1
|
Saurer M, Sahlstedt E, Rinne-Garmston KT, Lehmann MM, Oettli M, Gessler A, Treydte K. Progress in high-resolution isotope-ratio analysis of tree rings using laser ablation. Tree Physiol 2023; 43:694-705. [PMID: 36519757 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Stable isotope ratio analysis of tree rings has been widely and successfully applied in recent decades for climatic and environmental reconstructions. These studies were mostly conducted at an annual resolution, considering one measurement per tree ring, often focusing on latewood. However, much more information could be retrieved with high-resolution intra-annual isotope studies, based on the fact that the wood cells and the corresponding organic matter are continuously laid down during the growing season. Such studies are still relatively rare, but have a unique potential for reconstructing seasonal climate variations or short-term changes in physiological plant properties, like water-use efficiency. The reason for this research gap is mostly technical, as on the one hand sub-annual, manual splitting of rings is very tedious, while on the other hand automated laser ablation for high-resolution analyses is not yet well established and available. Here, we give an update on the current status of laser ablation research for analysis of the carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of wood, describe an easy-to-use laser ablation system, its operation and discuss practical issues related to tree core preparation, including cellulose extraction. The results show that routine analysis with up to 100 laser shot-derived δ13C-values daily and good precision and accuracy (ca. 0.1‰) comparable to conventional combustion in an elemental analyzer are possible. Measurements on resin-extracted wood is recommended as most efficient, but laser ablation is also possible on cellulose extracted wood pieces. Considering the straightforward sample preparation, the technique is therefore ripe for wide-spread application. With this work, we hope to stimulate future progress in the promising field of high-resolution environmental reconstruction using laser ablation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Saurer
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
| | - Elina Sahlstedt
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, Helsinki 00790, Finland
| | - Katja T Rinne-Garmston
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, Helsinki 00790, Finland
| | - Marco M Lehmann
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Oettli
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, Universitaetstrasse 16, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Treydte
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xu G, Liu X, Hu J, Dorado-Liñán I, Gagen M, Szejner P, Chen T, Trouet V. Intra-annual tree-ring δ18O and δ13C reveal a trade-off between isotopic source and humidity in moist environments. Tree Physiol 2022; 42:2203-2223. [PMID: 35796563 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tree-ring intra-annual stable isotopes (δ13C and δ18O) are powerful tools for revealing plant ecophysiological responses to climatic extremes. We analyzed interannual and fine-scale intra-annual variability of tree-ring δ13C and δ18O in Chinese red pine (Pinus massoniana) from southeastern China to explore environmental drivers and potential trade-offs between the main physiological controls. We show that wet season relative humidity (May-October RH) drove interannual variability of δ18O and intra-annual variability of tree-ring δ18O. It also drove intra-annual variability of tree-ring δ13C, whereas interannual variability was mainly controlled by February-May temperature and September-October RH. Furthermore, intra-annual tree-ring δ18O variability was larger during wet years compared with dry years, whereas δ13C variability was lower during wet years compared with dry years. As a result of these differences in intra-annual variability amplitude, process-based models (we used the Roden model for δ18O and the Farquhar model for δ13C) captured the intra-annual δ18O pattern better in wet years compared with dry years, whereas intra-annual δ13C pattern was better simulated in dry years compared with wet years. This result suggests a potential asymmetric bias in process-based models in capturing the interplay of the different mechanistic processes (i.e., isotopic source and leaf-level enrichment) operating in dry versus wet years. We therefore propose an intra-annual conceptual model considering a dynamic trade-off between the isotopic source and leaf-level enrichment in different tree-ring parts to understand how climate and ecophysiological processes drive intra-annual tree-ring stable isotopic variability under humid climate conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Xu
- National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Jia Hu
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
| | - Isabel Dorado-Liñán
- Dpto. de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mary Gagen
- Department of Geography, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA28PP, UK
| | - Paul Szejner
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City 04510, México
| | - Tuo Chen
- National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Valerie Trouet
