Dendroécologie du genévrier thurifère (Juniperus thurifera L.) : Exemple de la thuriféraie de la montagne de Rié (Pyrénées, France)

Abstract

According to its distribution area (western Mediterranean basin) and its current and past use, the cultural and biogeographical interest of Juniperus thurifera is today recognised. A dendroecological study was carried out to better understand the radial growth responses to climate and the population dynamics of a stand submitted to rural activity decline. According to the comparison of inter-annual variations in radial growth with monthly climatic parameters (response functions and pointer-year analysis), the influences on the annual tree-ring width of water availability during the current summer and other climatic conditions during the previous autumn were demonstrated. The occurrence of double rings were correlated with variations in summer precipitation. This may emphasise the capability of thuriferous juniper to react promptly to precipitation events in xerothermic conditions associated with peculiarities of the sub-Mediterranean climate. The width and the interannual structure of tree rings indicated that thuriferous juniper growth is strongly correlated with climate variability. An extended dendrochronological study considering its distribution range would allow us to decipher the species' autecological peculiarities. © 1999 Inra/Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS.