Growth Assessment of Native Tree Species from the Southwestern Brazilian Amazonia by Post-AD 1950 14C Analysis: Implications for Tropical Dendroclimatology Studies and Atmospheric 14C Reconstructions

Tree-ring width chronologies of cedro (Cedrela fissilis Vell.) (1875 to 2018), jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril L.) (1840 to 2018) and roxinho Peltogyne paniculata Benth.) (1910 to 2018) were developed by dendrochronological techniques in the southern Amazon Basin. Acceptable statistics for the tree-ring chronologies were obtained, and annual calendar dates were assigned. Due to the lack of long-term chronologies for use in paleoclimate reconstructions in degraded forest areas, dendrochronological dating was validated by14C analysis. Tree-rings selected for analysis corresponded to 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1971, and 1972. Those are critical calendar years in which atmospheric14C changes were the highest, and therefore their tree-ring cellulose extracts14C signatures when in alignment with existing post-AD 1950 atmospheric14C atmospheric curves would indicate annual periodicity. Throughout our correlated calendar years and post-AD 195014C signatures, we indicate that H. courbaril shows an erratic sequence of wood ages. The other two tree species, C. fissilis and P. paniculata, are annual in nature and can be used successfully as paleoclimate proxies. Moreover, due to the sampling site’s strategic location in relation to the Tropical Low-Pressure Belt over South America, these trees can be used to enhance the limited amount of observational data in Southern Hemisphere atmospheric14C calibration curves.Fil: Santos, Guaciara M.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Ortega Rodriguez, Daigard Ricardo. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Barreto, Nathan de Oliveira. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Assis Pereira, Gabriel. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Barbosa, Ana Carolina. Universidad Federal de Lavras.; BrasilFil: Roig Junent, Fidel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Mayor; ChileFil: Tomazello Filho, Mário. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Propiedades do lenho do tronco das árvores de Pinus taeda L. submetidas a aplicação de resíduo celulósico através da análise de anéis de crescimento

The analysis of the fertilization effects on wood productivity and tree-wood quality is important in forest plantations management.. The monitoring of these practices are generally defined by the continuous measurement of tree dimensions in permanent plots in periodic forest inventories. This methodology implies the availability of information restricted to a few years. On the other hand, the annual tree-ring analysis constitutes an efficient alternative methodology to the permanent plots uses. This study aimed to analyze the growth, wood density and nutritional concentration of 60 Pinus taeda trees treated with 6 different doses of composted pulp-mill sludge (CPMS): 0 , 20, 40, 80 and 100 t ha-1. Ten 17 year-old-trees for each treatment were selected, felled and wood cross sections (5 cm, thickness) were cut at the base, 1.30 m (DBH), 25, 50, 75 and 100% (6 cm, commercial trunk height). The annual tree-rings of the wood discs were delimitated and radial-longitudinally synchronized, and the tree stems reconstructed. Twin radial thin wood slices were cut transversely (DBH, trunk position), conditioned and analyzed by non-destructive techniques of X-ray densitometry and X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF), to obtain the microdensity and wood nutrients profile. Width, density, biomass and nutrient concentration chronologies were analyzed by dendrochronological methods and correlated to seasonal variations of rainfall and temperature. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to explore the interaction of tree-ring variables, as well as analysis of variance (ANOVA) to verify the difference between treatments. The results analysis are presented in three chapters aiming to reach the main objective of this study. In Chapter I, the radial variation of the tree-ring microdensity and the integration of tree-ring density and width data in allometric equations were analyzed in order to improve the estimation of wood biomass production. Also, the response of the Pinus taeda trees to the CPMS treatments was dated. In Chapter II the response of the stem P. taeda trees development to the CPMS doses was analyzed. Increments of up to 24, 37 and 127% in the stem diameter, height and volume, respectively were observed. It is also proposed a management guide based on the simulation of P. taeda wood production under 84 t ha-1 CPMS for 21-year rotation and thinning at 7 and 13 years resulted in a wood productivity of 11.9 m3 ha-1 or 5.04 Mg ha-1 per year. In Chapter III the tree-ring nutrients concentration (phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, calcium, manganese and iron; P, S, K, Ca, Mn and Fe) were quantified. Ca and Mn decrease in the pith-bark direction; K and S decrease from the pith up to 8-9th annual tree-ring and, then, increase to the bark and Fe e P presented no distinguished radial trends. The results integration showed mainly correlations of P. taeda trees growth, wood density and nutrient concentration with local precipitation and significantly effects of CPMS soil fertilizer up to the 5th year after their application. This study provided an historical evaluation of growth, wood density and nutrient concentration of P. taeda trees. Evidencing the application of annual tree- rings in the monitoring of forest plantations under silvicultural treatments.Na aplicação de fertilizantes em plantações é fundamental o entendimento e a avaliação do efeito na produtividade e qualidade da madeira das árvores das espécies florestais. Os processos de monitoramento destas práticas são, geralmente, definidos pela mensuração contínua das dimensões das árvores em parcelas permanentes em inventários florestais periódicos. No geral, esta metodologia de monitoramento implica na disponibilidade de informações restritas a poucos anos. Por outro lado, a análise dos anéis de crescimento anuais constitui-se em eficiente metodologia alternativa ao uso de parcelas permanentes. Neste contexto, o presente estudo visa analisar o crescimento, densidade e concentração de nutrientes dos anéis de crescimento anuais do lenho de 60 árvores de Pinus taeda de 17 anos de plantação experimental submetida a 6 tratamentos com resíduo celulósico compostado (CPMS), sendo: 0, 20, 40, 80 e 100 t ha-1. Foram selecionadas 10 árvores correspondentes a cada tratamento, cortados discos do lenho a 0, DAP, 25, 50, 75 e 100% da altura comercial do tronco (6 cm de diâmetro mínimo), delimitados e mensurados os anéis de crescimento na sua seção transversal e construído o crescimento radial-longitudinal do tronco das árvores. Amostras radiais gêmeas foram cortadas transversalmente do lenho dos disco do DAP do tronco, acondicionadas e analisadas por técnicas não destrutivas de densitometria de raios X e por fluorescência de raios X (μ-XRF), determinando-se a variação radial da microdensidade e dos nutrientes do lenho. As análises dendrocronológicas dos anéis de crescimento anuais propiciaram a construção das cronologias da largura, densidade, biomassa e concentração dos nutrientes, comparando-as com as variações sazonais de precipitação pluviométrica e de temperatura. Aplicou-se se a análise de componentes principais (PCA) para explorar a interação das variáveis dos anéis de crescimento, bem como a análise de variância (ANOVA) para verificar a diferença entre tratamentos. Os resultados das análises são apresentados em três capítulos atendendo ao objetivo do presente estudo. NoCapítulo I, analisou-se a variação radial da microdensidade dos anéis de crescimento, e a integração dos dados de densidade e largura dos anéis de crescimento em equacões alométricas para melhorar a estimativa da produção de biomassa de madeira. Ainda foi datada a resposta das árvores de Pinus taeda aos tratamentos com CPMS. No Capítulo II analisou-se o histórico da resposta do desenvolvimento do tronco das árvores de Pinus taeda às doses de CPMS, com incrementos de até 24, 37 e 127% no diâmetro, altura e volume do tronco, respectivamente. Propõe-se, ainda, a confecção de guia de manejo baseado na simulação da produção de madeira de P. taeda submetido a 84 t ha-1 CPMS para rotação de 21 anos e desbastes ao 7º e 13º ano resultando em produtividade de 11,9 m3 ha-1 ou 5,04 Mg ha-1 por ano. No capítulo III quantificou-se a concentração de nutrientes (fósforo, enxofre, potássio, cálcio, manganês e ferro; P, S, K, Ca, Mn e Fe) nos anéis de crescimento anuais das árvores. Observou-se que Ca e Mn diminuem na direção medula-casca; K e S diminuem da medula até o 8-9º anel, em seguida, aumentam na direção da casca, enquanto Fe e P não apresentaram tendências radiais. Os resultados integrados do histórico do crescimento, densidade da madeira e concentração de nutrientes no lenho das árvores de P. taeda mostraram que a variabilidade anual esta correlacionada, principalmente, com a precipitação local e com o efeito da aplicação de CPMS até cerca do 5º ano. O presente estudo propiciou a avaliação histórica do crescimento, densidade e concentração de nutrientes do lenho das árvores de Pinus taeda. Evidenciando a aplicação dos anéis de crescimento anuais no monitoramento de plantações florestais submetidas a tratamentos silviculturais

