Sensitivity of Scots pine trees to winter colds and summer droughts: dendroclimatological investigation.

摘要

Our research focuses on dendroclimatological assessment of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees, which are sensitive and resistant to low winter temperatures and summer droughts. Research was conducted on the experimental plot located in the northeastern Lithuania. Pines sensitive and resistant to climatic conditions were detected by using response function analysis. Investigation has revealed high heterogeneity among pine trees in respect to their response to low winter temperatures and summer droughts. It was found that trees characterised by similar response to contrast climatic conditions mostly are located in smaller or bigger clusters. Because the standard dendroclimatological techniques at present are not able to interpret the results we hypothesize that different sensitivity to climate conditions are determined by genetic features of trees..