Tree-growth patterns of declining stands in Patagonia and the influence of climate variation. How Spatial Analysis could contribute?

MILAGROS RODRIGUEZ CATÓN, RICARDO VILLALBA Y CHRIS SMIT

Groningen

Seminario; Seminar-cycle Community and Conservation Ecology Group; 2011

Universidad de Groningen

Long periods of unfavorable conditions (warm or dry periods) and/or extreme climatic events (such as drouhgts) trigger Nothofagus pumilio trees to decline and subsequent mortality. The influence of climate changes in dieback and mortality of forest communities has been documented worldwide. Widespread crown condition decline, food web disruption, and amplified tree mortality with increased climate change-type drought. The objetives of this study are to identify changes in radial growth associated with Nothofagus pumilio forests decline and mortality; and to relate these changes to climatic fluctuations inferred from instrumental records (extreme discrete events and wet/dry periods). To identify different patterns of tree gowth within a site. Methodology is based on dendrochronology and PCA. Regional spring-summer temperature and precipitation departures and moisture index are being analysed to asses climate influence on declining Nothofagus pumilio forest