Growth response of Abies spectabilis to climate along an elevation gradient of the Manang valley in the central Himalayas

Abstract

The Himalayas are characterized by a broad gradient of bioclimatic zones along their elevation. However, less is known how forest growth responds to climatic change along elevation. In this study, four standard tree-ring width chronologies of Himalayan fir (Abiesspectabilis) were developed, spanning 142–649 years along an elevation gradient of 3076–3900 m a.s.l. Principal component analysis classified the four chronologies into two groups; the ones at lower elevations (M1 and M2) and higher elevations (M3 and M4) show two distinct growth trends. Radial growth is limited by summer (June–August) precipitation at M3, and by precipitation during spring (March–May) and summer at M4. It is limited by spring temperatures and winter precipitation (December–February) at M1. Tree-ring width chronologies also significantly correlate with winter and spring Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) at M1, and with summer PDSI at M3 and M4. Thus, Himalayan fir growth at high elevations is mainly limited by moisture stress rather than by low temperatures. Furthermore, the occurrence of missing rings coincides with dry periods, providing additional evidence for moisture limitation of Himalayan fir growth.