Influence of climate on tree rings and vessel features in red oak and white oak growing near their northern distribution limit, southwestern Quebec, Canada

Abstract

Little is known about environmental controls on vessel features in ring-porous tree species. Our objectives were to assess (i) the association between tree-ring descriptors (vessels and width) and climate in two oak species, white oak, Quercus alba L., and red oak, Quercus rubra L., and (ii) the utility of vessel series in climate reconstruction. The study was conducted in southern Quebec and 10 trees of each species were analyzed. For each species, 11 chronologies (vessel and ring width) were developed and compared. Few differences were observed between the oak species. All vessel chronologies were associated with those of ring dimension and none revealed a unique climate signal. Current growing season conditions were mainly associated with latewood features, whereas those of the year prior to ring formation were mainly associated with earlywood features. The best climate variable to reconstruct was the July Canadian Drought Code and the best reconstruction model was derived from earlywood, latewood, and ring-width chronologies. We conclude that vessel chronologies for Q. alba and Q. rubra have limited use in dendroclimatology. Vessel features are best used to identify event years recorded during the life of a tree. Vessel series could prove useful, however, in calibrating physiologically based models of tree growth.