滇西北石卡雪山2个针叶树种森林上限径向生长对温度和降水的响应

基于树木年轮学的理论和方法,建立滇西北高原石卡雪山森林上限丽江云杉(Picea likiangensis)和高山松(Pinus densata)差值年表,运用响应函数研究其与气候因子的关系,进而阐明影响滇西北高原针叶树种径向生长的主要气候因子,并利用冗余分析(RDA)进一步分析并验证树木生长与温度和降水的关系。研究结果表明:石卡雪山森林上限针叶树种径向生长主要受温度影响,温度和降水对树木生长有滞后效应,2个树种对气候响应存在差异。具体表现为(1)丽江云杉径向生长受温度和降水的共同作用,与上年10月平均最低温呈显著负相关,与上年11月平均最高温以及当年7月温度呈显著正相关,上年8月和当年5月降水抑制其生长;(2)高山松径向生长与上年10月平均温和平均最高温、11月平均温呈显著正相关,与当年7月平均温和平均最高温呈显著负相关,与降水未达到显著相关水平;(3)冗余分析与响应函数分析结果基本一致,进一步证明该方法能够有效量化树木径向生长与气候因子的关系。能够为气候变化背景下的滇西北高原森林生态系统管理与保护提供理论依据。     

玉龙雪山不同针叶树种树轮宽度年表特征及其与气候因子的关系北大核心CSCD

为揭示滇西北高原树木径向生长与气候关系的规律,该研究分别在玉龙雪山采集高山松(Pinus densata)、云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)和云南铁杉(Tsuga dumosa)年轮样本,建立3个树种树轮宽度差值年表,将年轮指数与气候因子进行响应分析和冗余分析,以明确影响玉龙雪山树木径向生长的主要气候因子,为该区域森林生态系统的管理保护提供依据,并为探讨气候变化背景下滇西北森林动态提供依据。结果表明:(1)所建立的3个树种树轮宽度差值年表具有较少的低频变化,且离散程度较低、逐年变化共性较高,可代表采样点树木的年轮特征;高山松、云南松和云南铁杉差值年表的平均敏感度依次分别为0.21、0.22和0.17,样本总体代表性分别为0.96、0.96和0.94,均高于0.85的阈值,说明年表中信息具有代表性。(2)响应分析结果显示,高山松径向生长与当年2月的降水量呈显著正相关关系;云南松径向生长与当年5月的平均气温和最高温呈显著负相关关系,与当年10月平均气温呈显著正相关关系;云南铁杉径向生长与当年1月和5月的降水、当年10月相对湿度均呈显著正相关关系,与当年5月最高气温呈显著负相关关系。(3)冗余分析结果显示,当年1月降水、2月降水、5月干旱指数对3个树种均具有促进作用,且5月干旱指数的显著相关性最强;当年10月降水的增加有利于高山松和云南铁杉的径向生长,但对云南松径向生长具有抑制作用。研究认为,当年冬季降水、5月湿润条件以及10月降水是影响玉龙雪山3个树种径向生长的重要环境因子;若干暖化趋势加剧,将不利于滇西北高原3个树种的生长,从而影响区域森林生态系统结构和功能。     

长白山北坡不同林型内红松年表特征及其与气候因子的关系

运用树木年轮学的基本原理和方法,选取了长白山北坡保存完好的典型性植被阔叶红松林,探讨了杨桦红松林和椴树红松林内建群种红松(Pinus koraiensis)径向生长对气候要素的响应.结果表明,长白山北坡红松的径向生长对降水较为敏感,杨桦红松林和椴树红松林中,红松年轮宽度均与当年7月以及上一年9月的降水呈显著正相关关系.不同林型内红松的生长与气候因子的关系也有差异.椴树红松的年轮宽度还与上年7月的降水显著负相关,与当年3、4月份的平均气温呈显著正相关.而杨桦红松林内红松年轮宽度和平均温度没有显著的相关关系.特征年分析进一步验证了响应函数相关分析的结果,即当年生长季以及上年生长季末的降水充足促进了红松的径向生长;椴树红松林中,初春温度的升高有利于红松的生长.     

