<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Extracting cores from a tree using an increment borer has been standard practice in dendrochronological studies for a long time. Although empirical rules exist regarding how many samples to take and which methodology to apply, comparatively few studies provide quantification of the similarity of relative tree-ring-widths (TRW) around the stem circumference. The aim of this study was therefore to precisely measure the similarity of standardised TRWs around the stem circumference and to provide objective suggestions for optimal core sampling of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst. [L.]) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) growing in Central European temperate forests.</p><p>A large sample of cross-sectional discs was used from Norway spruce and European beech trees growing on various slopes, at different altitudes and biogeographic regions across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The similarity of TRWs measured in different coring directions was analysed by testing the relativized TRW around the trunk (rTRW). Comparison of rTRWs revealed no significant differences between coring directions, indicating that the relative increment was the same around the radius. The results also showed the high similarity between the rTRWs to be independent of both slope inclination and altitude. Moreover, the reconstruction of proportional tree diameters and basal areas backward in time from one core sample and one measurement of tree diameter (basal area) at the time of sample extraction is possible with reasonable precision.</p></abstract>

Extracting cores from a tree using an increment borer has been standard practice in dendrochronological studies for a long time. Although empirical rules exist regarding how many samples to take and which methodology to apply, comparatively few studies provide quantification of the similarity of relative tree-ring-widths (TRW) around the stem circumference. The aim of this study was therefore to precisely measure the similarity of standardised TRWs around the stem circumference and to provide objective suggestions for optimal core sampling of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst. [L.]) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) growing in Central European temperate forests.A large sample of cross-sectional discs was used from Norway spruce and European beech trees growing on various slopes, at different altitudes and biogeographic regions across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The similarity of TRWs measured in different coring directions was analysed by testing the relativized TRW around the trunk (rTRW). Comparison of rTRWs revealed no significant differences between coring directions, indicating that the relative increment was the same around the radius. The results also showed the high similarity between the rTRWs to be independent of both slope inclination and altitude. Moreover, the reconstruction of proportional tree diameters and basal areas backward in time from one core sample and one measurement of tree diameter (basal area) at the time of sample extraction is possible with reasonable precision.

Evaluating similarity of radial increments around tree stem circumference of European beech and Norway spruce from Central Europe

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycka 1176, 165 21, Prague 6, Czech Republic

Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53, Zvolen, Slovakia

Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ľudovíta Štúra 2, 960 53, Zvolen, Slovakia

National Forest Centre, T.G. Masaryka 22, 96092, Zvolen, Slovakia

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Extracting cores from a tree using an increment borer has been standard practice in dendrochronological studies for a long time. Although empirical rules exist...

Evaluating similarity of radial increments around tree stem circumference of European beech and Norway spruce from Central Europe

Published Online: Mar 20, 2014

Page range: 136 - 146

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13386-013-0152-3

Keywords
relative tree-ring width, dendroclimatology, basal area reconstruction, core sampling, detrending

© 2013 Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Evaluating similarity of radial increments around tree stem circumference of European beech and Norway spruce from Central Europe

Published Online: Mar 20, 2014

Page range: 136 - 146

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13386-013-0152-3

Keywordsrelative tree-ring width, dendroclimatology, basal area reconstruction, core sampling, detrending

© 2013 Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
relative tree-ring width, dendroclimatology, basal area reconstruction, core sampling, detrending