Abstract
Keymessage
Results of tree growth–climate relationship analyses and recent variation of climate factors indicated that the Liaotung oak is in a steady development phase on the central Loess Plateau.
Abstract
Liaotung oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) is a native tree species on the Loess Plateau (LP) of China. However, little is known about the long-term growth variation of Liaotung oak and its response to climate change on the LP. Herein, we clarified the growth response of Liaotung oak to climate change by using dendroclimatological methods. We established a standard tree-ring width (TRW) chronology of Liaotung oak, then conducted static and dynamic tree growth–climate relationship analyses. As shown by static correlation analysis, temperature in late autumn of the previous year, in winter, spring, and early summer of the current year, hydroclimatic factors in late summer and autumn of the previous year, in spring and early summer of current year exerted significant positive influence (P < 0.05) on the radial growth of Liaotung oak. Significant positive influence of winter and spring temperatures on the radial growth of Liaotung oak dramatically decreased since 1990s until 2000s, then increased until 2010s, reaching positively significant level, and subsequently followed by slight decrease. The significant positive influence of spring precipitation was generally stable during the whole moving correlation period; the positive influence of early summer precipitation generally strengthened, reaching significant level (P < 0.05) since 1990s. Influence of drought in late winter and spring of the current year was relatively stable during the whole moving correlation period; the influence of drought in late spring and early summer of the current year steadily increased, reaching positively significant level (P < 0.05) around 2000s, then started decreasing. On the other hand, observation on climate records showed the decrease of temperature in late winter and spring, while the increase of precipitation in spring and early summer, and slight variation of drought index in spring and early summer, after 2010. Based on the above results, conclusion can be made that the Liaotung oak is in a steady development phase under the current climatic conditions on the central Loess Plateau. Our results are of significant importance for the local forest management authorities.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Allen CD, Macalady AK, Chenchouni H, Bachelet D, McDowell N, Vennetier M, Kitzberger T, Rigling A, Breshears DD, Hogg EH, Gonzalez P, Fensham R, Zhang Z, Castro J, Demidova N, Lim JH, Allard G, Running SW, Semerci A, Cobb N (2010) A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests. For Ecol Manag 259:660–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.09.001
Anderegg WRL, Flint A, Huang CY, Flint L, Berry JA, Davis FW, Sperry JS, Field CB (2015) Tree mortality predicted from drought-induced vascular damage. Nat Geosci 8:367–371. https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO2400
Bates D, Chambers J, Dalgaard P, Gentleman R, Hornik K, Ihaka R, Kalibera T, Lawrence M, Leisch F, Ligges U, Lumley T, Maechler M, Meyer S, Murrell P, Plummer M, Ripley B, Sarkar D, Lang DT, Tierney L, and Urbanek S (2020) R: A language and environment for statistical computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, available at: https://www.R-project.org/. Accessed 12 Dec 2021
Biondi F, Waikul K (2004) DENDROCLIM2002: a C++ program for statistical calibration of climate signals in tree ring chronologies. Comput Geosci 30:303–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2003.11.004
Bunn AG, Korpela M (2018) An introduction to dplR. The comprehensive R archive network. https://cran.biodisk.org/web/packages/dplR/vignettes/intro-dplR.pdf.
Camarero JJ, Colangelo M, Gazol A, Azorín-Molina C (2021) Drought and cold spells trigger dieback of temperate oak and beech forests in northern Spain. Dendrochronologia 66:125812
Cook ER, Kairiukstis LA (1990) Methods of dendrochronology: applications in the environmental sciences. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Fritts HC (1976) Tree rings and climate. Academic, London
Fu BJ, Chen LD, Qiu Y, Wang J, Meng QH (2002) Loess Hilly Region of Land Use structure and Ecological Processes (in Chinese). Commercial Press, Beijing.
Guo JC, Wang XA, Guo H, Guan RM, Wang SX (2010) Analysis on interspecific association of Quercus liaotungensis in regenerated layer with shrub species in the Ziwuling region of the Loess Plateau. Arid Zone Res 27(3):344–349
Guo H, Wang XA, Wang SX, Fan WY (2011) Dynamic life table and analysis on survival of Quercus liaotungensis seedlings in Mt. Ziwuling of the Loess Plateau. Arid Zone Res 28(6):1005–1010
Holmes RL (1983) Computer-assisted quality control in tree-ring dating and measurement. Tree-Ring Bull 43:69–75
Jackson D (2009) Plant response to photoperiod. New Phytol 181:517–531. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02681.x
Keyimu M, Li ZS, Wu XC, Fu BJ, Liu GH, Shi SL, Fan ZX, Wang XC (2020a) Recent decline of high-altitude coniferous growth due to thermo-hydraulic constrains: evidence from the Miyaluo forest reserve, Western Sichuan Plateau of China. Dendrochronologia 63:125751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2020.125751
Keyimu M, Wei JS, Zhang YX, Zhang S, Li ZS, Ma KM, Fu BJ (2020b) Climate signal shift under the influence of prevailing climate warming–evidence from Quercus liaotungensis on Dongling Mountain, Beijing, China. Dendrochronologia 60:125683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2020.125683
Keyimu M, Li ZS, Fu BJ, Chen WL, Wei JS, Jiao L, Gao GY, Lv YH (2021a) Spatial differences in the radial growth responses of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.) to climate on the Loess Plateau. China. Dendrochronologia 67:125832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2021a.125832
Keyimu M, Li ZS, Fu BJ, Liu GH, Zeng FJ, Chen WL, Fan ZX, Fang KY, Wu XC, Wang XC (2021b) A 406-year non-growing-season precipitation reconstruction in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Clim past 17:2381–2392. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-2381-2021