玉龙雪山东坡不同海拔长苞冷杉径向生长与气候因子的关系

基于树木年代学方法,利用玉龙雪山东坡长苞冷杉树轮宽度资料,分别建立了3个海拔(低、中、高)长苞冷杉差值年表(RES),并利用响应分析与冗余分析(RDA)研究其径向生长与温度和降水的相关关系,分析影响玉龙雪山长苞冷杉径向生长的主要气候因子.结果表明: 玉龙雪山不同海拔长苞冷杉径向生长受气候变化的影响具有一致性,温度和降水共同作用于径向生长,这种一致性与玉龙雪山地形陡峭以及长苞冷杉的高海拔分布与浅根特性有关.不同海拔长苞冷杉径向生长均与当年7月和上年11月平均温以及当年1月降水量呈显著正相关,而与当年6月降水量呈显著负相关.响应分析与冗余分析的综合应用能够准确揭示环境梯度上树木生长与气候因子的关系.本研究可为该地区历史气候重建以及森林经营管理提供科学依据.     

滇西北海拔上限大果红杉径向生长对气候变化的响应

基于树轮年代学方法,利用玉龙雪山、哈巴雪山和普达措国家公园海拔上限大果红杉树轮宽度资料,分别建立3个样点大果红杉的差值年表(RES),研究其径向生长对气候响应的异同,探讨影响滇西北大果红杉生长的关键气候因子.结果表明: 生长季初期(5月和6月)温度是影响滇西北大果红杉生长的主要因子,与3个样点的径向生长表现出显著正相关关系,同时普达措国家公园大果红杉还受生长季以前温度的影响,分别与上年7月和11月温度呈显著负相关和显著正相关;3个样点大果红杉生长对降水的响应存在差异,随着纬度升高主要由负相关转为正相关,大果红杉径向生长与降水的关系在玉龙雪山(纬度梯度最南)主要表现为与生长季初期降水量呈显著负相关,在哈巴雪山(纬度梯度中部)表现为与9月降水量呈显著负相关,在普达措国家公园(纬度梯度最北)表现为与3月降水量呈显著正相关.另外,7月降水的增多有利于玉龙雪山大果红杉的生长.基于气候模型预测,综合大果红杉对温度和降水响应模式与响应程度分析,未来气候变化有利于滇西北高原大果红杉的径向生长.     

玉龙雪山3个针叶树种在海拔上限的径向生长及气候响应

树木生长对气候变化的响应是国内外研究的热点。选择滇西北高原玉龙雪山海拔分布上限3个主要树种(长苞冷杉(Abies georgei)、丽江云杉(Picea likiangensis)和大果红杉(Larix potaninii Batal var.macrocarpa Law)),对其径向生长特征进行研究,构建差值年表,并分析其与温度和降水的相互关系。研究结果表明:(1)温度和降水均为玉龙雪山海拔上限树木生长的主要影响因子,但不同树种响应的时期和关系存在差异;(2)大果红杉生长主要受限于生长初期(5—6月)的水热条件,主要表现为与当年5月、6月以及生长初期(5—6月)的平均温呈显著正相关,以及与当年5月、6月以及生长初期的降水呈显著负相关;(3)长苞冷杉生长主要受限于生长初期(5—6月)的水分条件,表现为显著负相关,同时生长盛期(7—8月)温度的升高有利于其径向生长;(4)丽江云杉的生长则主要受限于生长季开始以前的气候条件,与上年12月以及当年5月的平均温呈显著负相关,与当年1月的降水呈显著正相关。本研究的结果可为气候变化对滇西北高原树木生长影响的研究提供参考,并为该地区历史气候重建提供科学基础。     

长白山北坡不同年龄红松年表及其对气候的响应

运用树木年轮气候学方法,研究了长白山北坡红松(Pinus koraiensis)不同年龄年表特征及其与气候因子间的关系,以期揭示年龄因素对年表的潜在影响。结果表明,平均年龄为63a的红松低龄年表与平均年龄为184a的高龄年表对气候的响应明显不同:低龄红松径向生长与当年1、2月月平均温度负相关(P<0.05),同时也受到上年及当年多个月份的月平均最高温度或最低温度的影响,但与降水的相关性未达到显著水平;高龄红松径向生长则与月平均温度间的关系不明显,而与当年1、2、4、6、7、9月的月平均最高温度正相关,与当年4月、9月的月平均最低温度负相关,同时受到上年5月及当年5月月总降水量的影响。因此,年龄因素对红松年表的气候响应方面存在一定影响,且高龄年表对气候响应的敏感性更高,包含有更多的气候信息。     

