Climate response of Salix oritrepha growth along a latitudinal gradient on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Shrubs are widespread at higher altitudes and latitudes. Dendrochronology of shrub growth has been intensively studied in the circumpolar Arctic, Mediterranean and Patagonia. However, relatively little is known about shrub growth responses to climate change on the Tibetan Plateau. Herein, we investigate climate sensitivity of Salix oritrepha growth along a north–south (35–39° N) latitudinal gradient on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Four S. oritrepha shrub sites were selected for dendrochronology study. Pearson and partial correlation analyses were used to estimate strength of the climate sensitivity of the growth time series at each site. We found that not all of the site chronologies show consistent variations. Despite of this, its radial growth was primarily limited by the July mean temperature across the latitudinal gradient, and warming summer climate tends to increase the growth of S. oritrepha on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.