Plasticity in dendroclimatic response across the distribution range of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis)

We investigated the variability of the climate-growth relationship of Aleppo pine across its distribution range in the Mediterranean Basin. We constructed a network of tree-ring index chronologies from 63 sites across the region. Correlation function analysis identified the relationships of tree-ring index to climate factors for each site. We also estimated the dominant climatic gradients of the region using principal component analysis of monthly, seasonal, and annual mean temperature and total precipitation from 1,068 climatic gridpoints. Variation in ring width index was primarily related to precipitation and secondarily to temperature. However, we found that the dendroclimatic relationship depended on the position of the site along the climatic gradient. In the southern part of the distribution range, where temperature was generally higher and precipitation lower than the regional average, reduced growth was also associated with warm and dry conditions. In the northern part, where the average temperature was lower and the precipitation more abundant than the regional average, reduced growth was associated with cool conditions. Thus, our study highlights the substantial plasticity of Aleppo pine in response to different climatic conditions. These results do not resolve the source of response variability as being due to either genetic variation in provenance, to phenotypic plasticity, or a combination of factors. However, as current growth responses to inter-annual climate variability vary spatially across existing climate gradients, future climate-growth relationships will also likely be determined by differential adaptation and/or acclimation responses to spatial climatic variation. The contribution of local adaptation and/or phenotypic plasticity across populations to the persistence of species under global warming could be decisive for prediction of climate change impacts across populations. In this sense, a more complex forest dynamics modeling approach that includes the contribution of genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity can improve the reliability of the ecological inferences derived from the climate-growth relationships.This work was partially supported by Spanish Ministry of Education and Science co-funded by FEDER program (CGL2012-31668), the European Union and the National Ministry of Education and Religion of Greece (EPEAEK- Environment – Archimedes), the Slovenian Research Agency (program P4-0015), and the USDA Forest Service. The cooperation among international partners was supported by the COST Action FP1106, STREeSS

Medieval Boats from Nin: Wood Species Identification

Krajem šezdesetih godina 20. stoljeća na ulazu u ninsku luku pronađeni su dobro očuvani ostatci dviju srednjovjekovnih brodica. Na inicijativu voditelja istraživanja Zdenka Brusića i konzervatora Božidara Vilhara oba su plovna objekta izvađena iz mora, konzervirana i izložena u Muzeju ninske baštine, čime je projekt zadobio sustavni karakter te donedavno predstavljao jedini arheološki projekt usmjeren na sustavno istraživanje i obradu podmorskih nalaza. Unatoč stručnim i znanstvenim radovima u kojima su brodovi sumarno obrađeni, detaljna objava nalaza tek predstoji. Stoga je 2008. započeo rad na dopuni postojeće dokumentacije, a jedan od prvih koraka bio je određivanje vrsta drvene građe korištene za izradu brodskih konstrukcija. U radu se ukratko iznose rezultati dosadašnjih istraživanja i provedenih analiza, te upozorava na alarmantno loše stanje nalaza.Two boats (Nin 1 and Nin 2) were discovered in the 1960s at the entrance to Nin harbor, fifteen km northwest of Zadar. In 1974 the boats were lifted from the sea bed, were preserved in PEG and presented to the public in the Museum of Nin Heritage. According to radiocarbon evidence the boats date to the eleventh/twelfth century. They were about 8 m long and were built in skeleton first technique. The frames and planks were fastened together with nails and treenails. Instead of a central keel they were provided with a keel plank and two parallel bilge keels, which run below the garboards. A wooden base for the mast step was also found. A sampling of the wooden elements to identify wood species was realized in 2008. Sixty-one samples were taken from various elements of the Nin 1 frames, futtocks, stem post, bilge keel, planks and central plank), and 91 samples were taken from Nin 2 (frames, planks, bilge keel and central plank). The majority of the components from both wrecks were made of Quercus petraea. In Nin 1, 43 of 61 samples were of Quercus petraea, and 12 samples were of Quercus cerris. One plank was made of Platanus orientalis, another of Ulmus campestris. Four analyzed components were identified as Abies alba and are probably modern insertions in the reconstruction. In Nin 2, 84 of 91 samples were made of Quercus petraea, 6 of Quercus cerris. One plank was identified as Ulmus campestris. The native distribution area of Quercus petraea and Quercus cerris coincide. Both oak species are very common in Croatia and the Balkans. Anatomical features indicate that both species of oak that were used as construction timber for the Nin boats grew in a region characterized by high mountains and very cold winters, resulting in trees which are better fit for shipbuilding because of their strength and lack of insect and fungal damage. While it is logical to assume that local boatyards building small boats would have exploited local timber sources, or whatever was locally available, it is possible that such timbers were depleted in this region, thus forcing the procurement of timber from mountainous areas

Dendrochronological Investigations in Iran

Dendrochronological research on Juniperus polycarpos growing in west and central Iran reveals that the radial growth in this species depends mainly on the amount of precipitation in the more arid regions. When the amount of rain is sufficient, i.e. above 450 mm, the prevailing summer temperature seems to become the limiting factor. Favorable conditions which prevailed during the periods 1685-1695 and 1790-1800 resulted in better width growth, while less favorable conditions which prevailed during the years 1725-1735 and 1855-1865 resulted in narrow rings.This item is part of the Tree-Ring Research (formerly Tree-Ring Bulletin) archive. It was digitized from a physical copy provided by the Laboratory of Tree-Ring research at The University of Arizona. For more information about this peer-reviewed scholarly journal, please email the Editor of Tree-Ring Research at [email protected]

For the birds - an environmental archaeological analysis of Byzantine pigeon towers at Shivta (Negev Desert, Israel)

Pigeon rearing was an integral part of the agricultural regime that dominated the Negev region in Israel throughout the Roman and Byzantine periods. Dozens of structures have been documented that relate to the raising of pigeons and the exploitation of their dung as a fertilizer as is attested in the literary sources (Pliny, Columella and Varro). Excavation of a dovecote near Shivta produced large quantities of pigeon dung and sediments. The material recovered was processed for floral remains (both macro and micro) and archaeozoological remains. We present a holistic look at pigeon diet and local environmental conditions in the Byzantine Negev through the archaeobotanical remains. Demographic and morphometric analysis of size and shape of the pigeon bones refine our understanding of pigeon species that were bred in antiquity as well as inform on their life-histories. This integrated examination from an agro-archaeological perspective illustrates the complexity of desert agriculture.10 page(s