global changes: Stone pine gets more and more sensitive to climate warming while Larch seems to benefit of land use changes associated with temperature increase.

Estudos sobre a fenologia e anatomia do lenho de árvores de espécies tropicais revelam um desenvolvimento e crescimento cíclicos, relacionados com as condições climáticas (temperatura e precipitação) e de sítio (competição, luz, armazenamento de água no solo, etc.). A sensibilidade a estes fatores resulta, para as árvores de algumas espécies, na sazonalidade da atividade cambial e na formação de anéis de crescimento anuais. Essa característica possibilita a determinação da idade, da taxa de crescimento em diâmetro do tronco e da reconstrução de eventos climáticos, bem como na aplicação de técnicas de manejo florestal sustentável. No presente trabalho, foram aplicadas as técnicas de dendrocronologia, em árvores de mogno, de duas populações na floresta tropical Amazônica do Peru, visando a (i) caracterização da estrutura macro e microscópica do lenho e dos anéis de crescimento, (ii) comprovação da anualidade da formação dos anéis de crescimento e determinação da idade das árvores, (iii) avaliação da biodeterioração do lenho das árvores, (iv) aplicação da densitometria de raios X no estudo do lenho e dos anéis de crescimento e (v) aplicação dos anéis de crescimento em dendroclimatologia e dendroecologia. Foram selecionadas 20 árvores de mogno em duas populações localizadas no Departamento de Madre de Dios, Peru e extraídas amostras radiais do seu lenho, com sonda de Pressler. Injúrias no tronco de árvores de mogno foram realizadas em outubro/2006 e analisadas as cicatrizes no lenho em outubro/2007, relacionando-as com a formação dos anéis de crescimento. Foi caracterizada a estrutura anatômica do lenho e dos anéis de crescimento, determinando-se o seu número, largura e aplicadas técnicas de dendrocronologia. Os anéis de crescimento foram sincronizados, utilizando os programas COFECHA, ARSTAN e RESPO, determinando-se a relação da sua largura com as variáveis climáticas e a idade das árvores. A podridão interna do lenho das árvores foi avaliada determinando-se o diâmetro do oco interno do lenho do tronco. A variação radial da densidade aparente do lenho foi determinada pela densitometria de raios X. Anéis de crescimento delimitados pelo parênquima axial marginal são comprovadamente anuais e possibilitaram a determinação da idade das árvores de mogno (80-122 anos) e a construção de cronologias. A variável climática determinante para o maior crescimento em diâmetro do tronco das árvores foi a precipitação dos meses prévios, do início e do final da estação chuvosa (junho-agosto, dezembro e março) indicando o seu potencial para as reconstruções climáticas. Os perfis radiais de densidade aparente do lenho, obtidos por densitometria de raios X, possibilitaram a identificação do limite exato dos anéis de crescimento, pelos valores mínimos de densidade da região do parênquima marginal. A análise de regressão entre a largura dos anéis obtida pela mesa de medição e por densitometria de raios X apresentou valor de r2=0.92, mostrando a potencialidade dos raios X como ferramenta para estudos de dendrocronologia. O oco do lenho do tronco foi observado em 20% das árvores de mogno, com DAP acima de 62 cm. / Studies in phenology and wood anatomy show a cyclical development and growth related to climatic conditions (temperature and rainfall) and site characteristics (competence, light, water storage in the soil, etc.), the sensibility to these factors results, for some tree species, in seasonality of cambium activity and formation of annual tree-rings. This characteristic enables to estimate age, growth rate in trunk diameter and reconstruction of climatic events, as well as in application of techniques of sustainable forest management. In this study, dendrochronological techniques were applied in mahogany trees from two populations in the Amazon rainforest of Peru, with the aim of (i) characterization of macroscopic and microscopic wood structure and the tree rings, (ii) checking the annual formation of tree rings and determining tree age, (iii) evaluation of the biodeterioration in wood of trees (hollow), (iv) application the X-ray densitometry in the study of wood and tree rings and (v) application the tree rings in dendroclimatology and dendroecology. Twenty mahogany trees were selected in two populations located in the department of Madre de Dios, Peru and removed radial samples from the trunk, with increment corer (Pressler). In October, 2006 injuries in the trunk of mahogany trees were carried out and in October 2007, the scars were analyzed, associating them to the formation of the tree rings. Wood and tree rings anatomic structure was characterized determining its number, width and dendrochronology techniques applied. Tree rings have been synchronized, using COFECHA, ARSTAN and RESPO programs, determining the relation between the width with the climatic variables and the age of trees. The internal wood decay was evaluated by providing the internal diameter of hollow in the trunk. The radial variation of the apparent wood density was determined by the X ray densitometry. Tree rings delimited by a marginal axial parenchyma bands are annual and enable to determine the age of mahogany trees (80-122 years) and the construction of chronologies. The climatic determinant variable for the greatest growth in diameter of the trunk of trees was the rainfall in the previous months, beginning and final of the rainy season (June - August, December and March) indicating its potential for climatic reconstructions. The radials profiles of apparent density of wood, obtained for X ray densitometry, making possible identification of the exact limit of growth rings for minimal values of density in the region of marginal parenchyma. The regression analysis between ring width measured with Velmex (0,001) table and for X ray was r2=0.92, showing the potential of X rays as tool for dendrochronological studies. Decay in the trunk was observed in 20 % of trees over 62 cm of DBH.

