Comparison of whole wood and cellulose carbon and oxygen isotope series from Pinus nigra ssp. laricio (Corsica/France)

Stable isotopes in tree rings have widely been used for palaeoclimate reconstructions since tree rings record climatic information at annual resolution. However, various wood components or different parts of an annual tree-ring may differ in their isotopic compositions. Thus, sample preparation and subsequent laboratory analysis are crucial for the isotopic signal retained in the final tree-ring isotope series used for climate reconstruction and must therefore be considered for the interpretation of isotope–climate relationships. This study focuses on wood of Corsican Pine trees (Pinus nigra ssp. laricio) as this tree species allows to reconstruct the long-term climate evolution in the western Mediterranean. In a pilot study, we concentrated on methodological issues of sample preparation techniques in order to evaluate isotope records measured on pooled whole tree-ring cellulose and whole tree-ring bulk wood samples. We analysed 80-year long carbon and oxygen chronologies of Corsican Pine trees growing near the upper tree line on Corsica. Carbon and oxygen isotope records of whole tree-ring bulk wood and whole tree-ring cellulose from a pooled sample of 5 trees were correlated with the climate parameters monthly precipitation, temperature and the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI). Results show that the offsets in carbon and oxygen isotopes of bulk wood and cellulose are not constant over time. Both isotopes correlate with climate parameters from late winter and summer. The carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of cellulose are more sensitive to climatic variables than those of bulk wood. The results of this study imply that extraction of cellulose is a pre-requisite for the reconstruction of high-resolution climate records from stable isotope series of P. nigra ssp. laricio.     

Stable oxygen isotopes (δ 18O) in Austrocedrus chilensis tree rings reflect climate variability in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina

The stable oxygen isotope (δ ¹⁸O) composition of Austrocedrus chilensis (D. Don) Endl. (Cupressaceae) tree rings potentially provide retrospective views of changes in environment and climate in the semi-arid lands of Patagonia. We report the development of the first annually resolved δ ¹⁸O tree-ring chronology obtained from natural forests of the foothills of the northwestern Patagonian Andes. The isotope record spans between 1890 and 1994 AD. We explore the probable links between this record and the climate of the region. Air temperatures during summer conditions are significantly, but not strongly, inversely correlated with annual δ ¹⁸O values from Austrocedrus tree rings. The strongest correlations are between the southern oscillation index (SOI) and the tree rings. The existence of millennial-age Austrocedrus trees in northern Patagonia provides interesting possibilities for examining these climate-related isotopic signals over most of the last 1,000 years.     

Hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of tree-ring cellulose for riparian trees grown long-term under hydroponically controlled environments

Saplings of three riparian tree species (alder, birch and cottonwood) were grown for over 5 months in a hydroponics system that maintained the isotopic composition of source water in six treatments, ranging from –120 to +180‰δD and –15 to +10‰δ¹⁸O. The trees were grown in two greenhouses maintained at 25°C and at either 40 or 75% relative humidity, creating differences in transpiration rates and leaf water isotopic evaporative enrichment. The cellulose produced in the annual growth ring was linearly related to source water with differences in both slope and offset associated with greenhouse humidity. The slope of the isotopic composition of source water versus tree-ring cellulose was less than 1 for both δD and δ¹⁸O indicating incomplete isotopic exchange of carbohydrate substrate with xylem water during cellulose synthesis. Tests using the outer portion of the tree-ring and new roots were similar and showed that the tree-ring values were representative of the cellulose laid down under the imposed environmental conditions. The fraction of H and O in carbohydrate substrate that isotopically exchange with medium water was calculated to be 0.36 and 0.42 respectively, and biochemical mechanisms for these observed fractions are discussed. A mechanistic model of the biochemical fractionation events for both δD and δ¹⁸O leading to cellulose synthesis was robust over the wide range of cellulose stable isotope ratios. The experimental results indicate that both water source and humidity information are indeed recorded in tree-ring cellulose. These results help to resolve some of the disparate observations regarding the interpretation of stable isotope ratios in tree-rings found in the literature. Received: 4 January 1999 / Accepted: 12 August 1999     

Temperature versus species-specific influences on the stable oxygen isotope ratio of tree rings

Stable isotopic ratios integrate ecosystem variability while reflecting change in both environmental and biological processes. At sites, where climate does not strongly limit tree growth, co-occurring trees may display large discrepancies in stable oxygen isotopic ratios (δ¹⁸O) due to the interplay between biological processes (competition for light and nutrients, individual tree physiology, etc.) and climate. For a better quantification of the isotope variability within and among trees, the climatic and/or individual tree effects on seasonal δ¹⁸O variations in precipitation, soil water, leaf water and leaf organic material (whole leaf, cellulose and starch) and annual δ¹⁸O variations in tree-ring cellulose for Fagus sylvatica (Fs), Quercus robur (Qr), Carpinus betulus (Cb) and Pinus sylvestris (Ps) were studied in a mature temperate forest in Switzerland, using a mixed linear regression model technique. Furthermore, the influence of environmental factors on δ¹⁸O was assessed by means of three common isotope fractionation models. Our statistical analysis showed that except for Ps, a greater portion of δ¹⁸O variance in leaf compounds can be explained by individual tree effects, compared to temperature. Concerning tree-ring cellulose, only Fs and Ps show a significant temperature signal (maximum 12% of the variance explained), while the individual tree effect significantly explains δ¹⁸O for all species for a period of 38 years. Large species differences resulted in a limited ability of the isotope fractionation models to predict measured values. Overall, we conclude that in a diverse mixed forest stand, individual tree responses reduce the potential extraction of a temperature signal from δ¹⁸O.     

