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Dendroecology
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:18:24
Abstract
Dendroecology - methods and applications
Objective
Introduction into formation and structure of wood and tree rings. Knowing different tree-ring characteristics. Abiotic and biotic environmental influences on tree rings (climate, site, competition, insects, fungi, physical-mechanical influences. Theoretical and practical aspects of dating wood. Hands-on experience: Demonstration of objects (increment cores, stem discs, wedges), sampling in the field, preparing and measuring increment cores, dating of wood. Working out research questions, conducting small project, writing project report. Reading scientific articles (in English).
Content
Overview and history of dendrochronology. Evolution of tree rings, formation and structure of wood and tree rings, continuous and discontinuous tree-ring characteristics. Sampling and measuring, principles of dendrochronology, crossdating, skeleton plots. Climate, standardization, chronologies, climate-growth relationships, climate reconstructions. Forest dynamics (regeneration, growth, mortality), age structures, competition, cooperation. Abiotic factors, dendrogeomorphology, dendrohydrology, dendroglaciology. Field and laboratory day (May 31 2007): sampling of trees; preparing increment cores and stem discs, counting and measuring of tree rings, dating of tree rings. Biotic factors, dating and reconstruction of natural disturbances (fire, insects, blowdown, fungi). Application of tree rings in practice.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Lecture notes will be handed out in the class.The lecture notes and further documents (papers, software) can also be downloaded from the BSCW server.
Literature
Literature lists will be handed out in the class. The most import basics on dendrochronology and dendroecology can be found in the following text books (not mandatory): Cook, E. R., and L. A. Kairiukstis, editors. 1990. Methods of dendrochronology: applications in the environmental sciences. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. Fritts, H. C., and T. W. Swetnam. 1989. Dendroecology: a tool for evaluating variations in past and present forest environments. Advances in Ecological Research 19:111-188. Schweingruber, F. H. 1988. Tree rings: basics and applications of dendrochronology. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, The Nederlands. Schweingruber, F. H. 1996. Tree rings and environment: dendroecology. Verlag Paul Haupt, Bern. Schweingruber, F. H., A. Börner, and E.-D. Schulze. 2006. Atlas of woody plant stems: evolution, structure, and environmental modifications, Springer.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Dendroecology |
|
3 h weekly |