Desde a revolução industrial, o consumo de combustíveis fósseis pelo homem vem crescendo em ritmo acelerado. Com isso, aumentam também as concentrações dos chamados gases-estufa (CO2, CH4 e NxO). Isso gera alterações no clima, causando mudanças em fatores bióticos e abióticos, tanto em ambientes naturais quanto em ambientes urbanos. Algumas dessas mudanças são típicas de ambientes urbanos, como as Ilhas de Calor Urbanas e a Inversão Térmica, e devido ao fato de grande parte da população atual viver neste tipo de ambiente, acabam causando diversos problemas de saúde. É importante, portanto, conhecer como o clima destes ambientes tem se comportado nos últimos anos, e isso é possível através da análise dos anéis de crescimento de árvores urbanas. Além disso, os dados de crescimento podem ser utilizados para calibrar modelos de dinâmica florestal. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho pretende construir cronologias de anéis de crescimento de cedro (Cedrela fissilis L.) da cidade de São Paulo, e utilizá-las para reconstruir o clima do último século para essa cidade, além de usar estes dados de crescimento para a parametrização de novos elementos em um modelo de dinâmica florestal já existente. Para isso, utilzou-se 43 indivíduos coletados em 4 localidades da cidade de São Paulo, que foram colados em suporte, polidos, datados, fotografados e tiveram a largura dos anéis de crescimento medidas. Além disso, também tomou-se medidas de áreas de vaso para alguns anéis pré-determinados. As larguras dos anéis foram utilizadas para a construção de cronologias, que posteriormente foram usadas para a criação de modelos de reconstrução climática. Foi possível encontrar relações entre precipitação e temperatura e o crescimento das árvores para dois dos locais de coleta, sendo que para um deles foi possível reconstruir estas variáveis climáticas para determinados meses do ano. Com os dados de crescimento, foi possível parametrizar uma nova equação inserida no modelo de Falster et al., 2011, que insere o efeito de temperatura na parte do modelo relacionada à fotossíntese da espécie simulada. Após a inserção da nova equação, foi possível observar mudanças na periodicidade dos ciclos de recrutamento da floresta. / Since the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuel consumption by man has been rising steeply. This way the concentration of greenhouse-gases (CO2, CH4 and NxO) rise too. That causes the climate to change, generating alterations in biotic and abiotic factors both in natural and urban environments. Some of these changes are typical from urban environments such as Urban Heat Islands and Thermal Inversion, and since great part of human population live in this type of environment, health problems are common. Thus it is important to know how the climate have behaved in this environments in the past years, and this is possible by analyzing the tree rings from urban trees. Furthermore, growth data can be used to calibrate forest dynamic models. Therefore the present work aims to build tree-ring chronologies of cedro (Cedrela fissilis L.) from the city of São Paulo, and to use them to reconstruct climate for the last century in this city, in addition to use these growth data to parameterize new elements in an existent forest dynamic model. For this, 43 individuals were sampled in 4 different sites in São Paulo, which were glued in wood support, sanded, dated, photographed and had their growth rings measured. Furthermore vessel area was measured for some predetermined rings. The growth rings widths were used to build chronologies, that were later used to generate climate reconstruction models. It was possible to fin relations between temperature and precipitation and the tree growth in 2 of the sampling sites, and in one it was possible to build reconstruction models for some months. With growth data, it was possible to parameterize a new equation inserted in Falster et al. Model, which inputs temperature effect in the photosynthesis-related part of the model. After inputting the new equation it was possible to observe changes in the periodicity of the recruitment cycles in this forest

