A Three Site Climate Comparison of Quercus alba in Southern Virginia
Spriggs J. 2019. A Three Site Climate Comparison of Quercus alba in Southern Virginia. Radford University
ABSTRACT: This research analyzes the relationship between annual tree growth and climate of three Quercus alba L. (White Oak) old growth sites across the ridge and valley region of Virginia. The three sites are statistically tested (at a p <0.05 level) for patterns in tree growth using a Bivariate Linear Fit analysis in JMP. The two strongest correlations between the three chronologies are War Spur Trail and Patty’s Oaks (r2 = 0.20; p < 0.001). The climate analysis from RStudio shows strong positive correlations in precipitation and strong negative correlations of temperature in the current growing seasons. Precipitation and drought stress are major factors in controlling tree growth than air temperature. Across Q alba’s ecological range, similar spatial patterns arise with positive correlations for precipitation and various correlations in temperature. The correlations that are spatially absent from the Southern Virginia region suggest heavy ecological noise in the filtered chronologies. The climate analysis from this study is comparable with other studies in the Appalachian region and across Q alba’s ecological extent.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Spriggs, Joe
- Date of Issue
- 2019
- Publisher
- Radford University
- Units
- BLRI
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, BLRI, Blue Ridge Parkway, climate response, dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, ecological range, KNMI Climate Explorer, Quercus alba, RStudio, SER, Southeast Region, thesis