Crossdating and analysis of eucalypt tree rings exhibiting terminal and reverse latewood

Abstract

We investigated crossdating and climate sensitivity in tree-ring series from Eucalyptus delegatensis Baker, R.T. and E. obliqua L'Herit. We first visually crossdated the measured ring width series and then independently verified this crossdating using Xmatch and cross-correlation significance tests. Crossdating was verified in 28 of the 32 study trees. Crossdating success differed between E. delegatensis and E. obliqua. In E. delegatensis crossdating success appears to be related to tree dominance and elevation. In E. obliqua radial azimuth appears to affect crossdating success. We developed two chronologies for each of the species studied. The first of these chronologies was based on all visually crossdated radii and the other on radii for which crossdating had been independently verified. Signal strength was higher in the verified chronologies. Correlation analysis between the verified chronologies and climate data revealed no significant correlation between precipitation and ring width for either species. E. obliqua ring width was significantly correlated with mean minimum and maximum air temperature and vapour pressure deficit during summer of the growing season. The E. delegatensis chronology was significantly correlated with air temperature and frequency of frost during the preceding winter. Ring width in both species was significantly correlated with air temperature during the preceding summer. Potential physiological explanations for these results are discussed. Further study is required to verify the results of climatological analysis and to explore the causes of variation in signal strength within and between trees.