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POSSIBLE RED SPRUCE DECLINE: CONTRIBUTIONS OF TREE-RING ANALYSIS
Citation:
Duesen, P., G. Reams, AND E. Cook. POSSIBLE RED SPRUCE DECLINE: CONTRIBUTIONS OF TREE-RING ANALYSIS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-91/061 (NTIS PB91196428).
Description:
In studies of the northeastern red spruce ecosystem, several points evoke some agreement: 1) many high elevation sites exhibit substantial post-1960 mortality that could be due to winter injury; 2) there is widespread pre-1950 growth increase with a subsequent post-l960 growth decrease; 3) many locations show none of these effects; and 4) dendro-climate models suggest that late summer and early winter temperatures of the previous year are significant determinants of red spruce year-to-year growth. It is a mistake to advocate a single cause at this time, because there is compelling evidence that both climate and stand dynamics are involved to some degree. he study of long-term forest trends based on tree-ring data is difficult and subject to interpretation, but it is unlikely that other data is available for most natural forest areas. n fact, progress made in the study of northeastern red spruce owes much to tree-ring analysis, and other ecological studies could benefit as well.