模拟增温对青藏高原东部高寒灌丛土壤氮转化的影响

本文研究了青藏高原东部窄叶鲜卑花高寒灌丛生长季前期、生长季后期和非生长季3个生育期的土壤氮转化速率对模拟增温的响应,分析全球气候变暖对高寒灌丛土壤氮循环过程的影响。结果表明: 模拟增温使高寒灌丛土壤温度显著升高1.2 ℃,土壤水分显著降低2.5%。高寒灌丛生长季土壤净氮矿化(氨化和硝化)速率显著高于非生长季,但土壤净氮固持速率显著低于非生长季。土壤氮矿化在生长季前期以硝化作用为主,在生长季后期和非生长季以氨化作用为主。模拟增温对高寒灌丛土壤氮转化过程的影响在不同时期存在显著差异。模拟增温显著增加了生长季前期土壤净氨化、净硝化、净氮矿化、净氮固持速率和非生长季土壤净硝化、净氮矿化速率,并显著降低了生长季后期土壤净硝化、净氮矿化、净氮固持速率和非生长季土壤净氨化速率。但模拟增温对高寒灌丛非生长季净氮固持速率和生长季后期净硝化速率的影响不显著。未来气候变暖将显著改变青藏高原东部高寒灌丛土壤氮转化,进而加速高寒灌丛土壤氮循环过程。     

雌雄异株植物山杨的气候响应差异

本文通过建立长白山阔叶红松林内雌雄异株植物山杨树轮宽度序列及标准化年表,分析不同气候条件下的生长差异及其与气候因子的关系,以期揭示性别因素对植株径向生长 气候因子关系的影响.结果表明： 不同气候条件下雌雄植株年径向生长速率存在显著差异,对气候因子的响应也有所不同.1980年以前,山杨雌株年均生长速率显著高于雄株,雌株与生长季末低温、上年生长季末和当年生长季降水量呈显著负相关,山杨雄株则与当年生长季温度呈显著正相关.1980年（含）以后,温度明显上升,尤其是最低温度,植株生长速率出现下降趋势,雌株生长速率显著低于雄株;雌株对低温变化更敏感,与上年生长季末低温呈显著负相关、与春季低温呈显著正相关,雄株与低温的相关关系均未达到显著水平.低温对长白山地区山杨雌株生长具有重要影响,在降水基本保持不变的条件下,低温的上升将明显抑制山杨雌株的生长,而对雄株影响不显著.     

普达措国家公园四种针叶树径向生长对气候因子的响应

运用树木年代学的原理和方法,对普达措国家公园大果红杉、长苞冷杉、高山松和麦吊云杉4个优势针叶树种的年轮宽度进行测量,建立年轮宽度差值年表。分析年表与香格里拉气象站的日、月气候数据的相关性,研究4个优势针叶树种的径向生长对气候因子的响应。结果表明: 大果红杉的年生长速率最高,长苞冷杉的年生长速率最低;4种针叶树径向生长对气候因子的响应存在物种特异性,大果红杉与气候因子的相关性最强,麦吊云杉的径向生长对气候因子的响应不敏感;长苞冷杉树轮宽度年表与上年冬季(11、12月)和当年夏季(7月)的平均温度呈显著正相关;大果红杉树轮宽度年表与生长季早期(6月)温度呈显著正相关,与同期降水量和相对湿度呈显著负相关;而高山松树轮宽度年表与生长季早期(5月)的降水量和相对湿度呈显著正相关,与同期最高温度呈显著负相关,表明高山松的径向生长主要受生长季早期水分可利用性的影响。     

不同纬度阔叶红松林红松径向生长对气候因子的响应

运用树木年轮气候学方法,研究了不同纬度阔叶红松林红松径向生长趋势及其与气候因子的关系,以期揭示不同纬度红松径向生长对气候因子响应的差异以及气候变化影响下红松的动态特征、适应性及敏感性.结果表明: 不同纬度红松径向生长对当地气候因子的响应存在差异,最南部的白石砬子自然保护区红松径向生长与生长季的平均相对湿度呈显著正相关,与平均最高气温呈显著负相关.中部的长白山自然保护区的低海拔区域红松径向生长与生长季的水分因子(降水、相对湿度和帕尔默干旱指数PDSI)呈显著正相关,而与平均最高气温呈显著负相关;凉水自然保护区红松径向生长与生长季的水分因子(相对湿度和PDSI)呈显著正相关,与气温因子(平均气温和平均最高气温)呈显著负相关.而最北部的胜山自然保护区红松径向生长则与大部分月份的气温因子呈显著正相关.当年6月气候因子是影响所有纬度红松径向生长的关键气候因子,4个样地都与当年6月平均最高气温呈显著负相关.在气温不断上升的近40年,最南部的红松径向生长呈显著下降趋势,最北部呈显著上升趋势,中部的变化不显著.如果未来气温升高而降水不变,红松分布区可能缩小.     

