Tree-ring densitometric studies conducted in semi-arid regions are exceedingly rare. In this study, we evaluate a new maximum latewood density chronology from a collection of Picea purpurea trees growing in semi-arid northwestern China for climatic reconstruction purposes. We find statistically...

Tree rings provide an invaluable long-term record for understanding how climate and other drivers shape tree growth and forest productivity. However, conventional tree-ring analysis methods were not designed to simultaneously test effects of climate, tree size, and other drivers on individual...

Context: Wood functional traits such as IADFs result from the adaptation of tree physiological processes to seasonal climate variability. They could be used to reconstruct tree response to intra-annual variations in environmental conditions. Aims: We investigated the relationship between IADF...

Authenticity is the prime factor affecting the market value of a work of art. String instruments are among the most valued works of art, particularly those made by the old violin-making masters of northern Italy in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. However, it is difficult to verify the...

Predicting hydroclimatic changes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is crucial for managing water and ecosystems for the well-being of millions of people. Our understanding of the synoptic conditions on the TP is, however, still limited due to the paucity of meteorological measurements and proxy-based,...

Tree-ring carbon (C) and oxygen (O) stable isotope (SI) chronologies spanning the period 1983-2012 were analysed at three Pinus nigra Arn. sites located in the upper Orcia Valley (Tuscany, Italy) in a badlands landscape. The goal of the study was to determine the extent to which tree-ring stable...

In the Mediterranean area, intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) are triggered by short-term climatic variations during the growing season. It is known that the formation of these anatomical structures is dependent on age and size, which can represent a problem during the extraction of the...

The alpine tree line is generally assumed to be controlled by low temperatures, and thus to be experiencing an upward shift under global warming. As global temperatures rise, tree growth at the tree line could either increase if temperature is the limiting factor or decrease if a warming-induced...

Climate response of tree-species growth may be influenced by intra- and inter-specific interactions. The different physiological strategies of stress response and resource use among species may lead to different levels of competition and/or complementarity, likely changing in space and time...

Persistent shifts in riparian vegetation associated with the invasion of introduced Elaeagnus angustifolia and native nonriparian Juniperus virginiana have been reported in the U.S. Great Plains, with significant impacts on ecosystem services. In Nebraska, these species have been expanding into the ...