丽江老君山海拔上限长苞冷杉(Abies georgei)和云南铁杉(Tsuga dumosa)径向生长对气候变化的响应

基于树木年轮学方法,利用丽江老君山海拔上限长苞冷杉（Abies georgei）和云南铁杉（Tsuga dumosa）树轮宽度资料,构建差值年表,运用响应函数和滑动响应分析研究树木径向生长与气温和降水的相关关系及其稳定性,进而阐明影响该区域2个针叶树种径向生长的主要气候要素。结果表明：2个树种对降水累积效应的响应较为一致,对逐月气候因子的响应存在差异,相关关系较为稳定,具体表现为（1）上年11月平均温升高和当年生长季盛期（7-8月）降水增加有利于老君山海拔上限长苞冷杉生长;（2）云南铁杉径向生长与当年3月、树木休眠期（1-3月）、生长季盛期（7-8月）的降水表现为显著正相关关系,与上年7月与当年5月的气温及当年生长季末期（9-10月）降水呈显著负相关;（3）上述相关关系的稳定性较强,在全部或大部分分析时段（1951-2017）内达到显著相关,云南铁杉的稳定性更强。研究结果可为气候变化背景下滇西北高原树木生长的管理及森林生态系统的保护提供理论依据。     

Climatic responses of Pinus pseudostrobus and Abies religiosa in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve,Central Mexico

Understanding the effects of climate on the growth of trees is important to project the response of forests to climate change. Dendrochronological analysis offers a “proxy” source for the effects of climatic variation on tree growth at different spatial and temporal scales. To examine influences of temperature and precipitation on radial growth of Pinus pseudostrobus and Abies religiosa, this study combines measurements of radial growth patterns of forest trees in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) in central Mexico with temperature and precipitation variables from instrumental records. Dendrochronological samples were collected as cross sections and increment cores by using a chainsaw and increment borers, respectively. Total ring-width chronologies were developed for each site. Principal component analyses (PCA) were used to identify common temperature, precipitation and tree growth variation patterns. Correlation and response function analyses between chronologies and records of temperature and precipitation were used to evaluate the relation of climate variables on tree growth. The months during which tree growth was most strongly affected by precipitation were January, February and October from the previous year; only the temperature of September from the previous year affected the tree growth. In some chronologies, May’s average monthly maximum temperature was negatively correlated with tree growth. PCA and a comparison of PCA factor scores of climatic variables and chronologies showed no significant differences between northern, central or southern portions of the MBBR. Apparently, tree growth in the MBBR is reduced in years of low January–May precipitation combined with high summer (September of the previous year) temperatures, a scenario which is likely to occur as a consequence of global climate change.     

Altitudinal trends in climate change result in radial growth variation of Pinus yunnanensis at an arid-hot valley of southwest China

Climate change has already had observable impact on the biophysical environment, and lead to the different sensitivity of vegetation to climate factors on spatio-temporal scale. Therefore, understanding how the radial growth respond to climate at different spatio-temporal scales is crucial to recognize forest growth dynamic and make scientific management decisions under the background of climatic change. In the present study, the tree ring of Pinus yunnanensis at six altitudes gradients between 1300 m and 2500 m from a typical arid-hot valley in Jinsha River, were collected. We analyzed the relationship between radial growth and climate at different altitudes, and the sensitivity of growth to climatic factors over time. The results showed that the mean width of tree rings decreased as the altitude increasing. The relationship between climatic factors and radial growth at low or high altitudes was different with that at mid altitudes. Radial growth was negatively correlated to the temperatures from February to July at both low altitudes (1300–1500 m) and at high altitudes (2200–2500 m), but positively correlated to the temperatures in October of the previous year to April at mid altitudes (1700–1900 m). Precipitation in October of the previous year, May, and June in growing year had a positive effect on radial growth at all altitudes. Temperature and precipitation in the previous year showed a time-lag effect on radial growth. A moving correlation analysis of the tree ring index and climate variables showed that the limiting factors for tree growth at different altitudes varied over time. The influence of drought on the tree growth increased gradually as the climate warming. In future research, evaluating the dynamic relationship between vegetation growth and climate warming at spatio--temporal scale will be particularly important to guide forest management.     

滇西北玉龙雪山不同海拔云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)径向生长对气候因子的响应

云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)是重要的造林树种,在我国西南地区广泛分布。研究不同海拔云南松径向生长对气候变化的响应,有助于了解气候变化背景下云南松的敏感性和适应性。在滇西北丽江玉龙雪山不同海拔采集了云南松树木年轮样品,采用传统的树木年轮方法制作了不同海拔云南松树轮宽度标准化年表,并分析了不同海拔云南松径向生长与气候因子的相关性。结果表明:1)低海拔样点云南松具有较快的年平均生长速率。2)不同海拔云南松对气候因子的响应模式一致,树轮宽度与当年5—6月的降水量、帕尔默干旱指数(PDSI)和相对湿度呈正相关,与同期温度呈负相关。3)不同海拔的云南松径向生长对气象因子的响应程度不一样,即低海拔样点云南松树轮宽度与当年5月份的干旱指数、相对湿度、降水量相关系数较高;而高海拔样点的云南松树轮宽度与5—6月的降水、相对湿度、干旱指数的相关系数较低。研究表明春末夏初的水分条件是玉龙雪山云南松径向生长的主要限制因子,且低海拔地区云南松生长受水分限制更为严重,区域气候变暖和干旱化趋势可能对低海拔地区云南松的生长产生持续的负面效应。研究结果可为探讨气候变化下云南松的适宜分布区、以及云南松人工林的经营和可持续管理提供参考。     

阿尔泰山萨彦岭4种优势树种径向生长对气候因子的响应

气候变化深刻地影响森林树木的生长,而树种对气候变化敏感度的差异可能影响了气候变化下的森林生态系统响应。因此,研究优势树种间生长对气候变化的敏感度差异,对正确认识气候变化下林分生长动态及分布格局十分重要。基于树木年代学的方法,研究了阿尔泰山萨彦岭西伯利亚落叶松（Larix sibirica）、西伯利亚红松（Pinus sibirica）、西伯利亚冷杉（Abies sibirica）以及西伯利亚云杉（Picea obovata）4种优势树种的径向生长-气候关系。结果显示：（1）西伯利亚冷杉径向生长与上一年10-11月、当年1-9月的干旱指数、2-4月的降水显著正相关,与1月的平均温和最高温呈显著负相关关系,与当年4、6月份的水汽压正相关;（2）西伯利亚落叶松径向生长与上一年8月和当年8月的平均温、最高温以及当年8月的最低温显著负相关,而与当年6月的最低温则正相关,与8月份的水汽压显著负相关;（3）西伯利亚红松径向生长与3月降水、7月最低温、上一年10月的水汽压显著正相关;（4）西伯利亚云杉径向生长与6月平均温、最高温、水汽压正相关,与上一年10-11月、当年2-4月和9月的干旱指数正相关,同时与3、4月的降水量显著正相关。西伯利亚冷杉和西伯利亚云杉、西伯利亚云杉和西伯利亚落叶松、西伯利亚云杉和西伯利亚红松对于特定气候因子表现出相似的响应结果,与年表间相关性的结果一致。但差异也是明显的,西伯利亚冷杉和西伯利亚云杉对区域水分变化敏感,而西伯利亚落叶松和西伯利亚红松主要对区域温度变化敏感。综上所述,气候变化下,该区域优势树种对气候变化响应的差异可能导致区域林分动态和格局的改变,因此,多树种径向生长-气候关系研究有助于正确反映森林动态。研究结果可以为区域森林管理与生态保护工作提供理论依据。     

Forest Structure,Stand Composition,and Climate-Growth Response in Montane Forests of Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve,China

Montane forests of western China provide an opportunity to establish baseline studies for climate change. The region is being impacted by climate change, air pollution, and significant human impacts from tourism. We analyzed forest stand structure and climate-growth relationships from Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve in northwestern Sichuan province, along the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. We conducted a survey to characterize forest stand diversity and structure in plots occurring between 2050 and 3350 m in elevation. We also evaluated seedling and sapling recruitment and tree-ring data from four conifer species to assess: 1) whether the forest appears in transition toward increased hardwood composition; 2) if conifers appear stressed by recent climate change relative to hardwoods; and 3) how growth of four dominant species responds to recent climate. Our study is complicated by clear evidence of 20^th century timber extraction. Focusing on regions lacking evidence of logging, we found a diverse suite of conifers (Pinus, Abies, Juniperus, Picea, and Larix) strongly dominate the forest overstory. We found population size structures for most conifer tree species to be consistent with self-replacement and not providing evidence of shifting composition toward hardwoods. Climate-growth analyses indicate increased growth with cool temperatures in summer and fall. Warmer temperatures during the growing season could negatively impact conifer growth, indicating possible seasonal climate water deficit as a constraint on growth. In contrast, however, we found little relationship to seasonal precipitation. Projected warming does not yet have a discernible signal on trends in tree growth rates, but slower growth with warmer growing season climates suggests reduced potential future forest growth.     

Climate–growth analysis of Qilian juniper across an altitudinal gradient in the central Qilian Mountains, northwest China

In the context of global warming, it is of high importance to assess the influence of climatic change and geographic factors on the radial growth of high-elevation trees. Using tree-ring data collected from four stands of Qilian juniper (Juniperus przewalskii Kom.) across an altitudinal gradient in the central Qilian Mountains, northwest China, we compared the radial growth characteristics and climate–growth relationships at different elevations. Results indicated that there was little difference in the tree-ring parameters of the four chronologies. Correlation analyses both for unfiltered and 10-year high-passed data of monthly climatic variables and chronologies were presented to investigate the climatic forcing on tree growth, and results revealed that the correlation patterns were consistent among the four sites, especially for high-passed data. We employed the principal components analysis method to obtain the first principal component (PC1) of the four chronologies and computed the correlations between PC1 and climate factors. The PC1 correlated significantly with winter (November–January) temperature, prior August and current May temperature, and precipitation in the previous September and current January and April, indicating that tree growth in this region was mainly limited by cold winter temperature and drought in early growing season and prior growing season (prior August and September). However, the climate–growth relationships were unstable; with an increase in temperature, the sensitivity of tree growth to temperature had decreased over the past few decades. Considering the instability of the climate–growth relationships, climate reconstructions based on tree rings in the study area should be approached with more caution.     

Abies spectabilis shows stable growth relations to temperature,but changing response to moisture conditions along an elevation gradient in the central Himalaya

A better understanding of growth-climate responses of high-elevation tree species across their distribution range is essential to devise an appropriate forest management and conservation strategies against adverse impacts of climate change. The present study evaluates how radial growth of Himalayan fir (Abies spectabilis D. Don) and its relation to climate varies with elevation in the Manaslu Mountain range in the central Himalaya. We developed tree-ring width chronologies of Himalayan fir from three elevational belts at the species’upper distribution limit (3750−3900 m), in the middle range (3500−3600 m), and at the lower distribution limit (3200−3300 m), and analyzed their associations with climatic factors. Tree growth of Himalayan fir varied synchronously across elevational belts, with recent growth increases observed at all elevations. Across the elevation gradient, radial growth correlated positively (negatively) with temperature (precipitation and standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index, SPEI-03) during the summer (July to September) season. However, the importance of summer (July to September) temperatures on radial growth decreased with elevation, whereas correlations with winter (previous November to current January) temperatures increased. Correlations with spring precipitation and SPEI-03 changed from positive to negative from low to high elevations. Moving correlation analysis revealed a persistent response of tree growth to May and August temperatures. However, growth response to spring moisture availability has strongly increased in recent decades, indicating that intensified spring drought may reduce growth rates of Himalayan fir at lower elevations. Under sufficient moisture conditions, increasing summer temperature might be beneficial for fir trees growing at all elevations, while trees growing at the upper treeline will take additional benefit from winter warming.     

秦岭中西部油松径向生长对气候因子的响应差异研究

在气候变暖背景下,树木径向生长对气候因子的响应会随区域干湿变化而有所差异。秦岭属于气候敏感区和生态脆弱区,南北气候特征差异明显,分析气候变化背景下树木径向生长对气候因子及干旱事件的响应,对准确预测未来气候变化对树木生长的影响至关重要。为探究该地区不同干湿环境下油松对气候因子及干旱事件响应的特点及差异,共采集秦岭中西部南北坡共4个样点的油松树轮样芯,利用树木年轮生态学的方法,分析各地油松年表与气候因子之间的关系,通过计算抵抗力、恢复力、恢复弹力等指标探究树木径向生长对干旱事件的应对能力,结果表明：1)在西部和北坡的3个样点,油松径向生长主要与前一年7—9月、当年5—7月的气温呈显著负相关,与当年5月降水呈显著正相关,在中部南坡油松径向生长主要与当年2—4月、9月气温呈显著正相关,与当年4月降水呈显著负相关;2)生长季气温升高所引发的水分亏缺,是研究区西部和北坡油松径向生长受限制的主要原因,且中部南坡油松生长受气温和干旱因子的制约要明显弱于其它3个样点;3)西部北坡油松对干旱的抵抗能力、恢复能力及恢复弹力均弱于西部南坡及中部北坡油松。在未来对研究区树木的管理与保护工作中,应更加关注西部北坡...     

