Análisis espacio-temporal de la relación entre crecimiento radial de Araucaria araucana y series instrumentales de precipitación y temperatura en la zona centro sur de Chile (36° – 39°S).
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
La precipitación y la temperatura constituyen dos de las principales variables climáticas que regulan el crecimiento radial anual de Araucaria araucana, especie ampliamente estudiada mediante enfoques dendrocronológicos y dendroclimáticos debido a su longevidad, sensibilidad climática y relevancia ecológica. Estos estudios resultan fundamentales, ya que las respuestas de los árboles frente a los cambios ambientales permiten comprender la dinámica de los ecosistemas andinos y anticipar escenarios futuros bajo un contexto de cambio climático. El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue analizar y evaluar la correlación espacio-temporal entre el crecimiento radial de A. araucana y series instrumentales de temperatura y precipitación en la zona centro-sur de Chile. Para ello, se recopilaron, completaron y validaron estadísticamente registros climáticos provenientes de 35 estaciones ubicadas entre los 36° y 39° S, los cuales se correlacionaron con cuatro cronologías de la especie: Sierra Nevada, Captrén, Volcán Lanín y Tolhuaca.
Los resultados evidencian que la precipitación es un factor determinante para el crecimiento radial, destacando correlaciones positivas significativas tanto con la precipitación estival del mismo año como con la precipitación invernal acumulada del año anterior (lag-1). Estas diferencias sugieren mecanismos ecofisiológicos distintos entre sitios, relacionados con el uso inmediato del recurso hídrico o la dependencia de la recarga del suelo. En cuanto a la temperatura, predominó una respuesta negativa frente a los valores estivales del año actual y de años previos, lo que confirma que el calor excesivo actúa como un factor limitante para la actividad cambial, especialmente en ambientes donde la disponibilidad de agua es reducida. Asimismo, los análisis de tendencias muestran un aumento significativo de la temperatura y disminuciones moderadas en la precipitación, lo que se alinea con los patrones de estrés térmico e hídrico observados en las cronologías.
En conjunto, estos resultados confirman la sensibilidad climática de A. araucana y su valor como bioindicador en ecosistemas montanos del sur de Chile, revelando respuestas diferenciadas según el sitio y evidenciando que la relación clima-crecimiento puede activarse o atenuarse dependiendo de umbrales fisiológicos específicos. Ello subraya la necesidad de continuar desarrollando estudios dendroclimáticos de alta resolución para comprender la vulnerabilidad de la especie frente a un escenario de calentamiento progresivo y cambios hidroclimáticos regionales.
Precipitation and temperature are two of the primary climatic factors regulating the annual radial growth of Araucaria araucana, a long-lived and climate-sensitive conifer widely studied through dendrochronological and dendroclimatological approaches. Understanding the response of this species to environmental variability is essential for assessing ecosystem functioning in the Andean region and anticipating future climatic scenarios. The main objective of this study was to analyze and evaluate the spatio-temporal correlation between radial growth of A. araucana and instrumental climate records of temperature and precipitation in south-central Chile. To achieve this, climatic data from 35 meteorological stations located between 36° and 39° S were compiled, gap-filled, homogenized, and statistically validated, and subsequently correlated with four tree-ring chronologies from Sierra Nevada, Captrén, Volcán Lanín, and Tolhuaca. Results indicate that precipitation is a key driver of radial growth, with significant positive correlations detected both for current-year summer precipitation and for winter precipitation from the previous year (lag-1). These patterns suggest distinct eco-physiological mechanisms among sites, ranging from immediate dependence on summer moisture to reliance on soil water recharge during winter. Temperature, in contrast, exhibited predominantly negative and significant correlations during the summer months of the current and preceding years, indicating that elevated temperatures act as a limiting factor for cambial activity, particularly under water-limited conditions. Trend analyses further revealed significant warming and moderate declines in precipitation, aligning with the observed growth reductions associated with thermal and hydric stress. Overall, these findings confirm the climatic sensitivity of A. araucana and its value as a bioindicator in montane ecosystems of southern Chile, showing site-dependent responses and highlighting that climate–growth relationships may be activated or attenuated depending on specific physiological thresholds. This underscores the importance of continuing high-resolution dendroclimatic studies to better understand the vulnerability of this species in a context of progressive warming and shifting hydroclimatic regimes.
Precipitation and temperature are two of the primary climatic factors regulating the annual radial growth of Araucaria araucana, a long-lived and climate-sensitive conifer widely studied through dendrochronological and dendroclimatological approaches. Understanding the response of this species to environmental variability is essential for assessing ecosystem functioning in the Andean region and anticipating future climatic scenarios. The main objective of this study was to analyze and evaluate the spatio-temporal correlation between radial growth of A. araucana and instrumental climate records of temperature and precipitation in south-central Chile. To achieve this, climatic data from 35 meteorological stations located between 36° and 39° S were compiled, gap-filled, homogenized, and statistically validated, and subsequently correlated with four tree-ring chronologies from Sierra Nevada, Captrén, Volcán Lanín, and Tolhuaca. Results indicate that precipitation is a key driver of radial growth, with significant positive correlations detected both for current-year summer precipitation and for winter precipitation from the previous year (lag-1). These patterns suggest distinct eco-physiological mechanisms among sites, ranging from immediate dependence on summer moisture to reliance on soil water recharge during winter. Temperature, in contrast, exhibited predominantly negative and significant correlations during the summer months of the current and preceding years, indicating that elevated temperatures act as a limiting factor for cambial activity, particularly under water-limited conditions. Trend analyses further revealed significant warming and moderate declines in precipitation, aligning with the observed growth reductions associated with thermal and hydric stress. Overall, these findings confirm the climatic sensitivity of A. araucana and its value as a bioindicator in montane ecosystems of southern Chile, showing site-dependent responses and highlighting that climate–growth relationships may be activated or attenuated depending on specific physiological thresholds. This underscores the importance of continuing high-resolution dendroclimatic studies to better understand the vulnerability of this species in a context of progressive warming and shifting hydroclimatic regimes.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Geógrafo/a.
Keywords
Araucaria, Temperatura, Precipitación atmosférica, Dendroclimatología, Cambios climáticos