Vor dem Hintergrund sich verändernder Umweltbedingungen durch den allgegenwärtigen Klimawandel wächst das Interesse an Vorhersagen zur zukünftigen Waldentwicklung. Der prognostizierten Häufung von Witterungsextremen wird ein wesentlicher Einfluss auf das Wachstum und die Vitalität der Waldbaumarten zugeschrieben. Wichtige Erkenntnisse bringen hier Untersuchungen zu den physiologischen Wachstumsgrenzen der Gehölze, die sich besonders deutlich an deren heutigen Verbreitungsgrenzen nachweisen lassen. An diesen offenbart sich das Potential einer Baumart, die Migration unter zukünftigen Bedingungen fortsetzen zu können. Großes Interesse herrscht an ökonomisch wichtigen Baumarten wie der Gemeinen Fichte (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) und der Rot-Buche (Fagus sylvatica L.). Deren Wuchsverhalten unter natürlichen Bedingungen, in natürlich erwachsenen Mischwäldern wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit an den derzeitigen Arealsgrenzen beider Arten in Südschweden (Rågetaåsen, Siggaboda, Tolseboda) untersucht. Als Vergleichsstandort diente ein Naturwald im Harz (Rehberg), welcher geografisch zentral im Verbreitungsgebiet der Buche liegt und durch seine montane Höhenlage ideale Wuchsbedingungen für die Fichte liefert. Mittels dendroklimatologischer Analysemethoden wurden die wesentlichen, den radialen Zuwachs beeinflussenden Witterungsvariablen bestimmt und deren Anpassung bzw. Veränderung über verschiedene Zeitintervalle untersucht. Dendroökologische Untersuchungen ermöglichten einen Blick in die vergangene Entwicklung der Mischbestände und das Konkurrenzverhalten beider Baumarten untereinander. Diese Untersuchungen wurden auf zwei Ebenen durchgeführt: auf der Bestandesebene und auf der Ebene kleinerer Untersuchungsgruppen, durch welche direkte Konkurrenzsituationen der intra- und interspezifischen Beeinflussung analysiert werden konnten. Beide Methoden sind retrospektiver Natur und ermöglichen daher in der Hauptsache eine Analyse und Interpretation des vergangenen Zuwachsverhaltens. Doch erlauben beobachtete Trends in der Vergangenheit eine vorsichtige Prognose der Entwicklung von Waldbeständen auf vergleichbaren Standorten. Die dendroklimatologischen Analysen zeigten, dass beide Baumarten eine interessante Variabilität in den jeweiligen zuwachsbeeinflussenden Witterungsvariablen aufweisen. Die Haupteinflussgröße für den Buchenzuwachs ist ein trocken-heißer Vorjahres-Sommer mit Schwerpunkt auf den Monaten Juli und August. Dieser Einfluss zeigt sich seit Beginn des Beobachtungszeitraums, aber seit etwa 1950 verstärkt er sich bedeutend und erfährt seit Mitte der 1990er Jahre eine weitere Steigerung. Die wesentliche Witterungsvariable für den Fichtenzuwachs war bis etwa in die 1950er Jahre ein positiver Einfluss der Niederschläge im Sommer der Ringbildung mit Schwerpunkt auf dem Juni. Seither verschwindet dieser Einfluss jedoch auf fast allen Standorten und weicht einer, der Buchen ähnlichen Dürreempfindlichkeit gegenüber den vorjährigen Spätsommern. Die retrospektive Analyse der Bestandesgeschichte mittels langjähriger Zuwachszeitreihen ermöglicht eine Interpretation der vergangenen Entwicklung der Waldbestände und liefert eine Erklärung für das aktuelle Erscheinungsbild. Auf den schwedischen Standorten zeigt sich im radialen wie im Höhenzuwachs ein deutlicher Vorteil der Fichten. Auf den Standorten Siggaboda und Tolseboda bildet die Buche unter der Fichte sogar die zweite Baumschicht. Im Gegensatz zum Standort Rågetaåsen liegen diese beiden Standorte bereits außerhalb des natürlichen Verbreitungsgebiets von Buchenwäldern, aber im Gebiet der Buchen-Fichten-Wälder. Hier erkennt man deutlich einen Konkurrenzvorteil der Fichte. Am Vergleichsstandort Rehberg erkennt man dagegen das grundsätzlich große Potential der Buche, ähnliche Zuwächse zu leisten wie die Fichte. Das Konkurrenzverhältnis wirkt hier relativ ausgeglichen. Direkte Konkurrenzsituationen zwischen den Baumarten ergeben sich an Randzonen der natürlich gewachsenen reinartigen Gruppen. Es zeigte sich, dass die Buche in unmittelbarer Konkurrenz zur Fichte benachteiligt wird. Im umgekehrten Falle kann die Fichte in Abhängigkeit von ihrer sozialen Stellung sogar von einer Mischung mit Buche profitieren. Diese Ergebnisse gelten für die schwedischen Standorte wie auch für den Harz, wobei die Buchen am Rehberg ein größeres Potential erkennen lassen, dem Druck der Fichten entgegenzustehen. Der Einfluss singulärer Witterungsextreme auf das Wachstum beider Baumarten konnte an starken Zuwachseinbrüchen nachgewiesen werden. Doch in den meisten Fällen zeigte sich bereits im Folgejahr wieder ein ausgeglichenes Wachstum. Eine Herausforderung wird die zukünftige Häufung von Extremen mit fehlenden Erholungsphasen sein. Im letzten Jahrzehnt konnten bereits Sekundärfolgen großer Trockenheiten und deren Einfluss auf den Zuwachs beobachtet werden. Ergeben sich aus derartigen Situationen Schwierigkeiten für eine Baumart, ist dies ein sicheres Zeichen dafür, dass sie an ihre physiologischen Grenzen gerät. Am Standort Siggaboda konnte dies bereits für die Fichten beobachtet werden. Auch am Rehberg stellten sich in den letzten Jahren Bedingungen ein, die der Buche Schwierigkeiten bereiten. Aus den gewonnenen Erkenntnissen lässt sich entnehmen, dass