长白山过渡带红松和鱼鳞云杉径向生长对气候因子的响应

利用树轮生态学方法, 研究了长白山阔叶红松林和暗针叶林过渡带优势树种红松(Pinus koraiensis)和鱼鳞云杉(Picea jezoensis var. komarovii)的生长特征及其与气候因子的关系, 以期揭示气候响应关系的种间差异性。结果表明, 红松和鱼鳞云杉年平均径向生长量与生理年龄显著相关, 红松先于鱼鳞云杉达到最大年生长量, 且红松年平均生长速率显著高于鱼鳞云杉(p < 0.001); 红松和鱼鳞云杉对气候的响应存在差异, 红松与7月份的月平均温度和降水显著正相关, 而鱼鳞云杉与5月平均温度显著正相关, 与5月降水显著负相关。响应面分析进一步证实, 红松生长主要与生长季温度和降水相关, 而生长季初期的降水是限制鱼鳞云杉生长的主要原因。全球变暖有利于红松径向生长, 红松种群有向高海拔上升的可能。     

树轮木质部解剖特征及其与环境变化的关系

树轮木质部解剖特征是树轮在细胞、亚细胞尺度上的表征,其往往能从微观尺度解释树轮宽度等宏观结构的变化。因此,探讨木质部解剖特征与环境变化的关系,可为年轮气候学统计结果提供生理解释,为研究树木生长对气候变化的适应过程与响应策略提供新视野。该文以树轮木质部解剖特征与气候关系为主线,概述了木质部解剖特征记录环境信号的基本原理和机制,阐述了木质部解剖过程中涉及的基本方法,探讨了木质部解剖特征与气候因子的关系,就现有研究中存在的问题指出今后可能的研究方向:(1)探寻径向和切向上木质部解剖特征的时空变异及其与环境变化的关系;(2)探索植物对环境塑性响应的阈值及其响应策略及适应过程;(3)探寻各树轮代用指标间的协同与拮抗作用及气候响应差异的形成机理,确定各时期主要气候因子对树轮形成的具体作用及贡献量。     

气候变化对阔叶红松林不同演替阶段红松种群生产力的影响

本文以长白山地区阔叶红松林不同演替阶段(次生杨桦林、次生针阔混交林、原始红松林)内红松种群作为研究对象,采用树轮学与相对生长式相结合,获取红松种群净初级生产力(NPP)连年生长(1921—2006年)数据以及相对增长率的年际变化数据,建立红松种群NPP与年际和季节性气候因子的关系,分析不同气候时期长白山阔叶红松林不同演替阶段内红松种群NPP年际变化特征及其对气候变化的响应差异.结果表明： 研究期间,不同演替阶段红松种群NPP与气候因子响应关系存在差异.随着温度上升,次生杨桦林红松种群NPP与上年生长季和当年生长季低温由显著负相关关系转变为显著正相关关系;次生针阔混交林红松种群NPP由与当年春季最低温度的正相关关系转变为与上年和当年生长季温度的显著正相关关系,气候因素对次生针阔混交林红松种群NPP影响的滞后效应增强;原始红松林红松种群NPP与温度的相关性减弱,与上年生长季降水量的正相关关系增强.研究区气候变化表现为低温和平均温度显著上升,而最高温度和降水没有明显变化.气候变化有利于提高演替初级阶段次生杨桦林和演替中级阶段次生针阔混交林内红松种群生产力,尤其是次生针阔混交林,而对演替顶极阶段红松种群NPP影响不明显.     

