Tree-Ring Talk

Florida tree rings and shipwreck rates reflect Caribbean hurricane activity since 1500

The observational record of North Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) is too short to inform our understanding of decadal-scale climatic controls on TC regimes. We combined two new annual-resolution proxies of Atlantic storm activity to extend the observational TC record back to the 16th Century. A tree-growth suppression chronology (1707–2010 CE) from the Florida Keys captures 91% of observed North Atlantic TCs (1850–2010 CE) and shares significant peak events with a documentary time series of Spanish shipwrecks in the Caribbean (1495–1820).

An integrated field data collection system for dendrochronology

A wide variety of information or 'metadata' is required when undertaking dendrochronological sampling.  Traditionally, researchers record observations and measurements on field notebooks and/or paper recording forms, and use digital cameras and hand-held GPS devices to capture images and record locations.  In the lab, field notes are often manually entered into spreadsheets or personal databases, which are then sometimes linked to images and GPS waypoints. This process is both time consuming and prone to human and instrument error.

Climate Response of Four Tree Species from the East-German Low Rainfall Area

Climate response was investigated for four tree species in the East German low rainfall area in Thuringia where average annual precipitation falls below 600 mm. Black Pine (Pinus nigra) has large semi-natural stands on calcareous soils far north of its natural distribution, Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) reaches its physiological limit along calcareous slopes.

Sky Island Investigators: Where Students Become Scientists

We offer a diverse variety of science field classes – on the UA Campus at the Bryant Bannister Tree Ring Building, at Tumamoc Hill, and at field sites in the Catalina Mountains - where students learn that science is a dynamic process of gathering and evaluating information. We adapt our innovative approach to work with teachers and students of all ages and grade levels, depending on the needs of your students.

What We Did Last Summer

Dendroecology 2014 Course Presentations

Hear presentations on the Dendroecology 2014 pre-session course research topics.

Reconstructing Klamath River Flow with Uncertain Instrumental Records: a Mathematical Tale of Passion, Deception, and Desire

Higher temperatures negatively affect tree growth at multiple spatial scales in the western United States

Annual tree growth is tightly regulated by climate.  As air temperature increases, evaporative demand also increases, changing the dynamics of water availability in forest ecosystems.  By correlating tree growth with precipitation, temperature, climatic water deficit, and vapor pressure deficit, we show that higher temperatures decrease tree growth across all spatial scales and regions.  We use a novel dataset of Douglas-fir chronologies from 122 sites distributed throughout all mountain regions and a broad range of climate regimes in the western United States.  By sampling throughout “clim

A tree-ring based assessment of climate-growth relationships in the Miombo region in Tanzania

Drought events have significant impacts on domestic use, agriculture, and ecosystems. Water shortage is projected to increase with globally rising temperatures and the increasing demand for this resource. This will likely be one of the major limitations for future development in drought limited regions like Tanzania. Socio-economic development and natural resource productivity in Tanzania are mostly depending on water availability.

Climate Change and Invasive Species as Agents of Evolution and the Use of a New Research Platform, The Southwest Experimental Garden Array, to Provide Genetics-Based Solutions to Assisted Migration and Other Global Challenges

Climate change, invasive species and other global challenges are agents of selection that are affecting the ecology and evolution of foundation plant species (cottonwood, pine, eucalypts).  These impacts cascade to affect whole communities of associated species and their ecosystem processes.  Using observational studies in the wild and common garden experiments we partition genetic and environmental variation and show how gene by environmental interactions are redefining communities composed of 1000s of species.  Using an array of common gardens where the same genotypes, populations and mul

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