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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2023, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (7): 65-77.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20220387

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Divergence Phenomenon of Radial Growth of Minjiang Fir in Response to Warming at Different Slope Aspects and Elevations on the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Panpan Xue1,2(),Ning Miao1,*(),Ximing Yue1,Qiong Tao1,Yuandong Zhang3,Qiuhong Feng4,5,Kangshan Mao1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065
    2. Yunnan Forestry and Grassland Bureau Kunming 650224
    3. Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    4. Ecological Restoration and Conservation for Forest and Wetland Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Forestry Chengdu 610081
    5. Sichuan Wolong Forest Ecosystem Research Station Aba 623006
  • Received:2022-06-09 Online:2023-07-25 Published:2023-09-08
  • Contact: Ning Miao E-mail:xuepp1531@163.com;miaoning@scu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective: Minjiang fir (Abies fargesii var. faxoniana) is an endemic and dominant tree species in the eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP). This paper aims to study the spatial correlation of the divergence phenomenon of Minjiang fir with slope aspect and elevation and to explore its driving force, so as to provide a scientific basis for climate reconstruction and predict distributions of natural forests in southwestern China. Method: In the Miyaluo Forest Region on the eastern margin of TP, a total of 875 tree cores of Minjiang fir were collected from four main distribution slope aspects (NE, N, NW, and W) and three elevation gradients (3 650, 3 800, and 3 950 m). After the growth trend of the tree ring was removed using dendrochronology, twelve tree ring standard chronologies of Minjiang fir were established based on terrain points. The regression analysis was used to study the divergence between the tree-ring index of Minjiang fir and the warming trend. The Pearson correlation analysis and sliding correlation analysis were used to reveal the relationships between the tree-ring index of Minjiang fir and climate factors from 1955 to 2019. Result: 1) There was no divergence in the radial growth of Minjiang fir in treelines of the four slope aspects, and the Minjiang fir trees on the west slope did not take place divergence. The tree-ring index of Minjiang fir on the N and NW slope aspects at the low and middle elevations and the NE slope at the low elevation showed divergence patterns with the warming trend. 2) Among the five diverged plots, the radial growth of Minjiang fir on the north slope at middle and low elevations as well as the northwest slope at low elevation showed a negative correlation with the precipitation during the growing season (June) (P<0.05). Minjiang fir on the N and NW slope at the middle elevation were negatively correlated with the precipitation in September and the temperature in October of the previous year, respectively (P<0.05). Tree ring indices of Minjiang fir on the N slope at the low elevation showed a negative correlation with the temperature in April and September (P<0.05). 3) From 1955 to 2019, the negative correlation between the tree-ring index of Minjiang fir on the middle elevation N slope and precipitation in September and June of the previous year tended to be significant (P<0.05). The negative correlation between the tree-ring index of Minjiang fir on low elevation N slope and the temperature in April and September tended to be significant, and the negative correlation with precipitation in June tended to be significant (P<0.05). A stable significant positive correlation was maintained between the tree-ring index of Minjiang fir on middle elevation NW slope and the mean temperature in October of the previous year (P<0.05). On the low-elevation NW slope, the negative correlation between the tree-ring index and precipitation in June tended to be significant (P<0.05), and the relationship with the mean temperature in June tended to be uncorrelated. The negative correlation between the tree-ring index of Minjiang fir on low altitude NE slope and the mean temperature in September, October, and December of the previous year, and in January, May, and September tended to be significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The divergence phenomenon of Minjiang fir occurs at lower elevations on the south-facing slopes (NE and W) rather than on the north-facing slopes (N and NW). The drought stress on Minjiang fir occurs in the previous year's late growing season and the current year's non-growing season. Under the background of future warming, the growth response of Minjiang fir at the lower elevations is uncertain, but the radial growth of Minjiang fir trees in the treelines will be beneficial from warming.

Key words: Abies fargesii var. faxoniana, climate change, divergence phenomenon, slope aspect, elevation

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