Integrating radial growth response of Himalayan cedar to climate change in the mountainous region of Shogran Valley, Pakistan

Zargham KHAN; Sohaib MUHAMMAD; Muhammad TAYYAB; Hassan NAWAZ; Amir ALI; Muhammad JAWAD TARIQ KHAN; Tahira KHALID; Muhammad BILAL; Muhammad HASNAIN

doi:10.15835/nbha53114219

Authors

Zargham KHAN Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Sohaib MUHAMMAD Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Muhammad TAYYAB Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Hassan NAWAZ Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Amir ALI Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Muhammad JAWAD TARIQ KHAN Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Tahira KHALID Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Muhammad BILAL Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Muhammad HASNAIN Government College University, Department of Botany, Dendrochronology Laboratory, Lahore 54000 (PK)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53114219

Keywords:

Cedrus deodara, climate, dendroclimatology, response function, tree-rings

Abstract

Himalayan mountainous region is ecologically sensitive to climate change where forest ecosystems face monsoon climate and information is well recorded in tree rings. Tree growth is highly influenced by climate and its response is inconsistent, varying geographically with different forest composition and different tree species. Assessment of the growth response of trees has important implications for forest dynamics and sustainable forest management. Wood samples of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) were obtained from coniferous forest (Shogran Valley, Pakistan) by following standard dendrochronological techniques. Ring width characteristics of samples were studied and their regression analysis between DBH (diameter at breast height) vs age and DBH vs growth rate showed significant correlation (R²= 0.5275, R² = 0.0449 respectively). Statistical Quality of cross dating and accuracy of tree-ring measurements showed mean sensitivity values of 0.272 and autocorrelation values of 0.699. These values specified the good potential of the samples for dendroclimatological studies. Based on earlywood, latewood and total ring widths, chronologies were developed, analyzed and correlated with climate factors using standard dendrochronological software. The statistics of this chronology (1815-2021) with standard deviation of 0.408, 0.146, 0.161 and autocorrelation of 0.691, 0.576, 0.575 with mean sensitivity values of 0.273, 0.348, 0.279 respectively revealed the dendroclimatic potential of the species. Temperature and precipitations had strong influence upon ring widths. This dendrochronological analysis can be used for paleoclimate studies of the region which will improve our understanding of forest management and growth responses of tree species under climate change.

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