Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology: Construction of Centuries-Old Tree-Ring Chronologies of Pinus sylvestris L. for the Forest-Steppe and Steppe Zones of the South of Western Siberia

Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology / Construction of Centuries-Old Tree-Ring Chronologies of Pinus sylvestris L. for the Forest-Steppe and Steppe Zones of the South of Western Siberia

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Issue: Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology. 2022 15 (2)
Authors: Rygalova, Natalia V.
Contact information: Rygalova, Natalia V.: Altai State University Barnaul, Russian Federation; ; ORCID: 0000-0002-0078-6133
Keywords: dendrochronology; historical wood; Regional Curve Standardization; steppe; forest-steppe; south of Western Siberia; pine belt forests
Abstract: The tree-ring chronologies (TRCs) of trees growing in arid conditions make it possible to reconstruct the dynamics of moisture in the past. This parameter remains little studied in retrospect compared to the temperature regime. A number of factors (physiological, natural, and anthropogenic) limit the lifespan of trees in the steppe and forest-steppe zones. The existing problem of constructing TRCs for areas with a lack of moisture can be solved by using the historical wood of old houses. The purpose of this study was to construct centuries-old (more than 300 years) tree-ring chronologies for the south of Western Siberia and analyze the results obtained. The study was performed on the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the belt forests of the Altai Territory. A suite of dendrochronological methods was used in the work. The absolute rows of the width of the annual rings were standardized using the method of Regional Curve Standardization (RCS), which made it possible to preserve the low-frequency component in the chronologies. RCS‑chronologies of tree rings for pine belt forests were obtained for the first time. Three generalized chronologies were obtained: forest-steppe TRC Barnaul (363 years: 1659–2021) and two steppe TRCs: TRC Volchikha for the arid steppe subzone (333 years: 1686–2018) and TRC Uglovskoe for the dry steppe subzone (388 years: 1626–2013). Pine growth showed multicycle dynamics, and the most pronounced was the 30-year Brückner cycle. For chronologies, a minimum of growth indices was established in the 17th‑18th centuries. The end of the Little Ice Age is reflected in an increase in growth indices in the second half of the 19th century. For steppe chronologies, an increase in the variation (range) of growth indices was noted in the 20th century; it resulted from an increase in the frequency of extreme climatic events in the south of Western Siberia, including droughts. The steppe chronologies showed a stable correlation with each other over time but a weak correlation to the forest-steppe tree-ring series. During periods of significant decrease in moisture, this correlation was absent. Extended chronologies make it possible to date old wooden structures, including architectural landmarks. The chronologies constructed using historical wood were found to enable higher accuracy of dating compared to the chronologies obtained only from live trees of pine belt forests
Pages: 202–220
DOI: 10.17516/1997-1389-0383
Paper at repository of SibFU: https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/147497

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