Subproject - International Tropical Timber Organization · Subproject: Dendrochronological analysis Cláudio Roberto Anholetto Júnior Luiz de Queiróz College of Agriculture - University

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Format project technical report

Project 433/06 R3 (I)

“Sustainable Model for the Brazilian Wood Flooring Production Chain”

Subproject:

Dendrochronological analysis

Cláudio Roberto Anholetto Júnior

Luiz de Queiróz College of Agriculture - University of São Paulo

1 Introduction

Tropical forests have great importance as habitat promoters for half the species on Earth,

working in the maintenance of biodiversity, water cycling and biogeochemical cycles (Fearn-side, 1999). As a part of the world’s biggest tropical forest, the Brazilian Amazon concentrates one of the planet’s largest natural resources reserves, represented by high biodiversity and great forest wealth (Lobão, 2011).

Trees are influenced by light, temperature, precipitation, wind, soil properties like available nutrients and water holding capacity, as well as anthropogenic soil and air pollution (Schwein-gruber, 1996). As reflected by cambial activity, climatic seasonality plays a central role in rela-tion to favorable and unfavorable growth conditions (Tomazello Filho et al. 2009). Responsible for the diametric growth of trees trunks, the cambium will alternate higher and low cell activity during the curse of the year, as a response to these climatic and non-climatic factors, resulting in structural differences of the cells dimension and thus, tree-ring formation.

Forests have a pulsing growth. From the tropics to the northern tree limits, alternative growth and rest periods follow the succession of favorable and adverse climatic conditions. Cold or dry seasons succeed warmer or rainy periods and these pulses are revealed in the cyclic growth layers of wood (Rossi, 2007). A pervasive view that annual rings do not form in tropical trees has led to a lack of information on both growth behavior and ring formation in many tropical tree species (Lang and Knight, 1983). However, Worbes (1999) points out that even for tropical species, a period of at least 2 consecutive months with <60 mm of rainfall is enough to induce cambial dormancy, causing a distinct growth zone to form, indicating the possibility of conducting dendrochronological studies in tropical environments.

The dating of annual rings and the analysis of the ring characteristics (width, density, and isotopic composition) are common practices for the development of dendrochronological records. Although samples are generally taken using increment borers, the study of cross-sections is presently a common practice in the South American tropical forests dominated by broadleaf trees with high-density woods. As climate is the major environmental factor influen-cing tree growth throughout a region, the pattern of inter-annual variations in ring characteris-tics from undisturbed individuals, is often similar among trees. As a consequence, the patterns

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can be matched between trees using a process called cross-dating. This process allows the precise dating of each individual ring to a calendar year (BONINSEGMA et al. 2009).

Dendrochronology, as a deliberative tool in forest management, provides valuable infor-mation, such as timber volumes monitoring, fixed biomass and CO2 in wood estimatives, au-toecology studies, and climatic events reconstruction (ALVARADO, 2009). For this, knowledge of trees age and growth rate is critical to provide scientifically proved subsidies for biodiversity maintenance, sustainable forest management practices, evaluation of the carbon cycle and the effect of global warming, and so on.

2 Applied methodology

2.1 Wood discs levelling At first, several wooden disks had sites in their surface that have been too much polished,

causing a camber in these regions. This prevents the scanning of rays selected for the mea-surement of growth rings, because ultimately affect the quality of the image generated by the scanner. So, the wood disks with such imperfections have gone through a lathe process, which gave the discs a perfect flat surface, but with a rustic finish.

Unfortunately, this rustic finish could never be repaired for some samples. The lathe process proved to be too invasive for some species, causing deformations in the fibers, which prevent a subsequent improvement of the disks transverse surface, even with the subsequent sandpaper polishing process.

2.2 Wood discs sanding As the discs surface presented rustic finish after the lathe process - which made it impossi-

ble to visualize the growth rings - the samples underwent new polishing performed with a se-quence of abrasive papers, which began with the lower 80 grade sandpaper on a table belt sander, went into a 100 grade hand belt sander, and continued gradually in an orbital sander until the 600 grade sandpaper (Figure 1).

The orbital sander process employed generated great results for some species, especially those with high density wood, usually darker, and that have good contrast between growth rings limits. However, some species with less dense wood, and generally greater amounts of axial parenchyma, have the disadvantage of absorbing the sanding grains, and become darker during the high grain (600) sanding.

