The effect of average precipitation on

Pseudotsuga menziesii tree ring width.

Christine Nimnicht

Introduction
Tree rings are the layer of wood produced by a tree over a single growing season. (University of
Arizona 2017) Analysis of the width and other characteristics of these rings can be highly useful
many kinds of studies. These rings can help study climatological and hydrological changes, as
well as assisting palaeoclimatological studies. They have also proven useful in dating ruins and
artwork. (University of Arizona 2017, Fritts 1989)
The type of study that relates tree rings to climatic factors is referred to as dendroclimatology.
(Fritts 1989) Dendros, referring to study using tree rings, and climatology being the study of
climate. (University of Arizona) The purpose of this dendroclimatological study was to
determine the relationship between the width of tree rings in Pseudotsuga menziesii and
precipitation and temperature
Materials and methods
A core sample was taken from a Pseudotsuga menziesii on a slope with a south 180 aspect,
and a 19 angle. The hill was located at N 47 39.776, W 116 46.409. The tree was on the
edge of an abrupt ecotone, and was surrounded by wood debris, pioneer species such as moss
and lichens, and brush.
The core was then prepared for analysis by sanding and application of mineral oil. The
approximate age of the tree, and amount of growth per year were determined by counting and
measuring the width of the growth rings in the sample.
Finally, correlations were sought between tree ring width and average values of temperature
and precipitation for Coeur dAlene Idaho using a Pearson r test.
Results
The tree was dated to approximately 1938, and had tree ring widths between 1.3 (1/60) and 8
(1/60). The age of the tree was precise until 1943, and this was the earliest year used in
analysis. The ring for the 2016 growth season was incomplete, therefore 2015 was the most
recent year used in analysis.
The annual growth of the tree between 1943 and 2015 was compared to the annual average
values of precipitation and temperature, as well as averages for the months of May and June.
Significant correlations were found between the width of the tree rings and precipitation
averages. No correlations were found between tree ring width and average temperatures. (Fig.
1)
Fig. 1

Comparison P value Significance

growth vs annual avg. precip. 0.0085 very significant
growth vs June avg. precip. 0.0036 very significant
growth vs May avg. precip. 0.0418 significant
growth vs annual avg. temp. 0.5231 not significant
growth vs June avg. temp. 0.2407 not significant.
growth vs May avg. temp. 0.4370 not significant.

Discussion
There is a common dependence of ring widths on the gross regional patterns of precipitation
and temperature (Fritts 1966) Despite this, there was no correlation found between tree ring
width and temperature, only between precipitation and tree ring width. (Fig. 1)
The lack of correlation of tree ring width with average temperature is due to temperature being
a limiting factor for photosynthesis and thus plant growth at temperatures between 0 and
15C. (Markings 2017, Royal Society of Chemistry 2012) The average annual temperature in
Coeur dAlene Idaho between 1943 and 2015 ranged from 6.97C to 12.1C. This means that,
during the years studied, temperature was a consistent limiting factor for photosynthesis and
growth for the Pseudotsuga menziesii. Therefore, temperature would not have accounted for
the variance in tree ring width.
In addition, there has been a recently recorded decrease in average annual temperature
response in northern conifer forests, meaning conifers arent as responsive to temperature as a
factor of growth as they have been in the past. (DArrigo 2007)
Precipitation had a more profound impact on the tree ring width of this tree, as is evidenced by
the very significant correlations between tree ring width and average precipitation levels. (Fig
1.) This is further supported by findings that have also correlated precipitation and tree ring
width in conifers annually and particularly during the summer months. (Nicklen 2016)
Further study involving the comparison of data from multiple trees of the same species within
this ecotone would serve to further determine if precipitation is indeed a more dominant factor
in tree ring width than temperature at this location. Further study of a similar nature on a
regional level would give an insight as to whether temperature or precipitation has a greater
impact on tree ring widths within Pseudotsuga menziesii as a species.
 Literature Cited

D'Arrigo, R. et al. On the Divergence Problem in Northern Forests: A review of the tree-ring
evidence and possible causes. Glob. Planet. Change (2007),
doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.03.004

Fritts HC. 1966. Growth-Rings of Trees: Their Correlation with Climate Science. Science
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Fritts HC, Swetnam TW. A Tool for Evaluating Variations in Past and Present Forest
Environments Advances in Ecological Research. Advances in Ecological Research 19.
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Markings S. 2017. The Effect of Temperature on Photosynthesis [Internet]. Available from:

http://sciencing.com/effect-temperature-rate-photosynthesis-19595.html
Nicklen, E. F., C. A. Roland, R. W. Ruess, J. H. Schmidt, and A. H. Lloyd. 2016. Local site
conditions drive climategrowth responses of Picea mariana and Picea glauca in interior
Alaska. Ecosphere 7(10):e01507. 10.1002/ecs2.150
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from: http://www.rsc.org/learnchemistry/content/filerepository/CMP/00/001/068/Rat
%20of%20photosynthesis%20limiting%20factors.pdf
University of Arizona. 2017. About Tree rings [Internet]. Available from:
http://ltrr.arizona.edu/about/treerings