Comparison of elevational changes in relationships of blue intensity and ring width index in Picea jezoensis with climatic responses in Laobai Mountain of Jilin, China

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2019.0257

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims We aim to compare the climatic representativeness of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis, and to provide guidance for the further application of BI parameters in dendrochronology.
Methods A total of 120 tree-ring cores were extracted from P. jezoensis trees in the Laobai Mountain of Jilin Province. Using the methods of the growth-climate response function analysis and moving correlation analysis, the differences in the responses of BI and RWI to climate change in P. jezoensis along an elevational gradient (namely 900, 1 200 and 1 500 m) were investigated.
Important findings The BI (or RWI) in P. jezoensis trees at the three elevations had similar responses to climate. BI was predominantly and positively correlated with temperature, while RWI was predominantly and negatively correlated with temperature. BI was positively correlated with the maximum temperature in summer and growing season. RWI at the low or medium elevations was significantly and negatively correlated with the annual minimum and mean temperatures and the minimum temperature in growing season. BI was negatively correlated with the SPEI in summer, while RWI was weakly or positively correlated with SPEI in summer. This almost inverse growth-climate relationships by BI and RWI may reflect the trade-off between earlywood and latewood. BI and RWI in P. jezoensis in the study area may infer different climate signals. On the spatial scale, the responses of BI to summer precipitation, maximum temperature and SPEI were better than the traditional RWI. The temporal stability of the correlation of BI with main climatic factors was better than that of RWI. Therefore, BI has some potential application in studies of dendroclimatology.

Key words: tree rings, blue intensity, Picea jezoensis, elevation, climate response

YUAN Dan-Yang, ZHU Liang-Jun, ZHANG Yuan-Dong, LI Zong-Shan, ZHAO Hui-Ying, WANG Xiao-Chun. Comparison of elevational changes in relationships of blue intensity and ring width index in Picea jezoensis with climatic responses in Laobai Mountain of Jilin, China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2019, 43(12): 1061-1078.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2019.0257

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2019/V43/I12/1061

Figures/Tables 12

Fig. 1 Locations of sampling sites and meteorological station in Laobai Mountain. L900, low elevation; L1200, middle elevation; L1500, high elevation.

Fig. 2 Trend of changes in mean monthly temperature (T), mean monthly minimum temperature (Tmin), mean monthly maximum temperature (Tmax), total precipitation (P), relative humidity (RH) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) in Jiaohe meteorological station during 1951-2015. A, Trend of monthly change. B, Trend of annual change. *, correlation is significant at the 0.05 level; **, correlation is significant at the 0.01 level. Dash is piecewise fitted linear regression line of the meteorological data.

Table 1 Information of the sampling sites and chronologies in Picea Jezoensis in Laobai Mountain

样点编码 Site code	纬度 Latitude (N)	经度 Longitude (E)	海拔 Altitude (m)	样本数 Core number	年表长度 Chronology length
L900	44.08°	128.03°	908	40	1801-2015
L1200	44.10°	128.05°	1 194	40	1670-2015
L1500	44.10°	128.05°	1 506	40	1794-2015

Fig. 3 Measurement of blue intensity (BI) and ring width in Picea jezoensis in Laobai Mountain. A, CooRecorder blue intensity generation window. B, Detailed measurement process. d, depth; f, offest; R, ring width; w, width.

Fig. 4 Variation in the blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis at different elevations in Laibai Mountain over the recent 200 years. A, Low elevation. B, Middle elevation. C, High elevation.

Table 2 Correlation coefficients between the standard chronologies of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) at low (L), middle (M) and high (H) elevations in Picea jezoensis in Laobai Mountain

	L-BI	L-RWI	M-BI	M-RWI	H-BI
L-RWI	0.15
M-BI	0.49^**	-0.28^**
M-RWI	0.24^**	0.21^*	0.39^**
H-BI	0.42^**	-0.40^**	0.77^**	0.14
H-RWI	0.16	-0.05	0.21^*	0.35^**	0.40^**

Fig. 5 Standard chronologies of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis and their correlation coefficients with monthly climatic factors at low (L), middle (M) and high (H) elevations in Laobai Mountain. A, Precipitation. B, Relative humidity. C, Mean monthly temperature. D, Minimum mean monthly temperature. E, Maximum mean monthly temperature. F, Standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index. p, previous year; *, the correlation is significant at the 0.05 level.

Fig. 6 Standard chronologies of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis and their correlation coefficients with seasonal climatic factors at low (L), middle (M) and high (H) elevations in Laobai Mountain. A, Precipitation. B, Relative humidity. C, Mean seasonal temperature. D, Minimum mean seasonal temperature. E, Maximum mean seasonal temperature. F, Standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index. *, the correlation is significant at the 0.05 level. SPR, spring; SUM, summer; AUT, autumn; GS, growing season; AN, annual.

Fig. 7 Moving correlation analysis between the standard chronologies of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis and summer precipitation at low (L)(A), middle (M)(B) and high (H)(C) elevations in Laobai Mountain and the standard deviations of the moving correlation coefficients. Dotted line represents 95% confidence level; r, moving correlation coefficient; **, the correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.

Fig. 8 Moving correlation analysis between the standard chronologies of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis and summer maximum temperature at low (L)(A), middle (M)(B) and high (H)(C) elevations in Laobai Mountain and the standard deviations of the moving correlation coefficients. Dotted line represents 95% confidence level; r, moving correlation coefficient; **, the correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.

Fig. 9 Moving correlation analysis between the standard chronologies of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis and summer Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at low (L)(A), middle (M)(B) and high (H)(C) elevations in Laobai Mountain and the standard deviations of the moving correlation coefficients. Dotted line represents 95% confidence level; r, moving correlation coefficient; **, the correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.

Fig. 10 Correlation coefficients between average chronology of blue intensity (BI) and ring width index (RWI) in Picea jezoensis and summer climatic factors at low, middle and high elevations in Laobai Mountain. SPEI, Standard Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index. Correlation with the significance of p > 0.01 level was mask out; the red dot is the sample area.

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