das Konkurrenzverhältnis zwischen Buche und Fichte seit den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten begonnen hat, sich zu verändern. Am südexponierten Hangstandort im Harz scheint die bisher sehr konkurrenzstarke Buche an ihre physiologische Grenze zu geraten. Auf den schwedischen Standorten wird die Buche möglicherweise von wärmeren Sommern und verlängerten Vegetationsperioden profitieren, während die Fichte an die südliche, klimatische Verbreitungsgrenze der borealen Wälder gelangt zu sein scheint. / Against the background of a changing environment due to climate change the interest in prognoses of the development of forest ecosystems increases. The growth and the vitality of forest tree species will mainly be influenced by increased frequency of extreme weather conditions. The analysis of the physiological limits of tree growth has to be conducted at the borders of the natural distribution range of species. Main focus lies on economical important tree species as Common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.).Growth and competition performance of these two species was investigated under natural conditions in naturally grown mixed forests at both species distribution limits in Southern Sweden (Rågetaåsen, Siggaboda, Tolseboda). As a reference a natural forest in the Harz Mountains (Rehberg) was chosen. By means of dendroclimatological methods the main influencing climate variables and their modifications over time were analysed. Dendroecological methods allow the retrospective analysis of forest history and the development of the competition behaviour of both species in the past. These analyses were conducted on two levels: stand level and plot level. The latter permits the analysis of direct competition situations, intra- and interspecific. By means of these retrospective methods potential trends might be detected and thus allow forecasts for the development of forest stands on comparable sites. Dendroclimatological analyses showed, that both tree species exhibit interesting variability in its main influencing climate variables. The radial growth of beech is mainly determined by warm-dry summers of the previous year with focus on July and August. This influence increases since the 1950s and even stronger since the mid 1990s. Main factor for spruce growth was summer precipitation with focus an June. This influence nearly vanished on all sites since the 1950s. Since then the main climate signal of spruce growth is a sensitivity to drought of previous summers, equally to beech. The retrospective analysis of forest history by means of long-term tree-ring series allows an interpretation of past development of the forest stands and provides explanations for the current appearance. On the Swedish sites the advance of spruce in radial as in height growth is obvious. In Siggaboda and Tolseboda beech even forms the secondary species. These sites lie beyond northern limits of Fagus forests but within Fagus-Picea forests. The advantage of spruce is considerable. Though, on the reference site Rehberg the high potential of beech, to achieve comparable tree-ring widths, is distinct. Here, the competition performance is nearly balanced. At borders of naturally grown pure groups direct competition situations between the species can be found. It could be shown, that beech is disadvantaged under immediate competition with spruce. But in inverse situations, spruce, depending on its social state, even benefits of growing in mixture with beech. These results can be found on the Swedish sites as well as in the Harz Mountains, though, beech at the Rehberg shows a much higher potential to stand against the competition of spruce. Singular impacts of extreme weather conditions on tree growth can be clearly, but in most cases growth is regulated one year later. However, future challenge for tree species will be the increased frequency of extreme conditions without phases of recovery. In the past decade secondary complications of drought and its influence on growth could already be detected. This affects both species similarly. Does a species get disadvantaged due to such situations, would mean that it reaches its physiological limits. In Siggaboda this could be already shown for spruce and at the Rehberg for beech. As a result this study shows, that the competition situation between beech and spruce has begun to change since the last two decades. On exposed sites as the Rehberg, beech trees might reach its physiological limits. On the Swedish sites, however, beech trees could benefit from warm summers and prolonged vegetation periods. In contrast, spruce probably has reached its southern, climatically determined distribution limit of boreal forests.

This research assesses whether a refinement of the temporal resolution of tree-ring data can improve our understanding of the radial growth-climate relationship. Two study sites in Northern Labrador were chosen, one coastal (Nain), and the other inland (Kamestastin). In Nain, microcore samples were taken weekly from the same five white spruce (Picea glauca) trees over the 2014 growing season. After cross sections were made and stained, the resulting 10µm thin radii provided a direct view of active ring development. In coastal Labrador, radial growth was initiated during the last week of June 2014, and ceased by August 25th. Circumference band dendrometers were installed on white spruce trees at both the Nain and Kamestastin sites. The dendrometers were used to measure micrometre-scale changes over the 2014 growing season. Analogous records of temperature were collected with equal temporal resolution, from an Environment Canada climate station (#8502800), and via a programmable data logger (UX120-006M, Onset HOBO). Correlation function analysis determined the relationship between daily temperature variables and daily variations in stem size. A strong relationship was found between minimum daily temperature and daily stem size at both sites over the eight week long growing season. Traditional dendrochronological sampling methods were utilized to retrieve tree cores from white spruce and eastern larch (Larix laricina) in Nain and Kamestastin. Site-specific master growth chronologies were created using crossdating and standardization techniques. After establishing long term records of monthly temperature and accumulated growing degree-days (GDD) at both study sites, a linear regression analysis was undertaken to determine the suitability of these two variables as predictors of annual-radial growth. An accumulated June/July GDD index was identified as an overall better predictor of annual ring-width than mean monthly temperature variables in northern Labrador. Exploring radial growth on an intra-annual scale helped to improve our understanding of the complex radial growth-climate relationship in Labrador. This allows for a strengthening of tree rings as a proxy climate indicator in remote regions of the northern boreal forest. The findings from this thesis provide the tools necessary to improve upon long-term climate reconstruction and forecasts of boreal forest structure in the face of climate change.

Millennial length temperature and precipitation reconstructions from tree rings are developed for the northern Arizona region and applied to questions regarding the nature of the cultural-environmental interface in the northern Southwest, the role of explosive volcanism as a forcing mechanism in temperature variability, and the state of late 20th century climate compared to the range of natural variability of the past. A 2660-year long bristlecone pine tree-ring chronology from high elevation in the San Francisco Peaks of northern Arizona is calibrated with instrumental annual mean-maximum temperature data to reconstruct temperature. Three 1400-year long lower elevation tree-ring chronologies, developed from both living trees and wood from archaeological sites on the Colorado Plateau, are calibrated with instrumental precipitation data (October-July) to reconstruct precipitation. The juxtaposition of these two reconstructions yields paleoclimatic insights unobtainable from either record alone. Results include the identification of wet, dry, cool, and warm intervals and the identification of periods of high and low variance in temperature and precipitation. Population movement into the Flagstaff area in the second half of the 11th century is attributed to relatively warm wet conditions. The role of temperature decline in the 13th century merits additional consideration in the prehistoric regional abandonment of the Four Corners area. Many of the reconstructed cold periods are linked to explosive volcanism. The second half of the 20th century is the warmest in the period of record, and extremely warm/wet conditions have persisted since 1976.

