Inter growth-rings variability and relationship of wood density and chemical traces in Amazonian tropical species

ORTEGA RODRIGUEZ, D.R.; HEVIA, ANDREA; SANCHEZ-SALGUERO, R.; FIDEL A. ROIG; MARIO TOMAZELLO

Lund

Congreso; TRACE 2021 Tree Rings in Archaeology, Climatology and Ecology; 2021

Lund University

In tropical tree species, the structure of growth rings has been scarcely explored by complementary physical and chemical parameters. Here, we analysed the relationships among wood density features and tree-ring chemical elements (S, K, Ca, Mn) involved in the annual ring formation of 12 tropical tree species of Brazilian Amazon forest. Transversal wood sections were used for each species to determine tree ring distinction and X-ray densitometry (physical) and X-ray fluorescence (chemical). The profiles of wood density, Ca and Mn, showed intra- and inter-annual patterns that allowed to delimit and characterize the boundaries of annual growth rings. Our results showed significant correlations between tree-ring formation process and intra- and inter- annual changes in density, Ca, K and Mn as markers of seasonality and showing species-specific patterns. The anatomical characterization and the developed of density and chemical profiles in tropical Amazonian species represent a valuable proxy to improve the definition of ring-boundaries and the understanding of seasonal growth patterns in other moist tropical forests.