Thus, a new polishing cycle was carried out for discs that did not reach the quality required for the growth rings good visualization, and that in consequence preventing the achievement of significant correlations for tree growth series. The new polisher, from MIRKA, model DE-ROS 5650CV, had the capability to work both in orbital and circular movement at the same time. Beyond that, it works at a much higher rotation that the one achieved by the orbital sander. Thus, it counts with a central vacuum inlet, which results in improved air flow and helps extract dust away from the centre of the tool (Figure 1).

2.3 Growth rings marking and measuring

After the new polishing process, a variable number of rays were marked on each disk, de-pending on the difficulty level of cross-dating of each species and always taking into account the absence of regions with deformities and reaction wood. Following the traces of these rays, done in pencil, the boundaries of growth rings were provisionally marked with the aid of a table magnifier (Figure 1 A; B).

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Figure 1. A and B) Marking the growth rings boundaries in Piptadenia gonoacantha wood disks, with the aid of a table magnifier; C) The Tachigali myrmecophila growth rings width measurement with Image Pro Plus.

Then the wood disks were scanned from an EPSON Perfection V750 PRO equipment, with 1200dpi resolution. Based on these images, the growth rings width measurement could be held with the aid of the software Image Pro Plus 4.5 (Figure 2).

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Figure 2. (A) Hymenolobium sp. measurement process, and (B) it’s tangential plane sections on Image Pro-Plus.

2.4 Synchronization and tree ring master series obtainment.

The measurements values obtained on Image Pro Plus were saved and then exported to the Microsoft Office suite software Excel, where a visual assessment of the growth rings width measures in different radii was conducted. In the presence of regions where growth trends differ, a previous adjustment attempt was conducted and a simple correlation between the data was performed using the functions of the software itself.

The next step regarding the synchronization of the radial series was the use of statistical software named COFECHA. This software provides quality control measures of the original growth rings widths as it convert them into dimensional indices, in order to eliminate the trees biological growth trend, enabling the comparison between the increment series (HOLMES, 1983).

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After synchronization of the growth rings width measurements from the disks, and its cor-rect dating, they were analyzed with the aid of the Turbo ARSTAN 2.07 software, which built the index chronologies (HOLMES, 1994). This program presents a statistical package that allow the determination of the best function for each series of growth rings measurements, such as linear regression and negative exponential functions, in order to eliminate the biologi-cal trends.

The chronologies were characterized using the classic statistics parameters in dendrochro-nology (Fritts 1976), i.e., average tree-ring width, standard deviation, mean sensitivity (MS), and series intercorrelation. 2.5 Sten’s growth dynamics

With the growth rings raw width, obtained by the wood disks analysis, periodic annual increment (PAI), which corresponds to the value of the increased production in one year, and the mean annual increment (MAI) which is output to an age divided by that time, could be determined.

These parameters where determined using the following equations: PAI = Y(t+1) – Y(t) ........................................................................................(Equation 1) where: PAI: Periodic annual increment Y(t): Yield at time t t: time (age) MAI = Yt / t0...................................................................................................(Equation 2) where: MAI: Mean annual increment Yt: Yield at time t t0: time (age from 0 years)

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3 Presentation of the data, analysis and interpretation of the data and results

Trees growing in tropical regions, under influence of faint seasonal regimes can form more than one growth ring per year (Schweingruber, 1988). To ensure that growth rings are annual, and establish the tree estimated age, the rings where initially counted, and then its width where measured following the steps described in Materials and Methods. Relying on these values, the multi-ray, multi-tree synchronization was performed. The results are pre-sented in form of the trees estimated age, and associated correlations.

Certain factors, such as site location and sociological position in plant community have influence on the competition processes among individuals, and can affect the tree’s diameter growth dynamics (Schweingruber, 1988). Thus, cumulative diameter curves were calculated for each tree using the original growth rings width dimensions in relation to age.

During the trees synchronization process in COFECHA, the length of the ring sequence analysis was performed with varied intervals. The younger trees analyzes where performed with a 20 years interval, and 10 years analysis window. The older trees analyzes where per-formed with a 50 years interval, and 25 years analysis window. Thus, the critical correlation values obtained oscillated between r = 0.515, in the first case, and r = 328 in the second one. Both values were reached and exceeded for every growth series, and other analysis parame-ters were utilized in default mode. For this study, the trend removal was carried from negative exponential functions and/or the linear regression applied to standardized series. These functions remove the effect of internal growth disorders, such as organic growth trend of the trees, highlighting the external effects, such as weather. Three chronological variants, called "Standard", "Residual" and "Ars-tan", were produced by Arstan program from the original data, with the goal of maintaining the maximum common signal and minimum noise. The "master" series used in this study to ana-lyze the tree growth dynamics in relation to environmental factors was the "Standard" chronol-ogy, which is the only of the three that does not rely on any additional autoregressive modeling procedure (Cook, 1985). The "Standard" index chronology growth rates represented the average growth rate observed for every year of each species, and is represented by a series of values where 0 is the minimum, and represents a year with no growth, 1 or 1000 represents the average growth, and there is no defined maximum. The time series presented as indices represent the growth ring width variation free of trends arising from age, size, sociological position and site distur-bance degree, showing only the idiosyncratic influences of the environment in which the trees live (Chagas, 2009). The chronologies of each species are shown subsequently. 3.1. Dinizia excelsa (Angelim-vermelho) 3.1.1 Estimated age The Dinizia excelsa species, also known by the usual names angelim-pedra-verdadeiro, faveira-grande, angelim-falso, faveira-dura, faveira-ferro, occurs naturally in Brazil in the states of Amazon, Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia. As general aspects presents limits of growth rings indistinct or absent; color red brown heartwood; sapwood color distinct from heartwood color and specific odor (very unpleasant and persistent). Its density ranges from 0.9–1.2 g/cm³ (RICHTER e DALLWITZ, 2000).

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 1, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Dinizia excelsa species Figure 3.

Table 1 - Quality control of the growth rings series performed by the COFECHA software

Site Series amount Chronologies extension (Years)

Temporal lapse

Intercorrelation Sensitivity

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A1 2 203 1809-2011 .679 .383

A2 2 163 1847-2011 .723 .417

Figure 3 Time series containing common sign of growth in D. excelsa trees 3.1.2 Dinizia excelsa stem’s radial growth dynamics Cumulative curves of diameter growth were obtained for each ray through the original growth rings width measurements, by age (Figure 4). The trees used in this analysis integrated the master chronology assemblage.

Figure 4. Cumulative radial increment of Dinizia excelsa chronology growth rings

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3.2 Erisma uncinatum (Cedrinho) 3.2.1 Trees estimated age

Reach gigantic proportions (45m high), and achieve dominant positions in the canopy, coming to be emergent trees on primary forests. The treetops are usually lobed to spherical, dense and evergreen. The genus Erisma natural distribution ranges thru the South American Neotropics, but it is strictly limited to the Amazonian non-flooded terra firme primary forests in Guyanas and South America. In Brazil, it is distributed thru the states of Amazonas (Nee, 1995), Pará (Parrota et al. 1995), Acre, Rondônia and Roraima (Barbosa, 1990; ITTO, 1988). The Erisma uncinatum (Cedrinho) is strictly restricted to the Neotropic areas, with precipita-tions higher than 1500 mm/year, with tendency to areas with high rain seasonality and tem-peratures ranging between 23-28°C.

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 2, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Erisma uncinatum species Figure 5.


Site Series amount Chronologies extension

(Years) Temporal

lapse Intercorrelation Sensitivity

C2 2 123 1889-2011 .469 .375

C3 2 108 1889-2011 .330 .296

Figure 5 Time series containing common sign of growth in E. uncinatum trees 3.2.2 Erisma uncinatum stem’s radial growth dynamics Cumulative curves of diameter growth were obtained for each ray through the original growth rings width measurements, by age (Figure 6). The trees used in this analysis integrated the master chronology assemblage.

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Figure 6. Cumulative radial increment of Erisma uncinatum chronology growth rings 3.3 Goupia glabra (Cupiúba) 3.3.1 Trees estimated age

It’s a widely-used commercial species that regenerates freely in disturbed areas in many parts of tropica “terra firme” tropical environments (Vink, 1965). It can be founded, al-though not in abundance, along with a number of other usable species in secondary forests on abandoned pastures at the state of Pará (Uhl et al., 1988). G. glabra tends to be suppressed by faster-growing trees unless early silvicultural interventions are made (Dubois, 1971). As the general characteristics of its wood, that has high resistance against fungus and termites, it has sapwood and hardwood distinct by their colors, with axial parenchyma watchable under lens.