An forest species that it presents annual tree-rings makes possible the recomposition of the last growth in way relatively fast, through the trunk analysis. In dendroecology studies, the annual tree-rings show possible relationships climategrowth and the occurrence of last disturbances. In that way, it is noticed the importance in studying the influence of the climatic factors in relation to the tree in any period of the year. Being used of that, it was evaluated as climatic variables influence in the growth of four native forest species: Luehea divaricata, Schefflera morototonii, Cedrela fissilis and Enterolobium contortisiliquum, with the objective of evaluating the behavior of those species, located in Campo de Instrução do Exército de Santa Maria (CISM), in Santa Maria - RS, regarding the diametric growth, determining the correlation among trees of same species, similarities in they growth, the climatic influence in the growth in diameter of the studied species. Temporary series of the monthly medium temperatures and monthly rainfall had been used from January, 1969 to December, 2000 originated by Santa Maria's meteorological station (RS). They had been sampled just dominant trees, whose sequences of increment of their transversal sections had been obtained through the graphic procedure LINTAB. The correlations had been calculated by SPSS 7.5 program, using the Pearson s correlation procedure. The sensibility of the growth answer due to possible environmental and climatic factors respectively, it had been calculated through sensitivities (Schweingruber, 1983). All of the correlations among the rays, traverse section, trees and species were significant with error probability level of 1%. The trees didn't present growth liberation and they were sensitive to the climatic signs. The united analysis of the nine studied trees indicates that the increase of rainfalls in April previous to growth period it is unfavorable, while in January and February the increase of rainfall benefits the tree s studied growth, as well as the increase in the temperature in May / Uma espécie florestal que apresenta anéis anuais de crescimento possibilita a recomposição do crescimento passado de forma relativamente rápida, pela análise de tronco. Em estudos dendroecológicos, os anéis anuais em árvores mostram possíveis relações clima-crescimento e a ocorrência de perturbações passadas, antrópicas ou não. Dessa forma, é importante estudar a influência dos elementos meteorológicos em relação à árvore em qualquer período do ano. Utilizando-se disso, avaliou-se como variáveis meteorológicas influenciam o crescimento de quatro espécies florestais nativas: Luehea divaricata, Schefflera morototonii, Cedrela fissilis e Enterolobium contortisiliquum. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento dessas espécies com relação ao crescimento diamétrico, determinando a correlação entre árvores de uma mesma espécie, semelhanças em seu crescimento, a influência climática no crescimento em diâmetro das espécies estudadas. As árvores estavam localizadas no Campo de Instrução do Exército de Santa Maria (CISM), no município de Santa Maria (RS), Nas análises foram usadas séries temporais das temperaturas médias mensais e das precipitações mensais de janeiro de 1969 até dezembro de 2000, provenientes da Estação Meteorológica de Santa Maria (RS). As amostras constituíram-se de árvores dominantes, no momento do corte, cujas seqüências de incremento de suas seções transversais foram obtidas por meio do procedimento gráfico LINTAB. As correlações foram calculadas com o programa SPSS 7.5, utilizando o procedimento de correlação de Pearson. A sensibilidade da resposta do crescimento, aos possíveis fatores ambientais, foi calculada por meio de sensitividades (Schweingruber, 1983). Todas as correlações entre os raios, seção transversal, árvores e espécies foram significativas com nível de probabilidade de erro de 1%. As árvores não apresentaram liberação de crescimento e foram sensíveis aos sinais climáticos. A análise conjunta das nove árvores estudadas indica que o aumento da precipitação no mês de abril anterior ao período de crescimento é desfavorável, ao passo que, nos meses de janeiro e fevereiro o aumento da precipitação pluviométrica beneficia o crescimento das árvores estudas, assim como o aumento na temperatura no mês de maio

Estudos sobre a fenologia e anatomia do lenho de árvores de espécies tropicais revelam um desenvolvimento e crescimento cíclicos, relacionados com as condições climáticas (temperatura e precipitação) e de sítio (competição, luz, armazenamento de água no solo, etc.). A sensibilidade a estes fatores resulta, para as árvores de algumas espécies, na sazonalidade da atividade cambial e na formação de anéis de crescimento anuais. Essa característica possibilita a determinação da idade, da taxa de crescimento em diâmetro do tronco e da reconstrução de eventos climáticos, bem como na aplicação de técnicas de manejo florestal sustentável. No presente trabalho, foram aplicadas as técnicas de dendrocronologia, em árvores de mogno, de duas populações na floresta tropical Amazônica do Peru, visando a (i) caracterização da estrutura macro e microscópica do lenho e dos anéis de crescimento, (ii) comprovação da anualidade da formação dos anéis de crescimento e determinação da idade das árvores, (iii) avaliação da biodeterioração do lenho das árvores, (iv) aplicação da densitometria de raios X no estudo do lenho e dos anéis de crescimento e (v) aplicação dos anéis de crescimento em dendroclimatologia e dendroecologia. Foram selecionadas 20 árvores de mogno em duas populações localizadas no Departamento de Madre de Dios, Peru e extraídas amostras radiais do seu lenho, com sonda de Pressler. Injúrias no tronco de árvores de mogno foram realizadas em outubro/2006 e analisadas as cicatrizes no lenho em outubro/2007, relacionando-as com a formação dos anéis de crescimento. Foi caracterizada a estrutura anatômica do lenho e dos anéis de crescimento, determinando-se o seu número, largura e aplicadas técnicas de dendrocronologia. Os anéis de crescimento foram sincronizados, utilizando os programas COFECHA, ARSTAN e RESPO, determinando-se a relação da sua largura com as variáveis climáticas e a idade das árvores. A podridão interna do lenho das árvores foi avaliada determinando-se o diâmetro do oco interno do lenho do tronco. A variação radial da densidade aparente do lenho foi determinada pela densitometria de raios X. Anéis de crescimento delimitados pelo parênquima axial marginal são comprovadamente anuais e possibilitaram a determinação da idade das árvores de mogno (80-122 anos) e a construção de cronologias. A variável climática determinante para o maior crescimento em diâmetro do tronco das árvores foi a precipitação dos meses prévios, do início e do final da estação chuvosa (junho-agosto, dezembro e março) indicando o seu potencial para as reconstruções climáticas. Os perfis radiais de densidade aparente do lenho, obtidos por densitometria de raios X, possibilitaram a identificação do limite exato dos anéis de crescimento, pelos valores mínimos de densidade da região do parênquima marginal. A análise de regressão entre a largura dos anéis obtida pela mesa de medição e por densitometria de raios X apresentou valor de r2=0.92, mostrando a potencialidade dos raios X como ferramenta para estudos de dendrocronologia. O oco do lenho do tronco foi observado em 20% das árvores de mogno, com DAP acima de 62 cm. / Studies in phenology and wood anatomy show a cyclical development and growth related to climatic conditions (temperature and rainfall) and site characteristics (competence, light, water storage in the soil, etc.), the sensibility to these factors results, for some tree species, in seasonality of cambium activity and formation of annual tree-rings. This characteristic enables to estimate age, growth rate in trunk diameter and reconstruction of climatic events, as well as in application of techniques of sustainable forest management. In this study, dendrochronological techniques were applied in mahogany trees from two populations in the Amazon rainforest of Peru, with the aim of (i) characterization of macroscopic and microscopic wood structure and the tree rings, (ii) checking the annual formation of tree rings and determining tree age, (iii) evaluation of the biodeterioration in wood of trees (hollow), (iv) application the X-ray densitometry in the study of wood and tree rings and (v) application the tree rings in dendroclimatology and dendroecology. Twenty mahogany trees were selected in two populations located in the department of Madre de Dios, Peru and removed radial samples from the trunk, with increment corer (Pressler). In October, 2006 injuries in the trunk of mahogany trees were carried out and in October 2007, the scars were analyzed, associating them to the formation of the tree rings. Wood and tree rings anatomic structure was characterized determining its number, width and dendrochronology techniques applied. Tree rings have been synchronized, using COFECHA, ARSTAN and RESPO programs, determining the relation between the width with the climatic variables and the age of trees. The internal wood decay was evaluated by providing the internal diameter of hollow in the trunk. The radial variation of the apparent wood density was determined by the X ray densitometry. Tree rings delimited by a marginal axial parenchyma bands are annual and enable to determine the age of mahogany trees (80-122 years) and the construction of chronologies. The climatic determinant variable for the greatest growth in diameter of the trunk of trees was the rainfall in the previous months, beginning and final of the rainy season (June - August, December and March) indicating its potential for climatic reconstructions. The radials profiles of apparent density of wood, obtained for X ray densitometry, making possible identification of the exact limit of growth rings for minimal values of density in the region of marginal parenchyma. The regression analysis between ring width measured with Velmex (0,001) table and for X ray was r2=0.92, showing the potential of X rays as tool for dendrochronological studies. Decay in the trunk was observed in 20 % of trees over 62 cm of DBH.