A Tree Ring Study of Cupressus arizonica at Chiricahua National Monument

Dennett, Carrie

On the west slopes of Sugarloaf Mountain, in Bonita Canyon and in near proximity to Bonita Creek, there exists relatively pure stands of Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica). Being a pioneer species, Arizona Cypress takes advantage of conditions not suitable to the other species of the area, such as the oak and the pine species. The presence of these relatively pure cypress microsites suggests a history of some type of disturbance in the area to a degree that precluded other species from establishing. In order to effectively manage these microsites for species perpetuation and overall community health, more information needs to be obtained as to the type and intensity of these disturbances affecting the cypress community. One method to achieving this goal is through tree ring analysis of cypress as an individual, and of cypress as a community. Unfortunately, Arizona Cypress has proven to be an extremely difficult species on which to perform any kind of valid tree ring analysis. Therefore, in reference to Chiricahua National Monument's microsites of Arizona Cypress, a preliminary step of establishing age structure of selected sites will be attempted by comparing relative number of tree rings between trees, and cross-dating of the community will be undertaken.