Dendrochronology of Jacaranda copaia containing ENSO registry in Madre de Dios, Peru

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to construct the chronology of the growth rings of the Jacaranda copaia (Achihua) species, to analyze with the most severe events of the El Niño phenomenon. For this, 10 J. copaia trees were collected from a relict forest in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. Four samples per tree were obtained using the Pressler's probe. The process, measurement and analysis of the growth rings were carried out using standard dendrochronology techniques. The J. copaia master chronology was constructed, the mean annual increase of the species was determined and the chronology was related to the severe events of the El Niño phenomenon. The results show that J. copaia, present distinct and annual growth rings, delimited by fibrous zones. The intercorrelation of the width of the growth rings between trees was 0,36. The maximum age was 34 years. The relationship between the chronology and the most severe events of the El Niño phenomenon was 0,18 and had a clear relationship in 1998. The results reveal the dendrochronological potential of the J. copaia species, in the tropical forests of Madre de Dios in for future dendroclimatic studies.