Changing climate yet healthy forest stand of Tsuga dumosa in temperate zone of central Nepal
Chaulagain S, Aryal S, Basnet S, Tiwari A (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
DOI: 10.1016/j.chnaes.2023.08.005
Abstract
Nepal Himalaya is experiencing a faster rate of temperature rise than the global average, and the temperature has altered the growth patterns and distribution of mountain trees. A dendrochronological study was conducted for Tsuga dumosa (D.Don) Eichler to analyze growth-climate relationship from the temperate forest of central Nepal. We developed 116 year-long tree ring width chronology spanning from 1905 to 2020 CE. The study area showed a significant increase in atmospheric temperature and a decrease in rainfall during the past 42 years. It is found that the spring season (March–May) climate is sensitive to the radial growth of T. dumosa. Ring width indices showed a substantial positive correlation with the minimum temperature of January, March, and June of the growth year. Conversely, a negative correlation was observed with the maximum temperature of the previous year's months (July, September, and November), March, and September of the current year, and rainfall during June and November. Basal Area Increment (BAI) trend is positive, indicating the forest is healthy despite the decline in the years 1942, 1978, and 1998. We conclude that the warming of the spring season (March–May), previous year's late growing season and moisture supply (precipitation) during June are critical to the radial growth of Tsuga dumosa in the region. However, responses from multiple species and their exposure to different climate regimes would ideally be required to make predictions on the growth climate relationships of forest trees.
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Nepal (NP)
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Chaulagain, S., Aryal, S., Basnet, S., & Tiwari, A. (2023). Changing climate yet healthy forest stand of Tsuga dumosa in temperate zone of central Nepal. Acta Ecologica Sinica. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2023.08.005
MLA:
Chaulagain, Sarita, et al. "Changing climate yet healthy forest stand of Tsuga dumosa in temperate zone of central Nepal." Acta Ecologica Sinica (2023).
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