Possible red spruce decline: Contributions of tree-ring analysis

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Forestry; (United States)

OSTI ID:6093088

Van Deusen, P C ^[1]; Reams, G A ^[2]; Cook, E R ^[3]

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1. USDA Forest Service, New Orleans, LA (United States)
2. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (United States)
3. Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY (United States)

Debate continues about the cause of apparent unprecedented decreases in ring width at all elevations, and increasing levels of mortality at high elevations, in red spruce (Picea rubens) stands in the northeastern United States. These growth and mortality trends are often used as evidence of red spruce decline, but the possibility remains that they may be occurring naturally. Two hypotheses are being used to explain the causes of red spruce growth reduction across its range and increased levels of standing dead at some high-elevation sites. This article summarizes the basic evidence used by advocates of these hypotheses and discusses the strengths of their arguments. The information presented is based primarily on tree-ring studies sponsored by the Forest Response Program, which is part of the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program.

• OSTI ID: 6093088
• Journal Information: Journal of Forestry; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Forestry; (United States) Vol. 89:1; ISSN JFUSA; ISSN 0022-1201
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CLIMATES
CONIFERS
DATA
DISASTERS
ECOLOGY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FORESTS
GROWTH
INFORMATION
INJURIES
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
LEVELS
MORTALITY
NATURAL OCCURRENCE
NUMERICAL DATA
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
PINOPHYTA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
RAIN
SPRUCES
STORMS
TREE RINGS
TREES