长白山东坡不同海拔长白落叶松径向生长对气候变化的响应

为了解高山林线附近树木生长对气候变化的敏感性, 选取长白山东坡火山喷发后形成的过渡性植物群落长白落叶松(又称黄花落叶松) (Larix olgensis)林为研究对象, 并建立不同海拔高度长白落叶松的3个年轮宽度年表, 研究不同生境长白落叶松径向生长对气候变化的响应, 并利用冗余分析对不同海拔的年轮指数与气候因子的关系做进一步分析。主要结果如下: (1)高海拔年轮年表的统计特征更显著, 比低海拔径向生长对气候因子的响应更加敏感; (2)高海拔径向生长主要受上年生长季前期和生长季气温的限制, 尤其是上年6月和8月气温的限制作用, 低海拔径向生长主要与降水量有关, 受当年9月降水量和当年8月帕尔默干旱指数(PDSI)的共同影响; (3)林线内树木对气候响应的敏感性强于林线外, 林线外小生境的异质性及干扰事件频发可能掩盖了树木对气候因子的敏感性, 林线下方可能是检验林线处树木生长对气候响应平均状态的最佳位置; (4)不同海拔年轮年表与气候因子的冗余分析与响应函数分析的结果基本一致, 进一步证明了冗余分析可以有效地量化树轮指数与气候因子的关系。该研究为全球变暖背景下长白山东坡长白落叶松林的管理及该区域气候重建提供了基础数据。     

蒙古栎叶片光合作用随叶龄的变化及其与叶片功能性状的关系

叶片光合能力直接决定着植物生产力的高低,它既受外界环境条件的影响,也受叶片内部因素的制约。本文以"日"为单位对叶龄进行度量,从爆芽日开始,对蒙古栎光合作用参数随叶龄的变化及其与叶片功能性状的关系进行了分析。结果如下:(1)蒙古栎叶片生长季初期(爆芽后3日内)其呼吸速率大于光合速率,净光合速率为负值;生长季中期,光合参数P_(max)(最大净光合速率)、J_(max)(CO2饱和时最大净光合速率)、V_(cmax)(最大Rubisco催化反应速率)的变化主要受环境因子(降雨、土壤含水率)的影响。(2)整个生长季初期,光合参数与叶绿素含量及叶面积呈极显著正相关(P0.01);生长季初期爆芽阶段光合参数与比叶重呈负相关,生长季初期展叶阶段光合参数与比叶重呈正相关,在生长季初期叶片完全展开后,光合参数与比叶重呈负相关;生长季中期,所有的光合参数与叶片功能性状无显著相关性;生长季后期,光合参数与叶片功能性状均呈显著正相关(P0.05)。建议今后研究中,考虑根据叶片的生长过程分阶段探讨其光合能力及其生理生化影响机制,以增加森林生态系统碳收支估算的准确性。     

沈阳城市森林小气候特征的研究

研究了沈阳城市森林不同生长期小气候温湿日变化特征.结果表明,城市森林不同生长期气温日变化趋势是早晨气温最低、午后气温最高,但受森林生态环境的影响,最高峰比太阳辐射峰值迟滞约2 h.一年四季气温日变幅为森林停止生长期(休眠期)＞生长季前期＞生长季后期＞生长季中期.森林生长季前期、中期、后期土壤温度为白天高于夜间,而停止生长期(休眠期)为夜间高于白天.不同生长期土温日振幅为上层(20 cm)＞中层(40 cm)＞下层(80 cm),而同一层不同生长期的土温日振幅为土层深20 cm时,生长季前期＞生长季后期＞停止生长期(休眠期)＞生长季中期;土层深＞40 cm(80 cm)时,生长季前期＞停止生长期(休眠期)＞生长季后期＞生长季中期.城市森林空气相对湿度日变化与气温和地温日变化则夜间的空气相对湿度高于白天,但不同生长期相对湿度值日变化为生长季中期＞生长季后期＞停止生长期(休眠期)＞生长季前期.     

Seasonal development of secondary xylem and phloem in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizolobium parahyba</Emphasis> (Vell.) Blake (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae)

The cambial activity and periodicity of secondary xylem and phloem formation have been less studied in tropical tree species than in temperate ones. This paper describes the relationship between seasonal cambial activity, xylem and phloem development, and phenology in Schizolobium parahyba, a fast growing semideciduous seasonal forest tree from southeastern Brazil. From 2002 to 2003, wood samples were collected periodically and phenology and climate were recorded monthly in the same period. S. parahyba forms annual growth increments in wood, delimited by narrow initial parenchyma bands. The reduction of the cambial activity to a minimum correlates to the dry season and leaf fall. The higher cambial activity correlates to the wet season and the presence of mature leaves. In phloem, a larger conductive region was observed in the wet season, when the trees were in full foliage. The secondary phloem did not exhibit any incremental zone marker; however, we found that the axial parenchyma tends to form irregular bands.     

哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林木径向生长季节动态及其对气候因子的响应

研究采用树木生长环在哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林持续9年(2009—2017年)监测了2个常绿树种(厚皮香,Ternstroemia gymnanthera;南亚枇杷,Eriobotrya bengalensis)和2个落叶树种(西桦,Betula alnoides;珍珠花,Lyonia ovalifolia)的树干月生长量,采用逻辑斯蒂生长模型(Logistic model)模拟树木径向生长量和物候参数,并分析了年、季尺度上径向生长与主要气候因子的关系。结果表明:1)4个树种年平均生长量为6.3 mm,落叶树种年平均生长量(10.6 mm/a)显著高于常绿树种(3.0 mm/a);2)雨季(5—10月)是哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林树木生长的主要时期,4个树种雨季平均生长量为5.9 mm,占全年总生长量的93%,其中落叶树种雨季生长量占全年的96%,而常绿树种雨季生长量占全年的86%;3)常绿树种生长季长度为169天,长于落叶树种(137天),而落叶树种最大生长速率(0.14 mm/d)显著高于常绿树种(0.03 mm/d),最大径向生长速率能很好地预测树种年生长量;4)低温、雾日和光合有效辐射是影响哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林4个研究树种径向生长的重要环境因子,其中温度对常绿树种径向生长具有显著影响,而雨日、雾日与空气湿度等水分因子对落叶树种径向生长更为重要。常绿树种年生长量对旱季气候因子的响应相比落叶树种更为敏感,树木旱季生长量除了受低温限制外,也受到水分供给的影响。气候变化可能改变不同物候类型树种在哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林中的生长状态与分布格局。     

Fluctuations of cambial activity in relation to precipitation result in annual rings and intra-annual growth zones of xylem and phloem in teak (Tectona grandis) in Ivory Coast

Background and Aims Teak forms xylem rings that potentially carry records of carbon sequestration and climate in the tropics. These records are only useful when the structural variations of tree rings and their periodicity of formation are known. Methods The seasonality of ring formation in mature teak trees was examined via correlative analysis of cambial activity, xylem and phloem formation, and climate throughout 1·5 years. Xylem and phloem differentiation were visualized by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Key Results A 3 month dry season resulted in semi-deciduousness, cambial dormancy and formation of annual xylem growth rings (AXGRs). Intra-annual xylem and phloem growth was characterized by variable intensity. Morphometric features of cambium such as cambium thickness and differentiating xylem layers were positively correlated. Cambium thickness was strongly correlated with monthly rainfall (R(2) = 0·7535). In all sampled trees, xylem growth zones (XGZs) were formed within the AXGRs during the seasonal development of new foliage. When trees achieved full leaf, the xylem in the new XGZs appeared completely differentiated and functional for water transport. Two phloem growth rings were formed in one growing season. Conclusions The seasonal formation pattern and microstructure of teak xylem suggest that AXGRs and XGZs can be used as proxies for analyses of the tree history and climate at annual and intra-annual resolution.     

末次冰盛期以来香果树潜在地理分布格局变迁

香果树是中国特有的单种属孑遗树种,探讨末次冰盛期以来香果树在中国的潜在地理分布格局及其变化,对研究茜草科乃至中国亚热带植物区系的系统发育、古生态和古气候变迁等具有重要作用。研究基于最大熵MaxEnt模型与ArcGIS空间分析技术,利用香果树分布点位信息与气候数据,构建其在末次冰盛期(LGM)、全新世中期(MID)、当前(1960—1990年)以及未来(2061—2080年)的潜在地理分布格局,探明其分布格局的变化趋势,揭示引起其潜在地理分布格局改变的关键因子。结果表明,香果树当前适生区总面积约197.575×10⁴ km²,主要位于中国亚热带地区,其中高适生区集中分布于四川盆周山地、武陵山与武夷山地区,最干季度平均温、最湿月降水量、最冷季度降水量是限制其分布的主要气候因子。末次冰盛期时香果树广泛分布于中国亚热带地区,随后适生区开始缩减且向内陆退缩,全新世中期后适生区面积继续缩减并向高纬度地区迁移。随着全球气候变暖,在不同排放情景下香果树适宜生境面积均进一步缩减并向西与高纬度地区迁移。总体而言,从末次冰盛期至未来,香果树适生区呈现持续缩减并向西...     

