Distintividad y potencial dendrocronológico de los anillos, crecimiento y su relación con las zonas altitudinales y de vida, y el tipo de clima en Costa Rica

Abstract

Costa Rica has a tropical climate composed of diverse life zones with a large quantity of tree species. [Objetive] This study aims to establish the different types of annual rings’ (AR) distinctiveness and the dendrochronological potential (DP) of 320 wood species’ data for Costa Rica. With this study, the relation among AR distinctiveness and DP type, growing condition, altitudinal level, life zones, and climate type was established. [Metodology] All wood samples were polished with sandpaper from 80 to 800. Then, the annual rings and their boundaries were observed and catalogued by annual ring boundary and their DP. [Results] The results show that 70 species (21.9 %) did not present AR boundary (with any DP), 104 species (32.5 %) presented well-defined (+) AR (with high DP) and the remaining species (146 species or 45.6 % of the total) presented more or less distinctive (+/-) AR; then, DP varied from medium to low. The 8 species that grow exclusively in dry tropical conditions presented well-defined AR (with high DP), but 137 species (73.3 %) that grow in rainy tropical conditions presented absent or poorly defined AR, then DP varied from medium to low. Many species (67) that grow in low high (basal and premontane) presented null DP and many species presented (+/-) (medium DP) and 41 species shown high DP. Few species grow in high parts (montane and subalpine), but barely present distinctive AR, then high DP are present. [Conclussion] Finally, many species present medium and high DP, the applications of dendrochronology were limited. So, the results of this study can serve as a basis for a proposal of tree species with DP in South America and the neotropics region to record environmental or climatic signals.