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pérez-de-Lis G, Rathgeber CBK, Fernández-de-Uña L, Ponton S. Cutting tree rings into time slices: how intra-annual dynamics of wood formation help decipher the space-for-time conversion. New Phytol 2022; 233:1520-1534. [PMID: 34797916 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Tree-ring anatomy, microdensity and isotope records provide valuable intra-annual information. However, extracting signals at that scale is challenged by the complexity of xylogenesis, where two major processes - cell enlargement and wall thickening - occur at different times and rates. We characterized the space-for-time association in the tree rings of three conifer species by examining the duration, overlapping, inter-tree synchronicity and interannual stability during cell enlargement and wall thickening across regular tree-ring sectors (portions of equal tangential width). The number of cells and cell differentiation rates determined the duration of sector formation, which augmented more rapidly throughout the ring for wall thickening than for enlargement. Increasing the number of sectors above c. 15 had a limited effect on improving time resolution because consecutive sector formation overlapped greatly in time, especially in narrow rings and during wall thickening. Increasing the number of sectors also resulted in lower synchronicity and stability of intermediate-sector enlargement, whereas all sectors showed high synchronicity and stability during wall thickening. Increasing the number of sectors had a stronger effect on enhancing time-series resolution for enlargement- than for wall-thickening-related traits, which would nevertheless produce more reliable intra-annual chronologies as a result of the more similar calendars across trees and years in wall thickening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Pérez-de-Lis
- SILVA, Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Nancy, 54000, France
- BIOAPLIC, Departamento de Botánica, EPSE, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Terra, Lugo, 27002, Spain
| | - Cyrille B K Rathgeber
- SILVA, Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Nancy, 54000, France
- Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Laura Fernández-de-Uña
- SILVA, Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Nancy, 54000, France
- CREAF, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallés), Catalonia, E08193, Spain
| | - Stéphane Ponton
- SILVA, Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Nancy, 54000, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
|
5
|
De Mil T, Hubau W, Angoboy Ilondea B, Rocha Vargas MA, Boeckx P, Steppe K, Van Acker J, Beeckman H, Van den Bulcke J. Asynchronous leaf and cambial phenology in a tree species of the Congo Basin requires space-time conversion of wood traits. Ann Bot 2019; 124:245-253. [PMID: 31170728 PMCID: PMC6758582 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Wood traits are increasingly being used to document tree performance. In the Congo Basin, however, weaker seasonality causes asynchrony of wood traits between trees. Here, we monitor growth and phenology data to date the formation of traits. METHODS For two seasons, leaf and cambial phenology were monitored on four Terminalia superba trees (Mayombe) using cameras, cambial pinning and dendrometers. Subsequently, vessel lumen and parenchyma fractions as well as high-resolution isotopes (δ13C/δ18O) were quantified on the formed rings. All traits were dated and related to weather data. KEY RESULTS We observed between-tree differences in green-up of 45 d, with trees flushing before and after the rainy season. The lag between green-up and onset of xylem formation was 59 ± 21 d. The xylem growing season lasted 159 ± 17 d with between-tree differences of up to 53 d. Synchronized vessel, parenchyma and δ13C profiles were related to each other. Only parenchyma fraction and δ13C were correlated to weather variables, whereas the δ18O pattern showed no trend. CONCLUSIONS Asynchrony of leaf and cambial phenology complicates correct interpretation of environmental information recorded in wood. An integrated approach including high-resolution measurements of growth, stable isotopes and anatomical features allows exact dating of the formation of traits. This methodology offers a means to explore the asynchrony of growth in a rainforest and contribute to understanding this aspect of forest resilience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom De Mil
- UGCT-UGent-Woodlab, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Environment, Gent, Belgium
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Wood Biology Service, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Wannes Hubau
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Wood Biology Service, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Bhély Angoboy Ilondea
- UGCT-UGent-Woodlab, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Environment, Gent, Belgium
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Wood Biology Service, Tervuren, Belgium
- Institut National pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Mirvia Angela Rocha Vargas
- UGCT-UGent-Woodlab, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Environment, Gent, Belgium
- Isotope Bioscience Laboratory – ISOFYS, Ghent University, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Pascal Boeckx
- Isotope Bioscience Laboratory – ISOFYS, Ghent University, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Kathy Steppe
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Joris Van Acker
