Fundamentals of Tree-ring ResearchTree-ring dating (dendrochronology) is a method of scientific dating based on the analysis of tree-ring growth patterns. As author James Speer notes, trees are remarkable bioindicators. Although there are other scientific means of dating climatic and environmental events, dendrochronology provides the most reliable of all paleorecords. Dendrochronology can be applied to very old trees to provide long-term records of past temperature, rainfall, fire, insect outbreaks, landslides, hurricanes, and ice stormsÑto name only a few events. This comprehensive text addresses all of the subjects that a reader who is new to the field will need to know and will be a welcome reference for practitioners at all levels. It includes a history of the discipline, biological and ecological background, principles of the field, basic scientific information on the structure and growth of trees, the complete range of dendrochronology methods, and a full description of each of the relevant subdisciplines. Individual chapters address the composition of wood, methods of field and laboratory study, dendroarchaeology, dendroclimatology, dendroecology, dendrogeomorphology, and dendrochemistry. The book also provides thorough introductions to common computer programs and methods of statistical analysis. In the final chapter, the author describes Òfrontiers in dendrochronology,Ó with an eye toward future directions in the field. He concludes with several useful appendixes, including a listing of tree and shrub species that have been used successfully by dendrochronologists. Throughout, photographs and illustrations visually represent the state of knowledge in the field. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Objective | 8 |
Principle of Limiting Factors | 15 |
Principle of Site Selection | 21 |
Summary | 27 |
Growth and Structure of Wood | 43 |
Field and Laboratory Methods | 72 |
Computer Programs and Statistical Methods | 106 |
Dendroecology | 189 |
Dendrogeomorphology | 219 |
Dendrochemistry | 231 |
Frontiers in Dendrochronology | 250 |
Appendix A Tree and Shrub Species That Have Been Used | 257 |
Appendix B Age of the Oldest Trees per Species | 275 |
Field Note Cards | 285 |
| 291 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abies American analysis annual applications archaeological Arizona average bark boundaries cell cellulose chapter chronology climate COFECHA common Continued core correlation cross section crossdating curve cutting dating demonstrated dendrochronology determine developed documented Douglass effect environment environmental establishment et al examined example factors field Figure fire forest growing growth important increase increment borer indices individual insect isotopes limiting locations master chronology mean measurements method mount Mountains multiple natural needed North northern noted occur outbreaks past patterns period pine Pinus plots produce Quercus reconstruction record region removed represents Research response ring width roots sample scar segment shows side signal species Speer spruce stand standard statistics structure surface Swetnam technique temperature tree growth tree rings tree-ring United University variability wood
Bibliographic information
| Title | Fundamentals of Tree-ring Research |
| Author | James H. Speer |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | University of Arizona Press, 2010 |
| ISBN | 0816526842, 9780816526840 |
| Length | 333 pages |
| Subjects | › Social Science / Archaeology |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |