Journal article
Annual rings in a native Hawaiian tree, Sophora chrysophylla, on Maunakea, Hawaii
KS Francisco, PJ Hart, J Li, ER Cook, PJ Baker
Journal of Tropical Ecology | CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS | Published : 2015
Abstract
Annual rings are not commonly produced in tropical trees because they grow in a relatively aseasonal environment. However, in the subalpine zones of Hawaii's highest volcanoes, there is often strong seasonal variability in temperature and rainfall. Using classical dendrochronological methods, annual growth rings were shown to occur in Sophora chrysophylla, a native tree species on Maunakea, Hawaii. Chronologies were established from nearby non-native, live conifer trees and these were used to verify the dates from a total of 52 series from 22 S. chrysophylla trees, establishing an 86-y chronology (1926-2011). Ring-width patterns were significantly correlated with monthly rainfall from August..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Awarded by National Science Foundation's Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)
Awarded by Division Of Human Resource Development; Direct For Education and Human Resources
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank the many technicians, student assistants and interns for all their hard work in the collection, preparation and processing of samples - Tishanna Ben, Joshua Pang-Ching, Iwikauikaua Joaquin, Rhea Thompson and Leina'ala Hall. We also thank Susan Cordell (U.S. Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry) for helping with access to the Pohakuloa site, and Samuel Brooks (U.S. Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry) for escorting us and helping to collect samples at the Pohakuloa site. We also thank the Climate Center of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for funds to cover the field travel expenses of E. Cook and J. Li for conducting this research (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Contribution No. 7293). P. Baker was supported by a Future Fellowship (FT120100715) from the Australian Research Council. Mamane samples were collected with the collaboration of the Hawai'i State Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Permit DOFAWHA2010- 01). This project was funded by the National Science Foundation's Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) (Award No. 0833211).