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Variations of vessel diameter and δ 13 C in false rings of Arbutus unedo L. reflect different environmental conditions
Author(s) -
Battipaglia Giovanna,
De Micco Veronica,
Brand Willi A.,
Linke Petra,
Aronne Giovanna,
Saurer Matthias,
Cherubini Paolo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03443.x
Subject(s) - deserts and xeric shrublands , dendrochronology , mediterranean climate , growing season , environmental science , woody plant , ecosystem , δ13c , dendroclimatology , bryophyte , ecology , physical geography , botany , biology , geography , stable isotope ratio , paleontology , quantum mechanics , habitat , physics
Summary• Woody species in Mediterranean ecosystems form intra‐annual density fluctuations (IADFs) in tree rings in response to changes in environmental conditions, especially water availability. • Dendrochronology, quantitative wood anatomy and high‐resolution isotopic analysis (using a laser ablation technique) were used to characterize IADFs in Arbutus unedo shrubs grown on two sites with different water availability on the island of Elba (Italy). • Our findings show that IADF characterization can provide information about the relationship between environmental factors and tree growth at the seasonal level. At the more xeric site, IADFs mainly located in the early and middle parts of the annual ring, showed a decrease in vessel size and an increase in δ 13 C as a result of drought deficit. Opposite trends were found at the more mesic site, with IADFs located at the end of the ring and associated with a lower δ 13 C. Moreover, at the first site, IADFs are induced by drought deficit, while at the second site IADFs are linked with the regrowth in the last part of the growing season triggered by favourable wet conditions. • This combined approach is a promising way for dating problematic wood samples and interpreting the phenomena that trigger the formation of IADFs in the Mediterranean environment.