Heba Salhab*⁽¹⁾ , Laeila Abboud ⁽¹⁾, and Wael Ali ⁽¹⁾    

(1). Department of Forestry and Ecology , Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tishreen, Lattakia,Syria

(*Corrsponding author: Heba Salhab. E-Mail: heba.salhab@yahoo.com).

Received: 16/09/2020                                Accepted: 15/10/2020

Abstract

Tree rings are considered as records that preserve the climatic conditions of the year they are formed in. Therefore, they are used to study climate fluctuations from year to another. In order to study the annual growth rings and their response to the climate, samples were taken from three sites in Tartous Governorate with different altitudes above sea level, viz. Amrit, Ain Affan and Nabi Matta Protected Area. Ten dominant trees were selected in each site. Using increment drill two perpendicular samples were taken from each tree at 130 cm height. The samples were treated, and well cross-dated, then the rings width was measured to the nearest 0.01 mm. The tree rings time series were standardized to obtain a final series at each site. Response functions method was used to test the relationship between climate and tree ring-width. Results showed that wide rings were formed in years when precipitation amount was more than average, especially during the winter months, May, June, October and November, and the temperature was lower than its averages, especially in the summer, as in the years 1991-1992, 2001-2002. Contrary conditions encourage the formation of a narrow rings, as seen in years 2006-2007, 2009-2010. The results of response test showed a variation in the effect of climatic elements on tree rings width in brutia pine, according to each site, where relatively precipitation had the greater role is in the lower altitude, while the role of temperature is clearly visible in the higher altitude.

Keyword: Pinus brutia, Tree Rings, Dendroclimatology.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF