Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western Nepal
Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) is a common tree species with ecological and economic importance across the subtropical forests of the central Himalayas. However, little is known about its growth response to the recent warming and drying trends observed in this region. Here, we developed a 268-ye...
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doaj-df1bfb74b46f4eb6acfc800f8362c6b92020-11-24T21:35:04ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072018-06-019634010.3390/f9060340f9060340Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western NepalShalik Ram Sigdel0Binod Dawadi1J. Julio Camarero2Eryuan Liang3Steven W. Leavitt4Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaCentral Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, NepalInstituto Pirenaico de Ecología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPE-CSIC), 50059 Zaragoza, SpainKey Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaLaboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAChir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) is a common tree species with ecological and economic importance across the subtropical forests of the central Himalayas. However, little is known about its growth response to the recent warming and drying trends observed in this region. Here, we developed a 268-year-long ring-width chronology (1743–2010) from western Nepal to investigate its growth response to climate. Based on nearby available meteorological records, growth was positively correlated with winter (November to February; r = 0.39, p < 0.05) as well as March to April (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) precipitation. Growth also showed a strong positive correlation with the sum of precipitation from November of the previous year to April of the current year (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). In contrast, a negative relationship with the mean temperature in March to April (r = −0.48, p < 0.05) suggests the influence of warming-induced evapotranspiration on tree growth. Spring droughts lasting 4–6 months constrain Chir pine growth. These results are supported by the synchronization between droughts and very narrow or locally missing rings. Warming and drying tendencies during winter and spring will reduce forest growth and resilience and make Chir pine forests more vulnerable and at higher risk of growth decline and dieback.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/6/340dendrochronologycentral Himalayaswestern NepalPinus roxburghiiclimate changesubtropical forestpre-monsoon season |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Shalik Ram Sigdel Binod Dawadi J. Julio Camarero Eryuan Liang Steven W. Leavitt |
spellingShingle |
Shalik Ram Sigdel Binod Dawadi J. Julio Camarero Eryuan Liang Steven W. Leavitt Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western Nepal Forests dendrochronology central Himalayas western Nepal Pinus roxburghii climate change subtropical forest pre-monsoon season |
author_facet |
Shalik Ram Sigdel Binod Dawadi J. Julio Camarero Eryuan Liang Steven W. Leavitt |
author_sort |
Shalik Ram Sigdel |
title |
Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western Nepal |
title_short |
Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western Nepal |
title_full |
Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western Nepal |
title_fullStr |
Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western Nepal |
title_full_unstemmed |
Moisture-Limited Tree Growth for a Subtropical Himalayan Conifer Forest in Western Nepal |
title_sort |
moisture-limited tree growth for a subtropical himalayan conifer forest in western nepal |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Forests |
issn |
1999-4907 |
publishDate |
2018-06-01 |
description |
Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) is a common tree species with ecological and economic importance across the subtropical forests of the central Himalayas. However, little is known about its growth response to the recent warming and drying trends observed in this region. Here, we developed a 268-year-long ring-width chronology (1743–2010) from western Nepal to investigate its growth response to climate. Based on nearby available meteorological records, growth was positively correlated with winter (November to February; r = 0.39, p < 0.05) as well as March to April (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) precipitation. Growth also showed a strong positive correlation with the sum of precipitation from November of the previous year to April of the current year (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). In contrast, a negative relationship with the mean temperature in March to April (r = −0.48, p < 0.05) suggests the influence of warming-induced evapotranspiration on tree growth. Spring droughts lasting 4–6 months constrain Chir pine growth. These results are supported by the synchronization between droughts and very narrow or locally missing rings. Warming and drying tendencies during winter and spring will reduce forest growth and resilience and make Chir pine forests more vulnerable and at higher risk of growth decline and dieback. |
topic |
dendrochronology central Himalayas western Nepal Pinus roxburghii climate change subtropical forest pre-monsoon season |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/6/340 |
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