Tree-ring characteristics of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) in relation to elevation and climatic fluctuations

Overview & Synopsis

To determine the influence of elevation and year-to-year climatic fluctuations on radial growth and tree-ring properties of Abies lasiocarpa, we sampled dominant trees in 49 second-growth stands on mesic sites in British Columbia. The earlywood, latewood, and total ring width, and latewood and maximum density decreased significantly with increasing elevation. Since no significant trend was observed for latewood percentage and ring density, decline in maximum density will have minor impacts on wood quality of high and low-elevation Abies lasiocarpa. The correlation and response functions indicated that response to climatic factors changed with elevation. Although mesic sites within the study area were not expected to be water deficient, ring width decreased with the occurrence of warm and dry spring weather in low-elevation. Low summer temperature limited ring width in high-elevation and maximum latewood density and latewood width in low- and high-elevation, albeit the relationship was much stronger in high-elevation.