Novel Yield Model of <i>Pinus patula</i> Schltdl. & Cham. Growth near the Ecological Limit in Northwestern Peruvian Andes

Forest plantations with exotic species in the northwestern Peruvian Andes have brought different ecosystem benefits. The wood productivity in this Páramo region is directly related to the great availability of water from abundant rainfall compared to other regions of the semi-arid Andes. To address the lack of information on forest inventories of plantations in the Páramo region, this study used annual growth rings (dendrochronology) to build new models of tree growth and wood productivity and compared 22-year-old Pinus patula plots with thinning and unthinning treatments. Our results show that late thinning, removing 63% of stem density in the 15th year, does not have significant effects on the diameter increase or stand-level productivity. For these plantations, we propose a management rotation of 21 years with a first thinning treatment (35%) at 5 years and a second thinning treatment (50%) at 12 years. Production at 21 years is expected to be between 194.6 m3 ha−1 and 504.6 m3 ha−1 for stands with low and high wood productivity, respectively. Tree-ring studies are potentially useful for monitoring forest plantations and provide an alternative method for forest managers who use allometric equations to predict silvicultural treatments and to propose management guides for plantations

Long- and short-term impacts of climate and dry-season on wood traits of Cedrela fissilis Vell. in southern Brazilian Amazon

During the last two decades the tropical Amazon forests have been impacted by frequent and severe droughts. However, little is known about the impacts of these extreme events on wood traits. In this study, we quantified long- and short-term impacts on growth and wood density response and resilience strategies under extreme droughts, analyzing the wood trait trends and correlations with climate variables (temperature, precipitation, and the SPEI drought index). Then, we simulated tree-ring formation and its responses to soil moisture using the process-based VS-Lite growth model. Our results showed how climate anomalies and dry spells increased since 1990s in the southern Amazon region and have affected the growth and wood density of C. fisillis. Ring width, latewood width and minimum wood density experienced the highest sensitivity to drought. C. fissilis showed wider (narrower) and more (less) dense rings during wetter (drier) years, respectively, suggesting that the species undergoes functional plasticity in the formation of its wood in order to adapt to dry conditions. Changes in water limitations during the dry season modify growth thresholds and long-term resilience, leading to decrease growth and increase wood density, enhancing the vulnerability of C. fissilis to projected climate warming scenarios. The short-term resilience is evidenced more in wood density than in the ring width, indicating the species’ ability to adapt to short drought periods. This study is a first attempt to evidence the characteristics of the annual growth rings of C. fissilis trees in relation to climate sensitivity and resilience to drought, based on long-term data from the seasonal moist tropical forest of the Amazon.Fil: Ortega Rodriguez, Daigard Ricardo. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Sánchez Salguero, Raúl. Universidad Pablo de Olavide.; EspañaFil: Hevia, Andrea. Universidad Pablo de Olavide.; EspañaFil: Granato Souza, Daniela. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Assis Pereira, Gabriel. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Roig Junent, Fidel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Tomazello Filho, Mario. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Growth-ring boundaries of tropical tree species: Aiding delimitation by long histological sections and wood density profiles

International audienceRecent methodological advances have opened new perspectives for tropical dendrochonological studies by facilitating the visualization, delimitation, and analyses of tree-rings. One of those improvements was brought by X-ray densitometry, which allows building radial wood density profiles at microscopic scale. Furthermore, recent methods allow for cutting long histological sections to study anatomical variations along the entire radius of trees. These techniques have mainly been applied to low wood-density species from temperate and Mediterranean regions, with only limited applications in the tropics. Here we provide an improved protocol that allows for obtaining long histological sections of tropical woods, apply it to six species with varying wood densities 0.45−0.85 g cm−3 (Eucalyptus grandis, Tectona grandis, Acacia mangium, Cedrela fissilis, Hymenaea courbaril, and Copaifera duckei), and explore potential applications for tree-ring analyses. We provide instructions on core-microtome knife adjustments, procedures for softening and sectioning long histological samples of high wood-density species. We also present a multi-proxy approach that combines X-ray density profiles with the histological sections that improve the characterization and distinction of the various and complex tropical growth rings anatomical markers (fibre zone, marginal parenchyma, and ring porosity). This multi-proxy approach also opens the door for obtaining quantitative anatomy and physical parameters of tropical species with (intra-annual resolution. Our proposed approach is thus not only an additional tool to improve ring-boundary delimitation of tropical species, but it also paves the way to more innovative, borderline approaches in tropical dendrochronology

Exploring wood anatomy, density and chemistry profiles to understand the tree-ring formation in Amazonian tree species

Long-term analysis of tree growth using annual tree rings is increasingly in demand for tropical tree species. The basis of these studies has traditionally been the anatomical identification of the annual ring boundary. However, the structure of these annual rings has been sparsely explored for complementary physical and chemical wood traits. Here, we explore the relationships among wood density features and chemical elements (S, K, Ca, Mn) involved in the annual tree ring formation of 12 tropical tree species from non-flooded forest in the southern Amazon basin. Transverse wood sections were used for each species to determine: 1) macroscopic distinction (radial growth and wood density), 2) microscopic analyse of vessels, axial and ray parenchyma (anatomy) and 3) X-ray densitometry (physical) and X-ray fluorescence (chemical). For some species, the profiles of wood density, and Ca and Mn content showed intra- and inter-annual patterns that allowed to define and characterize the growth boundary of tree rings. Ca, K and S were mainly distributed in axial parenchyma cells, and around vessels, whereas, Mn was mainly distributed in fibres. Our results showed significant species-specific correlations between tree-ring width, density and concentrations of Ca, K and Mn. The anatomical characterization and the complementary information provided by the density and chemical profiles in some Amazonian species can represent a valuable proxy to improve the definition of annual ring-boundaries and improve the understanding of long-term growth and physiological patterns.Fil: Ortega Rodriguez, Daigard Ricardo. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Hevia, Andrea. Universidad Pablo de Olavide.; EspañaFil: Sánchez Salguero, Raúl. Universidad Pablo de Olavide.; EspañaFil: Santini, Luiz. Universidad Mayor.; ChileFil: Carvalho, Hudson Wallace Pereira de. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Roig Junent, Fidel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Tomazello Filho, Mario. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Extreme drought triggers parallel shifts in wood anatomical and physiological traits in upper treeline of the Mediterranean Andes

Abstract Background Treeline ecotones of Mediterranean ecoregions have been affected by the increasing intensity and severity of droughts. Even though the effect of droughts on forest dynamics has been widely documented, knowledge is relatively scarce of how extreme climate episodes affect the hydraulic structure and, therefore, the physiology of woody plants. The Mediterranean Andes have experienced an uninterrupted period of drought since 2010, including an extremely dry year in 2019 with approximately 80% rainfall deficit. Here, we investigated shifts in wood anatomical and physiological traits of Kageneckia angustifolia, an endemic treeline species, in response to this drought period. Methods We evaluated the xylem plasticity of three K. angustifolia populations across their natural distribution (31–35° SL) based on anatomical (vessel structure and distribution) and physiological (intrinsic water-use efficiency) variables in the tree rings. We focused on the period 2000–2020 that corresponds to before the megadrought (2000–2007), (ii) megadrought (2008–2018) and (iii) hyperdrought (2019–2020). The variables were annualized and analyzed by linear mixed-effects models. Results Our results provide insights to the anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying the resilience of treeline forests to persistent droughts in central Chile. We found that the extreme drought in 2019–2020 triggered shifts in vessel size and frequency that increased hydraulic safety. These significant shifts in vessel traits occurred in parallel with a decrease in pit aperture area and an increase in water-use efficiency, further increasing the resilience of K. angustifolia to extreme drought stress. Conclusions Our results revealed coordinated shifts in vessel size and frequency and water-use efficiency in response to the megadrought, thereby reducing vulnerability to hydraulic failure. The apparent resilience of K. angustifolia to extreme droughts suggests that this adaptation to drought stress may increase its ability to tolerate novel climatic conditions of treeline environments of the Mediterranean Andes, although it is not clear whether these adaptations will be sufficient to persist in scenarios that predict intensification of climate stress. Finally, our results provide empirical evidence that integrating wood anatomical and physiological traits facilitates the understanding of resilience mechanisms that treeline forests develop in the face of increasing drought stress

Climate variability of the southern Amazon inferred by a multi-proxy tree-ring approach using <i>Cedrela fissilis</i> Vell

The analysis of climate variability and development of reconstructions based on tree-ring records in tropical forests have been increasing in recent decades. In the Amazon region, ring width and stable isotope long-term chronologies have been used for climatic studies, however little is known about the potential of wood traits such as density and chemical concentrations. In this study, we used well-dated rings of Cedrela fissilis Vell. fromthe drought-prone southern Amazon basin to assess the potential of using inter-annual variations of annually-resolved ring width, wood density,stable oxygen isotope (δ18OTR) measured in tree-ring cellulose and concentration of Sulfur (STR) and Calcium (CaTR) in xylem cells to study climate variability. During wet years, Cedrela fissilis produced wider and denser rings with higher CaTR and lower STR, as well as depleted δ18OTR values. During dry years, a wider range of responses was observed in growth, density and STR, while lower CaTR and enriched δ18OTR values were found. The annual centennial chronologies spanning from 1835 to 2018 showed good calibration skills for reconstructing local precipitation, evapotranspiration (P-PET), Amazon-wide rainfall, as well as climate modes related to sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies such as El Niño South Oscillation (ENSO), Tropical Northern Atlantic (TNA), and the Western Hemisphere Warm Pool (WHWP) oscillations. CaTR explained 42 % of the variance of local precipitation (1975–2018), RW explained 30 % of the P-PET variance (1975–2018), while δ18OTR explained 60 % and 57 % of the variance of Amazon rainfall (1960–2018) and El Niño 3.4 (1920–2018), respectively. Our results show that a multi-proxy tropical tree-ring approach can be used for high-reliable reconstructions of climate variability over Amazon basin at inter-annual and multidecadal time scales.Fil: Ortega Rodriguez, Daigard Ricardo. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Sánchez Salguero, Raúl. Universidad Pablo de Olavide.; EspañaFil: Hevia, Andrea. Universidad Pablo de Olavide.; EspañaFil: Granato Souza, Daniela. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Cintra, Bruno B. L.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Hornink, Bruna. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Andreu Hayles, Laia. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Assis Pereira, Gabriel. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Roig Junent, Fidel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Tomazello Filho, Mario. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; Brasi

Natural Regeneration After Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon: Implications for Restoration of Tropical Forests

Context: Gold mining is the most destructive activity in the natural forests of the Madre de Dios region in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. Understanding the natural regeneration process of these degraded areas is necessary to develop forest restoration projects in such conditions. Aims: We aimed to evaluate forest recovery and identify the successional and structure patterns of vegetation governing natural regeneration over time. Methods: Structure, composition, richness, diversity, and successional status were evaluated in abandoned artisanal gold mine areas in Madre de Dios, southeastern Peru. Vegetation data were recorded in 61 plots of 250 m2 established in five sites varying from 1 to 19 years of abandonment. Vegetation in abandoned areas was compared with six undisturbed forests evaluated in previous inventories. Results: In the mining lands, tree density and basal area recovered quickly, while species richness and composition were slow. Forest recovery is an initial stage of transition from pioneer to early secondary species until at least 19 years after abandonment. The most abundant and frequent species were the fast-growing species Ochroma pyramidale and Cecropia engleriana. These species could be considered potential candidates to promote restoration plans. Pioneer species represented 63% of the number of species in plots of 1–4 years, 57% in plots of 5–7 years, and 50% in plots of 8–19 years. Early and late secondary species represented 34 and 16%, respectively, of the number of species in plots of 8–19 years. Abandoned mining and reference plots present less than 5% of species in common. Conclusion: Our results highlight a slow natural regeneration process in areas for up to 19 years after gold mining. Species from different successional statuses were identified as potential candidates for recovering vegetation in such areas. Our findings may have important implications for further research focusing on the ecological restoration in tropical forests severely degraded by gold mining