Dendrochronological studies of common cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis) to determine its annual diameter growth rate and identify the oldest trees in the Hyrcanian habitats, Iran

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Lab., Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Corresponding author, Prof., Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Lab., Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

3 Research Scientist, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Université d’Avignon, France

Abstract

     In temperate regions, the one-year life cycle forms observable growth rings influenced by the genetic, physiological, climatic, and physiographic structures of trees that consider in dendrochronology. Common cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis) is a precious Mediterranean species that grows in the Hyrcanian regions, as the only native cypress in Iran. In order to determine the annual diameter growth of this species and to identify the oldest trees, a sample of 92 aging woods was selected in the Hyrcanian habitats of Iran. Samples were collected by an increment borer with a length of 50 cm and measured in the dendrochronology laboratory by Lintab 6 device, and the obtained data were automatically recorded for time matching in TSAP-Win software and time series analysis. After comparative dating and eliminating any measurement error, the mean values of the vegetative ring width of all specimens were calculated and the average growth of the cypress was obtained. The relationship between the width of growth rings in each cypress tree, and the difference in tree growth of the three provinces viz. Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan was evaluated using R software. The results showed that a tree in Viaeyeh, Rudbar county is the oldest tree in existence reaching an age of 1519 years. The annual diameter growth of cypress is reported as 0.95 mm. The growth rate curve in Mazandaran province during the last 450 years showed milder characteristics in the arrangement, uniformity and slope of change compared to the other two provinces. This indicates the stability of climatic and habitat conditions in Hassanabad, Mazandaran province, compared with the two other areas and sufficient evidence that this area is very close to the Mediterranean climate.

Keywords

References

- Amini, T., Ejtehadi, H., Djamali, M. and Guibal, F., 2020. The world’s easternmost natural stands of Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cupressaceae) in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology, 18(1): 3-8.
- Arsalani, M., Grießinger, J., Pourtahmasi, K. and Bräuning, A., 2021. Multi-centennial reconstruction of drought events in South-Western Iran using tree rings of Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 567: 110296.
- Assadi, M., 1997. Flora of Iran, Vols. 19-22: Pinaceae, Taxaceae, Cupressaceae and Ephedraceae. Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, 58p (In Persian with English summery).
- Balapour, Sh. and Mammadov, T.S., 2016. Principles, Methods and Application of Dendrochronology. Jedikar Publications, Tehran, 354p (In Persian with English summery).
- Hedayati, S., Soosani, J., Akbari, H., Fallah, A. and Balapour, S., 2014. Assessment of radial growth of Cupressus sempervirense var. horizontalis trees by use of dendrochronology knowledge in its native site (Case study: Gorgan Ali Abad Catool). Iranian Journal of Forest, 5(4): 361-376 (In Persian with English summery with English summary).
- Jalilvand, H. and Balapour, Sh., 2014. The effect of climate on tree-ring chronologies of oak (Quercus macranthera) on tree line of Hyrcanian forest. Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, 20(4): 1-19 (In Persian with English summery with English summary).
- Kazemi, S.M., Balapour, Sh. and Rezaei, F., 2012. Investigation of climate variables (temperature and precipitation) effects on Populus alba annual growth. Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, 19(2): 143-152 (In Persian with English summery with English summary).
- Koval, I., Meshkova, V., Maksymenko, N., Roibu, C.C. and Obolonik, I., 2021. Assessment of climate change by dendrochronological methods in Polissya. SHS Web of Conferences, 100: 05005.
- Mohtadi Haghi, A., 2002. Estimating the growth of common cypress species in natural and hand-planted stands of Guilan province by trunk analysis method. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, 116p (In Persian with English summery).
- Najafi Harsini, F., Pourtahmasi, K. and Karimi, A.N., 2012. Dendrochronological investigation of radial growth of Quercus infectoria in Kermanshah oak forests. Journal of Forest and Wood Products, 65(1): 119 -129 (In Persian with English summery with English summary).
- Pourtahmasbi, K., Parsapajouh, D., Marvi Mohajer, M.R. and Ali-Ahmad-Korouri, S., 2008. Evaluation of juniper trees (Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch) radial growth in three sites of Iran by using dendrochronology. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 16(2): 327-342 (In Persian with English summery with English summary).
- Roibu, C.C., Sfeclă, V., Mursa, A., Ionita, M., Nagavciuc, V., Chiriloaei, F., ... and Popa, I., 2020. The climatic response of tree ring width components of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and common oak (Quercus robur L.) from eastern Europe. Forests, 11: 600.
- Toghraii, N., 2013. Dendrochronology. Development of Geological Education, 74: 58-64 (In Persian with English summery).
- Zare, H., 2001. Native and Non-native Conifer Species in Iran. Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, 500p (In Persian with English summery).

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics