Dendrochronological potential of Ephedra equisetina from Zaravshan Mountains (Tajikistan) in climate change studies

Abstract

Samples from Mongolian Ephedra (Ephedra equisetina Bunge) was collected in the Zaravshan Mountains (the Fann Mountains), Tajikistan. The wood of Ephedra is ring-porous with well-defined growth rings. Annual ring widths were measured, individual series were first cross-dated and then averaged as a standard chronology. Correlations were calculated between the standard ring-width chronology and monthly climate data recorded in the weather station Iskanderkul. Dendroclimatological analysis showed that July temperature is the growth limiting factor of this species. Our study has shown high dendrochronological potential of Ephedra.