The growth of Abies pinsapo and the climate of Grazalema: dendroecological approach

Abstract

Abies pinsapo is an interesting species wich lives in special ecological conditions, in a particular very rainy subtype of Mediterranean climate, which nevertheless is arid in summer. Its radial growth has been studied using dendrochronological methods in two Iberian population, and both the general trends and the particular disturbances have been analysed, together with the pointer years of the tree rings series. Three local chronologies have been established, in accordance with the site and the age of the trees, the longest wich extends from 1690 to 1998. The climatic signal contained in these chronologies has been determined using the Grazalema meteorological record, the most complete and extensive among those close to the Abies pinsapo forest. The effects of the severe drought that took place in the five years from 1990 to 1995 are indicated, and forest managements are suggested wich could mitigate these effects should such a situation recur in the future.