We use a simulation model to generate tree-ring like data with systematic growth forcings and subject it to two methods of standardization: Regional Curve Standardization (RCS) and Negative Exponential Curve Standardization (NECS). The coherency between very low frequency forcings (hundreds of years) and the chronologies was higher when RCS was used to detrend the component series. There was no difference between standardization methods at decadal or annual time scales. We found that the detectability of systematic forcings was heavily dependent on amplitude and wavelength of the input signal as well as the number of trees simulated. These results imply that for very long tree-ring chronologies where the analyst is interested in low-frequency variability, RCS is a better method for detrending series if the requirements for that method can be met. However, in the majority of situations NECS is an acceptable detrending method. Most critically, we found that multi-centennial signals can be recovered using both methods.

In this report, we describe the use of dendrochronological techniques on the circumpolar, evergreen dwarf-shrub, Cassiope tetragona. Using techniques such as crossdating and standardization, and the software programs COFECHA and ARSTAN, we developed C. tetragona growth and reproduction chronologies for sites in the Canadian High Arctic. High-resolution chronologies may be used to reconstruct past climate and phase changes in large-scale modes of atmospheric circulation (e.g. Arctic Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation), to investigate the growth and reproductive responses of the plant to ambient and manipulated environmental variables, and to reconstruct the plant’s past ecohydrology (δ¹⁸O, δD, δ¹³C), gas exchange (δ¹³C) and mineral nutrition (δ¹⁵N). As C. tetragona is a circumpolar species, chronologies may be developed throughout the Arctic at sites where no trees exist, and thus provide new information on the past climate and environmental history of sites and regions previously unstudied.

In Pacific North America, a substantial amount of the streamflow available during the dry summer months originates from melting mountain snowpacks. Since the start of the twenty-first century, these mountain snowpacks have been declining due to the impacts of global climate change and could have severe implications for future water availability in many regions. To develop robust predictive models of future water availability derived from mountainous snowpacks, the longest possible data record is required. However, instrumental data for snow measurements, when available, are limited to a length of only five or six decades in most regions of Pacific North America. In this study, tree-rings from snow-depth sensitive tree species (mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carrière) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.)) were used as a proxy to develop a 258-year record of precipitation as snow (PAS) for the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia. Four snow models were evaluated based on a suite of dendroclimatological model diagnostics. From these, one PAS reconstruction was carried out. The reconstruction was unable to properly validate using the leave-one-out cross validation method. This result is attributed to the combination of a short calibration period, a potentially weak climate signal, and the absence of signal enhancement. Despite this outcome the research resulted in number of inferences and recommendations useful for future research. / Graduate

Dendroclimatologists often approach field work with the intent of reconstructing a particular climate variable (e.g. temperature, streamflow, precipitation). Although guidelines exist for species and site selection, isolating the signal of interest is difficult in areas with complex terrain or a lack of ideal sites. In this case study, I suggest climatological techniques for a more efficient sampling scheme and apply these techniques to identify criteria for selecting sites sensitive to winter precipitation in the north-central Rocky Mountains. These techniques include examining factors influencing the regional response of tree growth to climate by utilizing the International Tree-Ring Databank (ITRDB), using eigenvector analyses to identify modes of variability between sites, and delineating climate regions based on the variable of interest through climate regionalization. Results suggest that low- or mid-elevation Pseudotsuga menziesii sites should be targeted for maximizing the winter precipitation signal in the case study area. The season of precipitation impacting growth was found to be a major component of the overall variability between sites.

Climate and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris P. Mill.) radial growth relationships have been documented within its southern and western distribution. However, knowledge of this relationship is lacking along its northern latitudinal range margin (NLRM). Based on the principles of ecological amplitude, limiting factors, and studies of coniferous species in eastern temperate forests of the U.S., we hypothesized that the radial growth of longleaf pine in mixed pine-hardwood forests is responding to winter temperatures in southeastern Virginia. Two longleaf pine chronologies were developed to determine the relationship between radial growth and monthly temperature, precipitation, and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) via response function analysis (RFA). Results at the 0.05 level yielded significant response function coefficients with a positive response to current winter temperature and precipitation and a negative response to prior August PDSI. In studies of climate and longleaf pine radial growth in other parts of its range, winter temperature and precipitation have not shared a significant positive association with radial growth. Instead current spring and summer precipitation usually share this positive association. These findings add more evidence to an emerging pattern suggesting that winter temperatures contribute to limiting the radial growth of temperate conifers at northern range margins in the Northern Hemisphere.

Although the primary purpose of response function analysis is to identify climate variables that have significant associations with tree radial growth, many researchers are also interested in assessing the strength of these associations. Existing response function programs use a liberal criterion to determine how many climate variables should be included in the analysis. The resulting response function models include a large number of predictor variables. The objective of this analysis is to determine if these response function models are over-fitted to the data used to calibrate them, resulting in over-estimation of strength of associations. PRECON was used to produce response functions for white oak chronologies from n = 149 sites, with separate response functions using 34 monthly climate variables or 10 seasonal climate variables. An analysis of goodness-of-fit statistics for response function calibration provided strong evidence of over-estimation of strength of associations. The degree of over-estimation was greater when 34 monthly climate variables were included in the models compared to models with10 season variables. There was much less evidence of over-fitting for the R-verif statistic that reflects strength of association between predicted and actual tree-ring indices that were not included in model calibration. The PRECON R-verif statistic is the best measure of the strength of multivariate growth-climate associations currently available.