The number of days on which increment occurs is the primary determinant of annual ring width in Callitris intratropica

Key message

The number of days on which a measureable increment occurred, and the average rate of stem growth, rather than the overall duration of the wet season, were the main determinants of ring width in young Callitris intratropica trees. These effects were amplified by competition.

Abstract

Dendroclimatology of tropical tree species is an important tool for understanding past climatic variability at low latitudes where long-term weather records are often absent. Despite the growing number of published tropical tree-ring chronologies, however, still little is known of the factors that control annual ring formation in tropical tree species. In this paper we used an endemic Australian conifer, Callitris intratropica, to study the intra-annual dynamics of seasonal growth and xylem formation, and the effects of environmental conditions and competition, on growth ring formation. We combined high-resolution growth and climate monitoring (every 15 min for 2 years) with less frequent cambial sampling. Trees exhibited marked reductions in growth during certain periods within the rainy season when rainfall was not as regular and VPD was high. Overall, we found that ring width was most influenced by the number of days when increment occurred; regardless of how early the growing season began or ended, and by the rates of tracheid production. The effect of competition was also important. Trees growing in dense groves had narrower annual rings (4.6 mm) than trees that were growing in the open (6.7 mm), due to less active cambia, slower rates of xylem production and expansion and more increment days, although the overall growing season duration was also shorter in grove trees.     

Age-dependent responses of tree-ring growth and intra-annual density fluctuations of Pinus pinaster to Mediterranean climate

Dendrochronology generally assumes that climate–growth relationships are age independent once the biological growth trend has been removed. However, tree physiology, namely, photosynthetic capacity and hydraulic conductivity changes with age. We tested whether the radial-growth response to climate and the intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) of Pinus pinaster Ait. varied with age. Trees were sampled in Pinhal de Leiria (Portugal), and were divided in two age classes: young (<65 years old) and old (>115 years old). Earlywood and tree-ring width of young P. pinaster trees were more sensitive to climate influence while the response of latewood width to climate was stronger in old trees. Young trees start the growing season earlier, thus a time window delay occurs between young and old trees during which wood cells of young trees integrate environmental signals. Young trees usually have a longer growing season and respond faster to climate conditions, thus young P. pinaster trees presented a higher frequency of IADFs compared with old trees. Most of the IADFs were located in latewood and were positively correlated to autumn precipitation. The radial-growth response of P. pinaster to climate and the IADFs frequency were age dependent. The use of trees with different age to create a tree-ring chronology for climate studies can increase the resolution of climatic signals. Age-dependent responses to climate can also give important clues to predict how young and old trees react to climate change.     

Detecting invisible growth rings of trees in seasonally dry forests in Thailand: isotopic and wood anatomical approaches

We measured radial variation of carbon isotope composition and vessel traits in tree species in seasonally dry forests of Northeast Thailand to explore a more reliable and amenable method of tropical dendrochronology for trees that lack visually detectable and consistent growth rings. Six Dipterocarpaceae species (3 Shorea, 2 Dipterocarpus, and 1 Hopea species) with indistinct or irregular growth rings and teak (Tectona grandis), a species which forms distinct growth rings, were examined. The δ¹³C value variations in all species showed annual cyclicity. Dipterocarpaceae species usually marked the lowest values of δ¹³C in the middle of the growing season, whereas teak had the lowest values at nearly the end of the growing season. Since the growing season of the species examined almost corresponds to the rainy season in the study area, the δ¹³C variation was likely caused by the change in moisture availability. The different variation pattern of teak was attributable to its stronger dependence on ¹³C-enriched reserved material early in the growing season. Changes in tree vessel traits for all species examined also showed annual cyclicity. Dipterocarpaceae species showed significant correlation between δ¹³C values and vessel measurements. Vessel lumen (mean area, tangential and radial diameter, and proportion of total area) had a negative correlation, whereas vessel frequency showed a positive correlation. The correlations indicated that changes in vessel traits were caused by the seasonal variation of moisture available to the trees. Thus, we concluded that methods using wood anatomy, as well as δ¹³C, have great potential for use as tools in tropical dendrochronology within the context of seasonal climate.     

