Stable-Carbon Isotope Time Series From Tropical Tree Rings Indicate A Precipitation Signal
Affiliation
Georg August Universität Göttingen, Department of Crop Sciences, Agronomy in the TropicsInstitute of Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere, Research Centre Jülich
Issue Date
2010-01
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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
Fichtler, E., Helle, G., Worbes, M., 2010. Stable carbon isotope time series from tropical tree rings indicate a precipitation signal. Tree-Ring Research 66(1):35-49.Abstract
Although studies on stable-carbon isotopes in trees from temperate zones provide abundant paleoclimatic data, tropical trees are still understudied in this context. Therefore this study examined the variability of intra- and inter-annual stable-carbon isotopic pattern in several tree species from various tropical climates. The 𝛿¹³C values of samples of 12 broadleaved trees (seven species) from various paleotropical and neotropical sites along a climatic moisture gradient were investigated. The inter-annual variability between species and sites was studied. Further the relationship between 𝛿¹³C and precipitation time series was analyzed. Results show that tropical tree species show a similar variability in carbon isotopic composition as temperate tree species. Significant correlations between annual precipitation and tree-ring 𝛿¹³C time series were negative. Successful crossdating of a tree-ring 𝛿¹³C time series highlights the potential of carbon isotope measurements for tropical tree-ring analytical studies. Tropical broadleaved trees are able to capture a carbon isotopic signal in their annual rings even under everwet conditions and show good potential for paleoclimatic research.ISSN
2162-45851536-1098