Female and male plants often differ in reproductive effort and habitat requirements. The aim of this study was to analyze these differences between the sexes and the effect of climate on tree-ring width in European yew (Taxus baccata). The study was conducted in five yew populations in western Poland. Wood samples were taken from 196 trees (98 females and 98 males) and subjected to the standard procedure of dendrochronological dating. Mean tree-ring width was significantly higher in males since about the beginning of sexual maturity. No such relationship was observed in the youngest population, which is the most distant from the current geographic limit for this species. In most of the analyzed populations, width of tree rings in female individuals, in contrast to males, was negatively correlated with high temperatures in August and September in the year prior to the formation of the tree ring, and correlated positively with precipitation in June and July in the current year. The differentiation of tree-ring width between males and females likely began when the yew trees reached sexual maturity, probably because of the assumed greater reproductive effort of females in comparison with males. The lack of difference in the youngest population may result from a short time since the beginning of sexual maturity or from a milder climate in that region. Different reactions of the two sexes to climate indicate that this may affect the range and viability of populations at the limits of the range.

Árvores de espécies exóticas foram plantadas em espaços urbanos e rurais, constituindo parte da paisagem e da cobertura vegetal das cidades brasileiras. As árvores de inúmeras dessas espécies apresentam fenologia característica e atividade cambial sazonal, formando anéis de crescimento anuais, que têm ampla aplicação na silvicultura, como indicadores ambientais e na detecção de espécies bioacumuladoras. No presente trabalho foram caracterizados os anéis de crescimento, a idade, a taxa de crescimento e o teor de Hg no lenho de Grevillea robusta, Hovenia dulcis, Persea americana, Tabebuia pentaphylla e Terminalia catappa, no município de Paulínia (com registro de contaminação por Hg) e de Piracicaba, SP. Do tronco das árvores foram extraídas amostras do lenho e (i) caracterizados e mensurados os anéis de crescimento, (ii) sincronizados, construídas as séries cronológicas com os programas COFECHA e ARSTAN, (iii) obtidas as funções de resposta dos anéis de crescimento em relação ao clima, com o programa RESPO; (iv) construídas as curvas variação da densidade do lenho, do crescimento do tronco e determinado o seu incremento médio anual. Através de análises químicas foi determinado o teor de Hg nas amostras do lenho e no solo. Houve diferenças significativas nas amostras de solo de Paulínia (pátio da empresa e outro distante de 350 m) e de Piracicaba, sendo de 21,5, 0,14 e <0,023 mg/kg, respectivamente. No lenho de G. robusta, H. dulcis, T. pentaphylla e T. catappa, do pátio da empresa em Paulínia, foram determinados 4,95, 1,98, 0,97 e 4,70 µg/g de Hg; no lenho das árvores de P. americana, distante 350 m, não foi detectada a presença do Hg. Os anéis de crescimento têm marcante anatomia, correlacionada com a delimitação dos anéis e valores de densidade. Os perfis radiais de densidade do lenho mostraram similaridades e diferenças entre as árvores e locais. Foram construídas séries padronizadas de anéis de crescimento de H. dulcis, P. americana, T. pentaphylla e de T. catappa, para os sítios A e B e A-B (agrupados), obtendo-se séries temporais de largura dos anéis de crescimento, representando um padrão comum de variabilidade. As correlações entre as séries cronológicas dos anéis de crescimento das árvores nos sítios A e B e a temperatura média e precipitação mensal, foram significativas e consideradas determinantes no crescimento do tronco. Com relação ao incremento médio anual do tronco detectaram-se comportamentos diferenciados das árvores das 4 espécies, em relação aos 2 sítios. Os resultados indicaram que a presença de Hg no solo e no lenho das árvores localizadas na área da empresa, parece não afetar o seu crescimento. Indicam, também, que as condições dos sítios e as inerentes as árvores das espécies devem estar influenciando o crescimento do tronco. / Exotic tree species were planted in urban and rural areas, constituting part of the landscape and the vegetal covering of Brazilian cities. The countless trees of those species present characteristic phenology and seasonal cambium activity, forming annual tree-rings. The tree-rings have wide application in the silviculture and as environmental indicators (evaluating the contamination for heavy metals) and detecting bioaccumulators species. In the present work the tree-rings were characterized, as well as the age, the growth rate and Hg content in the trunk of Grevillea robusta, Hovenia dulcis, Persea americana, Tabebuia pentaphylla and Terminalia catappa trees, planted in Paulínia (with registration of Hg contamination) and in Piracicaba cities, São Paulo State. From the tree trunks were extracted wood samples and (i) characterized and evaluated the tree-rings, (ii) synchronized, built the chronological series with the programs COFECHA and ARSTAN, (iii) obtained the response functions of the treerings in relation to the climate, with the program RESPO; (iv) built the curves of the wood density, of the pole growth and annual increment. Through chemical analyses was evaluated the Hg content in the trees wood samples and in the soil collected near of the trees trunk base. There were significant differences in the soil samples of Paulínia (site from the patio of the Hg emission company and other site distant of 350 m) and Piracicaba, being of 21,5, 0,14 and <0,023 mg/kg, respectively. In the wood samples of G. robusta, H. dulcis, T. pentaphylla and T. catappa, from the patio of the company in Paulínia, were detected 4.95, 1.98, 0.97 and 4.70 µg/g of Hg, respectively; in the trees wood samples of P. americana, distant 350 m, the presence of Hg was not detected. The tree-rings have a characteristic anatomy, correlated with its boundaries and density values. The wood density radial profiles showed similarities and differences between the trees and sites. Tree-rings standardized series of H. dulcis, P. americana, T. pentaphylla and of T. catappa trees were built, to the sites A and A-B (grouped), being obtained temporal series of tree-rings width, representing a common model of variability. The correlations among the chronological series of the tree-rings of sites A and B and monthly mean temperature and precipitation accumulated, were significant and considered decisive in the trunk growth. With relationship to the pole annual mean increment, particular behavior of the 4 tree species were detected, in relation to the 2 sites. The presence of Hg in the soil and in the wood of tree species located close to the industrial company seems to not affect the trunk growth. Indicated, also, that the site conditions (planting spacing; competition for the growth factors; water soil saturated; urbanized area and street covered with asphalt, proximity and shadow among trees, etc.) and the inherent characteristic of the species trees should be influencing the tree growth.