- UGCT-UGent-Woodlab, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Environment, Gent, Belgium
| | - Hans Beeckman
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Wood Biology Service, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Jan Van den Bulcke
- UGCT-UGent-Woodlab, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Environment, Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cañas RA, Li Z, Pascual MB, Castro-Rodríguez V, Ávila C, Sterck L, Van de Peer Y, Cánovas FM. The gene expression landscape of pine seedling tissues. Plant J 2017; 91:1064-1087. [PMID: 28635135 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Conifers dominate vast regions of the Northern hemisphere. They are the main source of raw materials for timber industry as well as a wide range of biomaterials. Despite their inherent difficulties as experimental models for classical plant biology research, the technological advances in genomics research are enabling fundamental studies on these plants. The use of laser capture microdissection followed by transcriptomic analysis is a powerful tool for unravelling the molecular and functional organization of conifer tissues and specialized cells. In the present work, 14 different tissues from 1-month-old maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) seedlings have been isolated and their transcriptomes analysed. The results increased the sequence information and number of full-length transcripts from a previous reference transcriptome and added 39 841 new transcripts. In total, 2376 transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in all of the examined tissues. These transcripts could be considered the core 'housekeeping genes' in pine. The genes have been clustered in function to their expression profiles. This analysis reduced the number of profiles to 38, most of these defined by their expression in a unique tissue that is much higher than in the other tissues. The expression and localization data are accessible at ConGenIE.org (http://v22.popgenie.org/microdisection/). This study presents an overview of the gene expression distribution in different pine tissues, specifically highlighting the relationships between tissue gene expression and function. This transcriptome atlas is a valuable resource for functional genomics research in conifers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael A Cañas
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Belén Pascual
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| | - Vanessa Castro-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| | - Concepción Ávila
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| | - Lieven Sterck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Francisco M Cánovas
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Sleen
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group Wageningen University & Research Droevendaalsesteeg 3 6708 PB Wageningen The Netherlands
- Marine Science Institute University of Texas at Austin 750 Channel View Drive Port Aransas TX78373 USA
| | - Pieter A. Zuidema
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group Wageningen University & Research Droevendaalsesteeg 3 6708 PB Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Thijs L. Pons
- Plant Ecophysiology Institute of Environmental Biology Utrecht University Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Isaac-Renton M, Schneider L, Treydte K. Contamination risk of stable isotope samples during milling. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2016; 30:1513-1522. [PMID: 27321839 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Isotope analysis of wood is an important tool in dendrochronology and ecophysiology. Prior to mass spectrometry analysis, wood must be homogenized, and a convenient method involves a ball mill capable of milling samples directly in sample tubes. However, sample-tube plastic can contaminate wood during milling, which could lead to biological misinterpretations. METHODS We tested possible contamination of whole wood and cellulose samples during ball-mill homogenization for carbon and oxygen isotope measurements. We used a multi-factorial design with two/three steel milling balls, two sample amounts (10 mg, 40 mg), and two milling times (5 min, 10 min). We further analyzed abrasion by milling empty tubes, and measured the isotope ratios of pure contaminants. RESULTS A strong risk exists for carbon isotope bias through plastic contamination: the δ(13) C value of polypropylene deviated from the control by -6.77‰. Small fibers from PTFE filter bags used during cellulose extraction also present a risk as the δ(13) C value of this plastic deviated by -5.02‰. Low sample amounts (10 mg) showed highest contamination due to increased abrasion during milling (-1.34‰), which is further concentrated by cellulose extraction (-3.38‰). Oxygen isotope measurements were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS A ball mill can be used to homogenize samples within test tubes prior to oxygen isotope analysis, but not prior to carbon or radiocarbon isotope analysis. There is still a need for a fast, simple and contamination-free sample preparation procedure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Isaac-Renton
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - L Schneider
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - K Treydte
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Siegmund JF, Sanders TGM, Heinrich I, van der Maaten E, Simard S, Helle G, Donner RV. Meteorological Drivers of Extremes in Daily Stem Radius Variations of Beech, Oak, and Pine in Northeastern Germany: An Event Coincidence Analysis. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7:733. [PMID: 27375625 PMCID: PMC4891350 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Observed recent and expected future increases in frequency and intensity of climatic extremes in central Europe may pose critical challenges for domestic tree species. Continuous dendrometer recordings provide a valuable source of information on tree stem radius variations, offering the possibility to study a tree's response to environmental influences at a high temporal resolution. In this study, we analyze stem radius variations (SRV) of three domestic tree species (beech, oak, and pine) from 2012 to 2014. We use the novel statistical approach of event coincidence analysis (ECA) to investigate the simultaneous occurrence of extreme daily weather conditions and extreme SRVs, where extremes are defined with respect to the common values at a given phase of the annual growth period. Besides defining extreme events based on individual meteorological variables, we additionally introduce conditional and joint ECA as new multivariate extensions of the original methodology and apply them for testing 105 different combinations of variables regarding their impact on SRV extremes. Our results reveal a strong susceptibility of all three species to the extremes of several meteorological variables. Yet, the inter-species differences regarding their response to the meteorological extremes are comparatively low. The obtained results provide a thorough extension of previous correlation-based studies by emphasizing on the timings of climatic extremes only. We suggest that the employed methodological approach should be further promoted in forest research regarding the investigation of tree responses to changing environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonatan F. Siegmund
- Research Domain IV—Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchPotsdam, Germany
- Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of PotsdamPotsdam, Germany
| | | | - Ingo Heinrich
- Department 5 Geoarchives, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesPotsdam, Germany
| | - Ernst van der Maaten
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of GreifswaldGreifswald, Germany
| | - Sonia Simard
- Department 5 Geoarchives, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesPotsdam, Germany
| | - Gerhard Helle
- Department 5 Geoarchives, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesPotsdam, Germany
| | - Reik V. Donner
- Research Domain IV—Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchPotsdam, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
De Mil T, Vannoppen A, Beeckman H, Van Acker J, Van den Bulcke J. A field-to-desktop toolchain for X-ray CT densitometry enables tree ring analysis. Ann Bot 2016; 117:1187-96. [PMID: 27107414 PMCID: PMC4904179 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcw063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Disentangling tree growth requires more than ring width data only. Densitometry is considered a valuable proxy, yet laborious wood sample preparation and lack of dedicated software limit the widespread use of density profiling for tree ring analysis. An X-ray computed tomography-based toolchain of tree increment cores is presented, which results in profile data sets suitable for visual exploration as well as density-based pattern matching. METHODS Two temperate (Quercus petraea, Fagus sylvatica) and one tropical species (Terminalia superba) were used for density profiling using an X-ray computed tomography facility with custom-made sample holders and dedicated processing software. KEY RESULTS Density-based pattern matching is developed and able to detect anomalies in ring series that can be corrected via interactive software. CONCLUSIONS A digital workflow allows generation of structure-corrected profiles of large sets of cores in a short time span that provide sufficient intra-annual density information for tree ring analysis. Furthermore, visual exploration of such data sets is of high value. The dated profiles can be used for high-resolution chronologies and also offer opportunities for fast screening of lesser studied tropical tree species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom De Mil
- UGCT-Woodlab-UGent, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Forest and Water Management, Coupure Links 653, B- 9000 Gent, Belgium Royal Museum for Central Africa, Wood Biology Service, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Astrid Vannoppen
- University of Leuven, Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Celestijnenlaan 200E, Box 2411, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Beeckman
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Wood Biology Service, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Joris Van Acker
- UGCT-Woodlab-UGent, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Forest and Water Management, Coupure Links 653, B- 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Jan Van den Bulcke
- UGCT-Woodlab-UGent, Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Forest and Water Management, Coupure Links 653, B- 9000 Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|