Rainfall and temperature variability in Bolivia derived from the tree-ring width of Amburana cearensis (Fr. Allem.) A.C. Smith (Roble)

KATHELYN PAREDES-VILLANUEVA; LIDIO LOPEZ; MATTHEW BROOKHOUSE; RAFAEL MARÍA NAVARRO CERRILLO

Dendrochronologia

ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG

Lugar: ALEMANIA; Año: 2015 vol. 35 p. 80 - 86

1125-7865

Amburana cearensis (roble) is an important timber species in tropical lowland dry forests in Bolivia. We used dendrochronological methods to evaluate its climatic sensitivity and to identify its potential for the reconstruction of climate. For that, we collected eleven wood discs from mature trees randomly selected. Despite the eccentricity of the discs and existence of false and wedging rings, all samples were successfully cross-dated. The average radial growth was 0.58 cm/year. Significant correlation was found among the A. cearensis samples (0.34). Tree-ring width was positively correlated with monthly rainfall and negatively correlated with maximum temperatures during the 6-month rainy season. A. cearensis exhibits a potential for reconstructing climate in the Bolivian Chiquitania region