Abstract

VILLALBA, R. et al. Dendroecology and Dendroclimatology of Prosopis species from Argentina. Multequina [online]. 2000, vol.9, n.2, pp.01-18. ISSN 1852-7329.

Tree rings are a useful tool to quantify the rate of radial growth of trees at different environments and to determine differences in stand population structures in responses to factors such as soil, disturbance and climate. However, to precisely date a piece of wood, tree rings need to be clearly identified. The determination of tree rings in Prosopis species vary between species, between individuals of the same species, and sometimes between radii from the same tree. This large variability likely reflects the broad plasticity and adaptability of Prosopis trees to different environmental conditions. Tree rings in Prosopis species are determined by several patterns or anatomical arrays such as larger vessels in the earlywood tending to produce circular to semi-circular porosity, and the presence of strands of terminal parenchyma. In Prosopis species with clear bands, long-term studies of cambial activity and the dating of trees of known ages have allowed to determine the annual nature of tree rings. Although the number of studies on forest ecology and dendroclimatology using Prosopis species is increasing, the application of Prosopis wood in these fields is still limited to few cases. However, the material reviewed in this paper indicated that Prosopis species show a high potential as a source of information on past climate fluctuations, forest ecology and human-environment relationships in the extended arid and semiarid regions of South America.

Keywords : Tree rings; Wood anatomy; Dendroecology; Dendroclimatology.

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