Spatio-temporal growth variability of three Pinus species of Northeast Himalaya with relation to climate

This research aimed to evaluate spatio-temporal growth variability of three Pinus species viz. Pinus kesiya (Khasi pine), Pinus merkusii (Merkus pine) and Pinus wallichiana (Blue pine) along with the existence of species differentiation among the taxa in northeast India. Several statistical analyses were used, namely Pearson correlation and multivariate approaches involving UPGMA Cluster Analysis; ordination methods by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) on tree-ring width chronologies from 13 sites. The tree growth-climate relationships were assessed with both correlation and bootstrap response function using regional climate datasets of each sampling site prepared by averaging the nearest grid points of 0.5 × 0.5° of CRU TS-2.1 climate dataset. Pronounced species differentiation in the growth pattern among the three Pinus taxa was inferred. The observed spatio-temporal variability revealed inter-species tree growth variations were not uniform suggesting no common factor influenced the radial tree growth in this region, which may be related to anthropogenic impact or non-climatic factors. The tree growth-climate relationship showed that climatic factors limiting the radial growth of Pine are mostly similar for intra-species but diverse in inter-species. This study is extremely relevant in terms of species and site selection for the long-term climate reconstruction and forest management in the Northeast Himalaya.     

长白山落叶松与鱼鳞云杉生长-气候关系的种间差异

为阐明不同树种间树木径向生长对气候变化的响应及其时间稳定性,本研究以长白山北坡高海拔处(1600～1750 m)落叶松和鱼鳞云杉为研究对象,运用年轮年代学方法探究树木径向生长与气候的关系.结果表明: 研究区落叶松生长与当年6月最高气温呈显著正相关,与当年6月降水呈负相关;鱼鳞云杉与当年5月最高温度呈显著正相关.冗余分析进一步表明,落叶松生长主要受夏季温度的影响,鱼鳞云杉生长主要受春季温度的制约.在1959—2014年,落叶松生长-夏季温度关系相对稳定;对于鱼鳞云杉,自1986年以来其与春季温度的相关性减弱,可能由于最高温度降低导致树木生长减慢.本研究结果可以为预测气候变化情景下长白山针叶树种生长的响应趋势提供数据支持和理论参考.     

Variation in radial growth of Pinus cooperi in response to climatic signals across an elevational gradient

Climate change could modify the biogeography of many forest species. Elevational gradients have been documented as strategic sites to better understand tree growth response to regional climate variables. Pinus cooperi Blanco is one of the most important species in Northern Mexico. However, little is known concerning effects of climate responses on growth of this species. We used tree data records to compare the influence of precipitation and temperature on radial growth among P. cooperi populations across a mountain landscape at elevation gradient. Correlation and regression analysis of the regional growth–climate relationships showed that radial growth was correlated with previous winter conditions at most sites along the gradient. Wet and cold winters were positively associated with radial growth. Although our results showed significant climate influences on tree radial growth, other site factors also may have affected growth–climate responses. The results support the idea that climate change influences P. cooperi growth.     

Arboreal and prostrate conifers coexisting in Mediterranean high mountains differ in their climatic responses

In contrast to most high elevation areas, plant growth at Mediterranean mountains is exposed to a summer drought period, which represents an additional climatic constraint to low temperatures. Although arboreal and shrubby conifers coexist at high altitudes, most dendroecological studies have focused on climatic responses of tree species, whereas those of shrubby species remain mostly unexplored. We built tree-ring width chronologies for two conifer species, a shrub (Juniperus sabina) and a tree (Pinus sylvestris), coexisting at three high-altitude localities of the Iberian System mountains, eastern Spain. We analyzed their climate–growth relationships for the period 1950–2009 using correlation analyses and multiple regressions. Coexisting species responded to year-to-year climatic variability in different ways. Radial growth in junipers and pines responded positively to April and May temperatures, respectively. Summer drought constrained growth in both cases, although its impact was stronger on junipers than on pines. Our findings suggest that junipers respond earlier than pines to spring temperatures due to their prostrate morphology which may enhance a fast warming of their cambial meristems after snowmelt. The higher dependence of J. sabina on summer rainfall as compared with co-occurring pines confirms that drought stress negatively impacts secondary growth in Mediterranean mountains. This sensitivity to water availability may be caused by the juniper shallow root systems, which mainly use superficial soil water. The climatic signal registered in J. sabina allows studying the response of other similar shrubby woody species growing in Mediterranean alpine areas to the ongoing climate warming, which could also reduce water availability.