Tree-ring isotopes suggest atmospheric drying limits temperature-growth responses of treeline bristlecone pine.

ABSTRACT: Altitudinally separated bristlecone pine populations in the White Mountains (California, USA) exhibit differential climate-growth responses as temperature and tree-water relations change with altitude. These populations provide a natural experiment to explore the ecophysiological adaptations of this unique tree species to the twentieth century climate variability. We developed absolutely dated annual ring-width chronologies, and cellulose stable carbon and oxygen isotope chronologies from bristlecone pine growing at the treeline (~3500 m) and ~200 m below for the period AD 1710-2010. These chronologies were interpreted in terms of ecophysiological adaptations to climate variability with a dual-isotope model and a leaf gas exchange model. Ring widths show positive tree growth anomalies at t

SUBMITTER: de Boer HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6642877 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature