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Radial growth of cork oak and the effect of climate in Tunisia
Science et changements planétaires / Sécheresse. Volume 21, Number 1, 34-41, janvier-février-mars 2010, Article de recherche
Résumé Article gratuit
Author(s) : Amel Ennajah, Frédéric Guibal, Belgacem Hanchi, Florent Mouillot, Salah Garchi
Summary : Cork oak (Quercus suber) stands represent most of the forest areas in northwest Tunisia. The preservation of these forests, constantly degraded for several years, constitutes an outstanding ecological issue. Dendrochronological study of five cork oak populations in western Tunisia aims at identifying climate parameters which influence cork oak radial growth. Cross-dating of tree-ring series is made difficult by the high number of scars caused by cork removal. Ring width to climate relations are therefore analysed by means of statistical model (response function) highlighting the acute sensitivity of cork oak to climate effects. Wide variability appears in the relationships between different cork oak populations and the climate. Precipitation is of major importance during the period preceding the growing season and varies according to the site. Temperatures play a minor role even for elevated sites. Moving response function profiles indicate an increased reaction to precipitation in the late 20th century.
Keywords : climate, cork oak dendrochronology, forestry, growth, Tunisia

Radial growth of cork oak and the effect of climate in Tunisia