Tree-Ring Talk

Stem anatomy of Mediterranean shrubs: an unexplored dendrochronological potential?

In treeless regions, shrubs and dwarf shrubs play an essential role in modeling relationships between wood anatomical diversity patterns and climate, growth ring variation and consequent carbon storage within plant communities. An extensive sampling campaign (including ~300 species) of shrubs and dwarf shrubs carried out on the island of Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, made it possible to analyze wood and bark anatomical features for ecological and evolutionary interpretation.

Process models of post-fire tree growth and mortality

Fire effects on tree growth and mortality result from an interaction of heat injuries to the roots, stem, and crown, but the mechanisms by which these injuries occur and interact are not completely understood. In this talk, I will discuss the current understanding of the physical and physiological mechanisms linking fire behavior to post-fire growth and mortality.

The Olive in Crete

The olive-tree of the Mediterranean is probably the world’s longest-lived cultivated plant. Olives generally, and ancient trees, are especially abundant in the island of Crete. Olives have been part of Crete’s successive cultures and cultural landscapes since the Neolithic, some 9000 years ago. We shall deal with the African origins of the olive tree, how it got to Crete, the uses made of it, and the present and future of ancient existing trees.

Self-reinforcing patterns of forest fire severity in the southern Cascades, USA

Forest fire severity in dry conifer forests in California has increased in recent decades resulting in more severe fire effects. There is considerable scientific debate on whether this increase is outside the historical range of variability. One of the challenges in making this assessment is that for most places, we don't know what historical patterns of fire severity were and how they compare to contemporary patterns.

Modeling tree growth for projections and physiological inference

Tree growth is a critical process in biogeochemical cycles, forest health, and a vital rate fundamental to understanding ecological and evolutionary change of forests.  In this talk I will discuss growth from three different angles.  I will first look at growth of individual trees, linking intra-annual growth to weather, and in particular precipitation.  This is part of a research program to tie physiological processes to vital rates and higher-level population dynamics.

Late Holocene fire and climate history of the western San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Results from alluvial stratigraphy and tree-ring methods.

the study area from the air

This talk is the public part of Erica Bigio's PhD dissertation defense.

Volcanic forcing during the Common Era re-evaluated based on new ice core evidence

Assessments of climate sensitivity to projected greenhouse gas concentrations underpin environmental policy decisions, with such assessments primarily based on model simulations of climate during recent centuries and millennia.

Research of the old growth Fitzroya cupressoides forests in Chile as a basis for their conservation and restoration

My talk will refer to  the value of Fitzroya forests from a scientific point of view (climate and fire records, productivity), the ecosystem services they deliver to society and their historic and cultural relevance. This as a basis to design and promote their conservation and restoration.

Precipitation and River-Flow Reconstruction in the Choapa Watershed in north-central Chile

In arid and semi-arid regions a progressive decline of water resources will impact all socio-ecological and economic dynamics. The semi-arid region of north-central Chile has not been exempt from these climatic scenarios. The Choapa River flow records show an increase in the variability of the flow rates from 1985 and a constant decline in total discharge from 2002 to date. So the aim of this talk will be to present a 168 year hydro-climatic reconstruction of the Choapa River using Kagenekia angustifolia trees.

Short tree-ring series: The study materials of the anthracologist. An overview of the dendroecological potential of charcoal assemblages from archaeological sites of Northwestern France

Charcoal analysis (anthracology) can be used to track the environmental transformation of the Northwestern France during the Holocene driven by natural factors and human activities. This work emphasizes the past forest management, the supply areas and the origin and evolution of the heathland and the bocage landscapes.     In addition to the wood identification, for large fragments of charcoal, the growth ring width can be measured and the diameter of the original wood can be estimated.

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