TITLE:
Dendrochronological Potential and Impact of Climate Factors on Radial Growth of Two Species in the Sahelian Zone: Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. ex Poir and Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich) Hoscht (Ferlo Nord/Senegal)
AUTHORS:
Ramata Talla, Moustapha Bassimbé Sagna, Daouda Ndiaye, Aly Diallo, Jean Luc Peiry, Papa Saliou Sarr, Aliou Guisse
KEYWORDS:
Dendrochronology, Cerne, Climate, Boscia senegalensis, Sclerocarya birrea, Ferlo
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.12 No.4,
April
14,
2021
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is to analyze the
dendrochronological potential of two Sahelian species (B. senegalensis and S. birrea) and to evaluate the relationships
between their growth rings and the climate. The study was conducted in
2016 in the Ferlo area of Senegal. The biological material consists of wood
slices, taken from the trunks of these adult woody species at 0.30 m and 1.30 m
from the ground after they have been felled. The technique used to examine the
slices consists in identifying their rings, establishing their structures,
inter-dating them and studying the relationship between the identified rings
and climatic factors. The results showed that the species had thin, clear,
highly visible and sharp rings. The limit of growth is marked by a line of
parenchyma. Intradatation series carried out on the chronologies made it
possible to estimate the ages of the individuals, which vary from 10 to 38
years for B. senegalensis and from 29 to 50 years for S. birrea. Their average growth rates are estimated at 0.906 mm/year and 0.89
mm/year respectively. The chronological sequences are 29 years
(1987-2016) for B. senegalensis and 38 years (1964-2012) for S.
birrea. The results revealed that there is no significant correlation
between the growth chronologies of B. senegalensis and the climatic regressors (temperature and
precipitation). In contrast, the ring-climate relationship shows that
in S. birrea winter precipitation positively influences ring growth
while temperature has no effect on ring growth in this species. This study
provides a better understanding of the response of forest ecosystems to
possible climate change, particularly in the current context of sustainable
forest management.