Semi-arid valleys in northern Utah are home to the majority of the state population and are dependent upon winter snowpack in surrounding mountains for water for irrigation, hydropower and municipal use. Water is delivered to the urban areas in the spring as discharge in rivers draining the mountains. Understanding the natural variability and cycles of wet and dry periods enables water managers to make informed water allocations. However, the complex regional climate teleconnections are not well understood and the shortness of the instrumental period does not allow for a full understanding of natural variability. Paleo proxies can be used to extend the instrumental record and better capture natural variability. This study uses dendrochronology to reconstruct streamflows of the Logan River in northern Utah over the last several centuries to provide water managers with a better understanding of natural variability. This reconstruction involved sampling and creating three Douglas-fir, one limber pine and two Rocky Mountain juniper chronologies in northern Utah. Combined with existing chronologies, three flow reconstructions of the Logan River were created: one using only within basin chronologies, one using all considered chronologies and one long chronology. Employing regional chronologies resulted in the most robust models, similar to other findings. Results indicate that the last several centuries exhibited greater variability and slightly higher mean annual flows than in the instrumental record (1922-2011). These reconstructions were created using species well established within the dendroclimatology literature such as of Douglas-fir and limber pine and the lesser used Rocky Mountain juniper. The success of Rocky Mountain juniper suggests that it can be a useful species for dendroclimatology in other areas lacking more widely recognized species in semi-arid climates (e.g., pinyon pine).

Holocene climate likely influenced prehistoric hunter-gatherer subsistence and mobility as changing climate patterns affected food resources. Of interest here is whether climate-driven resource variability influenced peoples in the central Rocky Mountains. This study employed the z-score model to predict how foragers coped with resource variability. The exercise enabled exploration of the relationship between climate, resources, and foraging strategies at High Rise Village (48FR5891), an alpine residential site in Wyoming's Wind River Range occupied between 2800-250 cal B.P. The test was applied to occupations dating to the Medieval Warm Period (1150-550 cal B.P.) and the Little Ice Age (550-100 cal B.P.). Using regional characterizations of temporal variability for these climate periods, a z-score model was employed to develop predictions of how foragers coped with resource variability and predictability during both periods. The model predicted foraging decisions at High Rise Village that managed the risk of caloric shortfall during the slow-changing Medieval Warm Period and the highly variable Little Ice Age. Predictions for each period were tested against corresponding archaeological expectations for subsistence remains, mobility and technology requirements, and the frequency of site use. Further, this study employed a dendroclimatological study to locally characterize the climate periods and test model assumptions of their contrasting patterns of variability. The dendroclimatological study corroborates model assumptions and finds that the Medieval Warm Period was a period of multidecadal climatic variability and resource predictability while the Little Ice Age was characterized by short-term variability and resource unpredictability. Poor preservation of subsistence remains hampered the archaeological study. However, as expected, lithic and chronometric data indicate the site was used residentially and relatively frequently during the Medieval Warm Period, and that use decreased during the Little Ice Age. Medieval use of the site appears to be by Uinta Phase (1800-900 cal B.P.) foragers from the adjacent lowlands, and likely related to regional population pressure, as well as resource accessibility and predictability at High Rise Village. A dramatic decrease in site use predates the Little Ice Age and is likely related to regional population decrease and not LIA conditions at High Rise Village.