Keyimu M, Li ZS, Liu GH, Fu BJ, Fan ZX, Wang XC, Wu XC, Halik U (2021c) Tree-ring based minimum temperature reconstruction on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Quat Sci Rev 251:106712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106712
Li T, Li JB (2017) A 564 year annual minimum temperature reconstruction for the east central Tibetan Plateau from tree rings. Glob Planet Change 157:165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2017.08.018
Li YY, Shi H, Zhang AB, Tan HC (2007) Daily changes in radial growth of several tree stems and their response to environmental factors in loess hilly region. J of Soil Water Conserv 21(6):170–173
Li ZS, Chen WL, Wei JS, Keyimu M, Zhang YX, Zhang S (2021) Tree-ring growth responses of Liaodong Oak (Quercus wutaishanica) to climate in the Beijing Dongling Mountain of China. Acta Ecol Sin 41(1):27–37
Liang EY, Leuschner C, Dulamsuren C, Wagner B, Hauck M (2016) Global warming-related tree growth decline and mortality on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau. Clim Change 134(1):163–176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-015-1531-y
Matisons R, Elferts D, Kriāns O, Schneck V, Jansons R (2021) Non-linear regional weather-growth relationships indicate limited adaptability of the eastern Baltic Scots pine. Forest Ecol Manag 479:118600
Maxwell JT, Harley GL (2016) On the declining relationship between tree growth and climate in the midwest united states: the fading drought signal. Clim Change 138(1–2):127–142
Pederson N, Cook ER, Jacoby GC, Peteet DM, Griffin KL (2004) The influence of winter temperatures on the annual radial growth of six northern range margin tree species. Dendrochronologia 22(1):7–29
Piao SL, Friedlingstein P, Ciais P, Viovy N, Demarty J (2007) Growing season extension and its impact on terrestrial carbon cycle in the Northern Hemisphere over the past 2 decades. Global Biogeochem Cycles 21:GB3018. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GB002888
Qi Z, Liu HY, Wu XC, Hao Q (2015) Climate-driven speedup of alpine treeline forest growth in the Tianshan Mountains, Northwestern China. Glob Change Biol 21:816–826. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12703
Qin J (2006) Eco-physiological effect of Populus davidiana-Quercus liaotungensis mixed forests in Ziwulong forest area Master thesis. Northeast Agricultural and Forestry University, Xi’an
Rossi S, Deslauriers A, Griçar J, Seo JW, Rathgeber CBK, Anfodillo T, Morin H, Levanic T, Oven P, Jalkanen R (2008) Critical temperatures for xylogenesis in conifers of cold climates. Glob Ecol Biogeo 17:696–707. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00417.x
Rubio-Cuadrado A, Camarero JJ, Gomez C, Canellas I, Aullo-Maestro I, Gil L, Montes F (2020) Scots pine plantations growth adaptation to climate warming in locations at the southernmost distribution limit of the species. Dendrochronologia 63:125745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2020.125745
Ryan MG (2010) Temperature and tree growth. Tree Physiol 30(6):667–668. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpq033
Salzer MW, Hughes MK, Bunn AG, Kipfmueller KF (2009) Recent unprecedented tree-ring growth in bristlecone pine at the highest elevations and possible causes. PNAS 106(48):20348–20353. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0903029106
Schweingruber FH (1996) Tree rings and environment: dendroecology. Haupt, Bern
Song LN, Zhu JJ, Zhang J, Wang K, Lü LY, Wang FB, Wang GC (2019) Divergent growth responses to warming and drying climates between native and non-native tree species in Northeast China. Trees 33:1143–1155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-019-01848-z
Sperry JS, Venturas MD, Todd HN, Trugman AT, Tai X (2019) The impact of rising CO2 and acclimation on the response of us forests to global warming. PNAS 116(51):201913072
Tierney GL, Fahey TJ, Groffman PM, Hardy JP, Fitzhugh RD, Driscoll CT (2001) Soil freezing alters fine root dynamics in a northern hardwood forest. Biogeochemistry 56(2):175–190. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013072519889
Vieira J, Nabais C, Campelo F (2022) Dry and hot years drive growth decline of Pinus halepensis at its southern range limit in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains. Trees. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-022-02314-z
Xie YY, Wang XJ, Silander JA (2015) Deciduous forest responses to temperature, precipitation, and drought imply complex climate change impacts. PNAS 112(44):13585–13590
Ye C, Sun J, Liu M, Xiong J, Zong N, Hu J, Huang Y, Duan X, Tsunekawa A (2020) Concurrent and lagged effects of extreme drought induce net reduction in vegetation carbon uptake on Tibetan Plateau. Remote Sens 12:2347. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12152347
Zhang JG, Yan MJ, Shi WY, Du S (2011) Seasonal dynamics and Azimuthal variations of sap flow in Quercus liaotungensis and their effects on transpiration estimates. J of Soil Water Conserv 25(3):193–197
Zhu ZC (1982) (1982) A preliminary studies on the Quercus liaotungensis forests in the Qinling Mountain and the loess Plateau of Northern Part of the Shanxi Province. Chin J Plan Ecolo 6(2):95–104
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 42071125, 41877539) and Youth Innovation and Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2022445). We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for providing us with helpful comments and suggestions to improve the original manuscript.
Funding
This study was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 42071125, 41877539), and Youth Innovation and Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2022445).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
The authors declare that the study was not conducted on endangered, vulnerable or threatened species.
Additional information
Communicated by Eryuan Liang .
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Keyimu, M., Li, Z., Jiao, L. et al. Radial growth response of Quercus liaotungensis to climate change–a case study on the central Loess Plateau, China. Trees 36, 1811–1822 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-022-02329-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-022-02329-6