Xylem traits of peatland Scots pines reveal a complex climatic signal: A study in the Eastern Italian Alps

Long-term climate reconstructions are frequently based on tree-ring high-resolution proxies extracted from subfossil peatland trees. Peatlands are peculiar ecosystems characterized by high moisture in the upper soil part which creates a harsh living environment for trees. The climate mostly indirectly influences tree growth determining seasonal variations in the water table level. Within this framework, the aim of this study was to investigate climate responses of trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing inside and outside a Southern Alpine peat bog, by using tree-ring and wood anatomical traits (e.g. tracheid number and dimension, cell-wall thickness). Our results showed differences in the xylem structure and climate signal recorded by peatland and mineral soil trees. Peatland trees were characterized by narrow rings and tracheids with thinner cell wall. Summer temperature and precipitation were the major drivers of xylem formation in peatland trees. At intra-annual level wood anatomical traits revealed a complex within-ring signal during the growing season. The multi-parameters approach together with the high-resolution gained by using tree-ring sectors allowed us to obtain new detailed information on the xylem development of peatland trees and climate drivers that influenced it.     

Inter-annual and seasonal variability of radial growth, wood density and carbon isotope ratios in tree rings of beech (Fagus sylvatica) growing in Germany and Italy

We investigated the variability of tree-ring width, wood density and ¹³C/¹²C in beech tree rings (Fagus sylvatica L.), and analyzed the influence of climatic variables and carbohydrate storage on these parameters. Wood cores were taken from dominant beech trees in three stands in Germany and Italy. We used densitometry to obtain density profiles of tree rings and laser-ablation-combustion-GC-IRMS to estimate carbon isotope composition (δ ¹³C) of wood. The sensitivity of ring width, wood density and δ ¹³C to climatic variables differed; with tree-ring width responding to environmental conditions (temperature or precipitation) during the first half of a growing season and maximum density correlated with temperatures in the second part of a growing season (July–September). δ ¹³C variations indicate re-allocation and storage processes and effects of drought during the main growing season. About 20% of inter-annual variation of tree-ring width was explained by the tree-ring width of the previous year. This was confirmed by δ ¹³C of wood which showed a contribution of stored carbohydrates to growth in spring and a storage effect that competes with growth in autumn. Only mid-season δ ¹³C of wood was related to concurrent assimilation and climate. The comparison of seasonal changes in tree-ring maximum wood density and isotope composition revealed that an increasing seasonal water deficit changes the relationship between density and ¹³C composition from a negative relation in years with optimal moisture to a positive relationship in years with strong water deficit. The climate signal, however, is over-ridden by effects of stand density and crown structure (e.g., by forest management). There was an unexpected high variability in mid season δ ¹³C values of wood between individual trees (−31 to −24‰) which was attributed to competition between dominant trees as indicated by crown area, and microclimatological variations within the canopy. Maximum wood density showed less variation (930–990 g cm⁻³). The relationship between seasonal changes in tree-ring structure and ¹³C composition can be used to study carbon storage and re-allocation, which is important for improving models of tree-ring growth and carbon isotope fractionation. About 20–30% of the tree-ring is affected by storage processes. The effects of storage on tree-ring width and the effects of forest structure put an additional uncertainty on using tree rings of broad leaved trees for climate reconstruction.     

Predicting xylem phenology in black spruce under climate warming

In the next century, the boreal ecosystems are projected to experience greater rates of warming than most other regions of the world. As the boreal forest constitutes a reservoir of trees of huge ecological importance and only partially known economic potential, any possible climate‐related change in plant growth and dynamics has to be promptly predicted and evaluated. A model for assessing xylem phenology in black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] using daily temperatures and thermal thresholds was defined and applied to predict changes in onset, ending and duration of xylem growth under different warming scenarios with temperatures rising by up to 3 °C. This was achieved by collecting and analyzing a dataset obtained from a 7‐year monitoring of cambium phenology and wood formation on a weekly time‐scale in trees growing in four sites at different latitudes and altitudes in the Saguenay‐Lac‐Saint‐Jean region (Quebec, Canada). The onset of xylem growth occurred between mid‐May and early June while the end ranged between mid‐September and early October, resulting in a growing season of 101–141 days. The model predicted longer duration of xylem growth at higher temperatures, with an increase of 8–11 days/ °C, because of an earlier onset and later ending of growth. With an increase of 3 °C in the mean temperature during the year, the duration of xylem growth changed on average from 125 to 160 days. The predicted changes in cambial phenology could significantly affect future wood production of the boreal ecosystems.