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 3, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Goupia glabra species Figure 7.



Temporal lapse Intercorrelation Sensitivity

D2 2 107 1905-

2011 .446 .376

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Figure 7. Time series containing common sign of growth in Goupia glabra trees 3.3.2 Goupia glabra stem’s radial growth dynamics

Cumulative curves of diameter growth were obtained for each ray through the original growth rings width measurements, by age (Figure 8). The trees used in this analysis integrated the master chronology assemblage.

Figure 8. Cumulative radial increment of Goupia glabra chronology growth rings 3.4 Caryocar villosum (Pequiá) 3.4.1 Trees estimated age

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Is member of the Central and South American family Caryocaraceae, which extends from Costa Rica to southern Brazil and Paraguay, and a common species in Central Amazo-nia, known locally as Pequiá. Being a large tree and emerging species, it reaches 50m in height, with a highly developed trunk and it is threatened by fragmentation and commercial interest in wood (Prance & Silva, 1973; Araújo, 1995). It is a semi-deciduous plant, which oc-curs in the terra firme, within primary and secondary forests, and good adaptation to seasonal-ly flooded lands.

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 4, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Caryocar villosum species Figure 9. Table 4 - Quality control of the growth rings series performed by the COFECHA software

Site Series amount Chronologies extension

(Years) Temporal

lapse Intercorrelation Sensitivity

E2 2 146 1866-2011 .639 .341

E3 2 400 1612-

2011 .664 .385

Figure 9 Time series containing common sign of growth in Caryocar villosum trees 3.4.2 Caryocar villosum stem’s radial growth dynamics

Cumulative curves of diameter growth were obtained for each ray through the original growth rings width measurements, by age (Figure 10). The trees used in this analysis inte-grated the master chronology assemblage.

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Figure 10. Cumulative radial increment of Caryocar villosum chronology growth rings 3.5 Hymenolobium excelsum (Angelim-da-mata) 3.5.1 Trees estimated age

Popularly known as Angelim Pedra or Angelim da Mata. It has a Neotropical distribu-tion and presents general aspects such as: brown colored heartwood, and cream colored sapwood. (RICHTER e DALLWITZ, 2009).

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 5, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Hymenolobium excelsum species Figure 11.




F1 3 124 1888-2011 .565 .394

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Figure 11 Time series containing common sign of growth in Hymenolobium excelsum trees 3.5.2 Hymenolobium excelsum stem’s radial growth dynamics


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Figure 12. Cumulative radial increment of Hymenolobium excelsum chronology growth rings 3.6 Manilkara huberi (Maçaranduba) 3.6.1 Trees estimated age Another large tree species, it occupies the forest upper canopy, being easily recog-nized by the pale-yellowish color of the bottom of their foliage. Typical of upland forest, occurs in the Amazon of the Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia and Peru. In the Brazilian Amazon it’s frequent in Acre, Amazonas, Pará, Roraima, Rondônia, Mato Grosso and Maranhão (LOREN-ZI, 2002).

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 6, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Manilkara huberi species Figure 13.



Temporal lapse

Intercorrelation Sensitivity

G2 2 87 1925-2011 .465 .367

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Figure 13 Time series containing common sign of growth in Manilkara huberi trees 3.6.2 Manilkara huberi stem’s radial growth dynamics


Figure 14. Cumulative radial increment of Manilkara huberi chronology growth rings 3.7 Piptadenia gonoacantha (Timborana) 3.7.1 Trees estimated age

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Its name is originated from the Greek words piptein (fall) ade (profusely), as a refer-ence to the leafs deciduousness and “gonoacantha” from gonia (angle) and acantha (aculeus), from the aculeus in the bark surface (BURKART, 1979). Its successional group varies from pioneer (NAVE et al., 1997), through tolerant, according to Leite & Takaki (1994), and light dependent climax for Werneck et al. (2000). Its natural distribution in Brazil ranges from the Pará (2o) to the Santa Catarina (28o) states, growing under uniform and periodic precipitation regimes and various soil types.

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 7, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Piptadenia gonoacantha species Figure 15. Table 7 - Quality control of the growth rings series performed by the COFECHA software



H1 2 189 1926-2011 .533 .402

H3 2 121 1891-2011 .508 469

Figure 15 Time series containing common sign of growth in Piptadenia gonoacantha trees 3.7.2 Piptadenia gonoacantha stem’s radial growth dynamics

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Figure 16. Cumulative radial increment of Piptadenia gonoacantha chronology growth rings 3.8 Bowdichia nitida (Sucupira-preta) 3.8.1 Trees estimated age

Bowdichia nitida it’s popularly known as sucupira, sapupira-do campo, sebipira, cutiu-ba, paricarana. Its geographical distribution is the tropical South America (Brazil: in Amazon and Atlantic Rain Forest of the states of Acre Acre, Amapá, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rondônia. Others countries: Colombia, Guyana, French Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela). Its general aspects are: limits of growth rings indistinct or absent; color brown to brown heartwood yellow to black, color distinct from heartwood sap-wood color, odor indistinct or absent. Its density varies between 0.7-0.85 g/cm³ (RICHTER e DALLWITZ, 2009).

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 8, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Bowdichia nitida species Figure 17.




H1 2 189 1926-2011 .533 .402

H3 2 121 1891-2011 .508 469

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Figure 17 Time series containing common sign of growth in Bowdichia nitida trees

3.8.2 Bowdichia nitida stem’s radial growth dynamics


Figure 18. Cumulative radial increment of Bowdichia nitida chronology growth rings 3.9 Tachigali myrmecophila (Tachi-preto)

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3.9.1 Trees estimated age

Tachigali are tropical trees with recalcitrant wind-dispersed seeds, which germinate to remain in the seedling bank for many years (Kitagima and Augspurger 1989). The young shade-tolerant sapling, with long-lived leaves, grows very slowly waiting for a growth opportu-nity created by a canopy gap (Fonseca 1994). Most species in the genus are ant-plants, nor-mally each plant houses a single ant colony.

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 9, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Tachigali myrmecophila species Figure 19. Table 9 - Quality control of the growth rings series performed by the COFECHA software



J1 3 51 1960-2011 .400 .335

J2 3 73 1938-2011 .758 .381

J3 3 69 1943-2011 .437 .337

Figure 19 Time series containing common sign of growth in Tachigali myrmecophila trees 3.9.2 Tachigali myrmecophila stem’s radial growth dynamics

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Figure 20. Cumulative radial increment of Tachigali myrmecophila chronology growth rings 3.10 Terminalia amazonica (Tanibuca) 3.10.1 Trees estimated age

Terminalia amazonica species is also known by Brazilian usual names tanibuca and cuiarana or international names of almendro (Colombia), amarillo (Venezuela), bois gris gris (Haiti), bois margot (Haiti), granadillo (Puerto Rico; Venezuela), jucaro amarillo (Cuba), mountain wild olive (Jamaica), nargusta, yellow oliver (Trinidad and Tobago), yellow sand-ers (Jamaica; Trinidad and Tobago). Its distribution area is located in Mexico and Central America and tropical South America. As general characteristics presents limits of distinct growth rings; color green yellow brown heartwood (the yellowish-brown olivo dorado), heart-wood with pronounced veins, similar color of sapwood to heartwood. Its density ranges from 0.57 to 0.8 g/cm³ (RICHTER e DALLWITZ, 2009).

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 10, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Terminalia amazonica species Figure 21.




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K1 2 117 1895-2011 .408 .377

K3 2 173 1839-2011 .400 .367

Figure 21 Time series containing common sign of growth in Terminalia amazonica trees 3.10.2 Terminalia amazonica stem’s radial growth dynamics


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Figure 22. Cumulative radial increment of Terminalia amazonica chronology growth rings 3.11 Qualea paraensis (Mandioqueira-escamosa) 3.11.1trees estimated age

Popularly known as mandioqueira. Its geographic distribution is located in Mexico and Central America and tropical South America. Presents general aspects such as: color red brown heartwood, sapwood color variable with respect to the heartwood. Its density varies between 0.5-0.75 g/cm³ (RICHTER e DALLWITZ, 2009).

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 11, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Qualea paraensis species Figure 23. Table 11 - Quality control of the growth rings series performed by the COFECHA software



L2 2 106 1906-2011 .330 .371

L3 2 122 1890-2011 .523 .314

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Figure 23 Time series containing common sign of growth in Qualea paraensis trees 3.11.2 Qualea paraensis stem’s radial growth dynamics


Figure 24. Cumulative radial increment of Qualea paraensis chronology growth rings

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3.12 Lecythis pisonis (Castanha-sapucaia) 3.12.1 Trees estimated age

There are some Brazilian usual names, like castanha-sapucaia e sapucaia-vermelha and some international, like coco (Panama), coco cristal (Colombia), coco de mono (Venezuela), kwattapatoe (Suriname), machin mango (Peru), monkey pot (Guyana). It’s widely distributed in Latin America, and in Brazil (Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, and Pará), Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Suriname. As general aspects: heartwood and sapwood distinguished by color, heartwood reddish-brown; distinctive odor; slightly astrin-gent taste, high density; straight grain; medium texture, strong fibrous aspect. (IPT, 1989).

The COFECHA quality control results can be observed in Table 12, and the isolated rays growth series index, containing common sign of growth, Arstan Standard index and mas-ter series chronology for the Lecythis pisonis species Figure 25.




M2 2 224 1787-

2011 .644 .387

L3 2 167 1845-2011 .362 .378

Figure 25 Time series containing common sign of growth in Lecythis pisonis trees 3.12.2 Lecythis pisonis stem’s radial growth dynamics

Cumulative curves of diameter growth were obtained for each ray through the original

growth rings width measurements, by age (Figure 26). The trees used in this analysis inte-grated the master chronology assemblage.

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Figure 26. Cumulative radial increment of Lecyhtis pisonis chronology growth rings

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4. DIFICUTIES

Among the main difficulties encountered in the course of this work, the most prominent of are listed below:

• In some species (indicated in the results), the growth rings, following the specialized literature information cited, are almost indistinguishable, hampering its delimitation, which is crucial for the growth analysis.

• Even with the model adjustments made until this time, the cutting cycle informations could not be accessed due to characteristics inherent of these species growth dynamics, which are beyond the standard of a nonlinear sigmoidal growth. Most species have almost linear growth, and hence prevent the adjustment of the models utilized for Amazonian species.

• For all species which are absent information records listed in the catalog of material provided, problems of (i) preventing the display of rings due to factors inherent quality of the material occur; or (ii) the absence of wood discs in the collection.

5 Conclusions

• The obtainment of good statistical based chronologies proved to be possible for all species,

despite the small number of sample repetitions. This indicates the presence of common envi-ronmental sign acting on the region. The seasonal cycle of growth allows the tree species to form growth rings in an even pace;

• The growth rings identification and measurement could be performed by traditional dendroch-ronological methods, using the anatomically defined tree rings;

• For most species growth rings where anatomically defined by wall thickening of latewood cells, or by a thin layer of radial parenchyma in some regions, specially close to the pith;

• Some species presented similar growth rates, while others differed between trees growing in

the same site (Qualea paraensis; Bowdichia nitida; Piptadenia gonoacantha), probably due to micro-site characteristics;

• Dendrocronological analysis showed that the trees had ages varying from 73 to 400 years;

• Several species hold high amounts of reaction wood, indicating changes and adaptations during their lives, in the search for the best available growth conditions;

• The oldest species analyzed, that count with a long life spam, where able to reach maturity, and as a effect, their radial growth rate are the smallest between all species;

• All studied species have show differences in their growth rates, and specially in their life spam;

• Dendrochronology is a diffused tool in the application of tree growth models for forest man-

agement strategies. However, for this study, this was not possible due to the scarce number of repetitions available for analysis. The barrier imposed by this problem prevented the data analysis in order to obtain the minimum diameters of cutting and cutting cycles of the different species.

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• Species followed the order of radial increment:

Species IMA(mm) Age (years)

Caryocar villosum 1.33 400

Lecythis pisonis 1.57 224

Piptadenia gonoacantha 2.12 189

Terminalia amazonica 2.33 117

Goupia glabra 2.36 107

Hymenolobium excelsum 2.38 124

Dinizia excelsa 2.47 203

Erisma uncinatum 2.50 123

Manikara huberi 2.82 87

Bowdichia nitida 2.83 189

Qualea paraensis 2.86 122

Tachigali myrmecophila 3.88 73

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Subproject - International Tropical Timber Organization · Subproject: Dendrochronological analysis Cláudio Roberto Anholetto Júnior Luiz de Queiróz College of Agriculture - University