Dendroclimatology of Cedrela fissilis Vell. and Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. in an Urban Forest Under Cerrado Domain

Abstract

The study is about the influence of climate change on tree growth in urban forests in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, using dendrochronology. The study focuses on two species, Cedrela fissilis Vell. and Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., both with dendrochronological potential. Samples were collected from an urban forest fragment, and local (temperature and precipitation) and global (ocean surface temperature—SST and Niño 3.4 index) meteorological data were analyzed to correlate with ring width. The methodology involved collecting, preparing, polishing, and marking the rings. The data series were analyzed using the COFECHA, Arstan, and CooRecorder programs to verify the accuracy of ring dating and SAS program for correlations with climatic variables. Both species exhibited good correlations between growth rings and climatic conditions. Cedrela fissilis and Copaifera langsdorffii were positively correlated with precipitation during the dry season and generally negatively correlated with temperatures. Negative correlations were identified with SST and Niño 3.4 for both species. These results are important for understanding how urban forests respond to climate change and how the study of growth rings can be used to predict the future impacts of these changes on plant species.