Technique To Improve Visualization Of Elusive Tree-Ring Boundaries In Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Affiliation
Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State UniversityDepartment of Wildland Resources, Utah State University
Issue Date
2010-01
Metadata
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Copyright © Tree-Ring Society. All rights reserved.Collection Information
This item is part of the Tree-Ring Research (formerly Tree-Ring Bulletin) archive. For more information about this peer-reviewed scholarly journal, please email the Editor of Tree-Ring Research at editor@treeringsociety.org.Publisher
Tree-Ring SocietyJournal
Tree-Ring ResearchCitation
DeRose, R.J., Gardner, R.S., 2010. Technique to improve visualization of elusive tree-ring boundaries in aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Tree-Ring Research 66(1):75-78.Abstract
A simple, quick, and inexpensive technique to improve visualization of aspen (Populus tremuloides) tree rings under the microscope, the ‘shadow technique’, is described. The technique assumes appropriate preparation of increment cores or cross-sections and works well on the lighter portions of the sample with fungus- and bacteria-free wood. The shadow technique was used successfully to elucidate tree-ring boundaries in small diameter (<5 cm DBH) aspen from northern Utah that commonly had >100 annual rings. Crossdating verified whether the elusive rings were missing or false rings. Aspen tree-ring measurement will be greatly enhanced with the shadow technique and preliminary investigation suggests it could be used on other species such as curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius).ISSN
2162-45851536-1098