Pre-1930 unstable relationship between climate and tree-ring width of Pinus taiwanensis hayata in southeastern China

Although it has been widely recognized that tree-ring response to climate drivers may change over recent decades, often due to anthropogenic environment changes, there are fewer reports of such changes in earlier pre-warming periods. In this paper we report on the pre-1930 unstable relationship between climate and tree-ring width (TRW) of Pinus taiwanensis Hayata in southeastern China based on reliable long-term temperature data. TRW of P. taiwanensis is strongly controlled by temperatures in two seasons, previous spring to summer (March to August, mainly June to July) and previous winter to current spring (December to March). However, TRW are insensitive to previous spring to summer temperature between 1890 and 1930. Reduced summer temperature variability, changing regimes of spring-summer temperature and precipitation, and complicated tree physiological processes behind the complex growth-climate relationship are the more likely causes of this phenomenon. This study adds to the body of knowledge that lower climate sensitivity of tree rings is not specific to the most recent decades.     

Tracing carbon and oxygen isotope signals from newly assimilated sugars in the leaves to the tree-ring archive

The analysis of δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁸O in tree-ring archives offers retrospective insights into environmental conditions and ecophysiological processes. While photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination and evaporative oxygen isotope enrichment are well understood, we lack information on how the isotope signal is altered by downstream metabolic processes.
In Pinus sylvestris , we traced the isotopic signals from their origin in the leaf water ( δ ¹⁸O) or the newly assimilated carbon ( δ ¹³C), via phloem sugars to the tree-ring, over a time-scale that ranges from hours to a growing season.
Seasonally, variable ¹³C enrichment of sugars related to phloem loading and transport did lead to uncoupling between δ ¹³C in the tree-ring, and the c _i/ c _a ratio at the leaf level. In contrast, the oxygen isotope signal was transferred from the leaf water to the tree-ring with an expected enrichment of 27‰, with time-lags of approximately 2 weeks and with a 40% exchange between organic oxygen and xylem water oxygen during cellulose synthesis.
This integrated overview of the fate of carbon and oxygen isotope signals within the model tree species P. sylvestris provides a novel physiological basis for the interpretation of δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁸O in tree-ring ecology.     

Anatomical characteristics of xylem in tree rings and its relationship with environments

The anatomical traits of xylem are the characteristics of tree rings at the cellular and subcellular scales, and are often reflection of environmental signals. Studying the relationships between anatomical traits of xylem and environmental change not only provide physiological explanations to the statistics in dendroclimatology, but can also provide a new vision for studying the adaptation process and response strategies of tree growth to climate change. In this paper, with the relationships between the anatomical characteristics of xylem in tree-rings (cell chronology) and climate change as a main thread, we first outline the basic principles and mechanisms of wood anatomical features to record environmental signals, and expounded the basic methods involved in the process of xylem anatomy. Secondly, we discuss the relationship between the anatomical features of xylem and climate factors. We then propose the following as possible directions of future research based on the existing knowledge gap in the topical area: (1) to explore the temporal and spatial variations in the anatomical characteristics of xylem in tree-rings along radial and tangential directions and the relationships with environmental changes; (2) to explore the threshold of tree growth response to environmental plasticity and adaptation processes; (3) to assess the synergistic and antagonistic effects as well as the formation mechanisms of climate response among different tree-ring proxies, and to determine the specific roles and contributions of major climatic factors during different periods of tree-ring formation.     

Anatomical characteristics of xylem in tree rings and its relationship with environments北大核心CSCD

The anatomical traits of xylem are the characteristics of tree rings at the cellular and subcellular scales, and are often reflection of environmental signals. Studying the relationships between anatomical traits of xylem and environmental change not only provide physiological explanations to the statistics in dendroclimatology, but can also provide a new vision for studying the adaptation process and response strategies of tree growth to climate change. In this paper, with the relationships between the anatomical characteristics of xylem in tree-rings (cell chronology) and climate change as a main thread, we first outline the basic principles and mechanisms of wood anatomical features to record environmental signals, and expounded the basic methods involved in the process of xylem anatomy. Secondly, we discuss the relationship between the anatomical features of xylem and climate factors. We then propose the following as possible directions of future research based on the existing knowledge gap in the topical area: (1) to explore the temporal and spatial variations in the anatomical characteristics of xylem in tree-rings along radial and tangential directions and the relationships with environmental changes; (2) to explore the threshold of tree growth response to environmental plasticity and adaptation processes; (3) to assess the synergistic and antagonistic effects as well as the formation mechanisms of climate response among different tree-ring proxies, and to determine the specific roles and contributions of major climatic factors during different periods of tree-ring formation.     

An organismal view of dendrochronology

An organism is the most basic unit of independent life. The tree-ring record is defined by organismal processes. Dendrochronology contributes to investigations far removed from organismal biology, e.g., archeology, climatology, disturbance ecology, etc. The increasing integration of dendrochronology into a diverse research community suggests an opportunity for a brief review of the organismal basis of tree rings.Trees are dynamic, competitive, and opportunistic organisms with diverse strategies for survival. As with all green plants, trees capture the energy in sunlight to make and break chemical bonds with the elements essential for life. These essential elements are taken from the atmosphere, water, and soil. The long tree-ring series of special interest to dendrochronology result from long-lived trees containing relatively little decayed wood. Both of those features result from organismal biology. While the tree-ring record tells us many things about local, regional, and even global environmental history, tree rings are first a record of tree survival.     

Oxygen stable isotope ratios of tree-ring cellulose: the next phase of understanding

Analysis of the oxygen isotope ratio of tree-ring cellulose is a valuable tool that can be used as a paleoclimate proxy. Our ability to use this tool has gone through different phases. The first began in the 1970s with the demonstration of empirical relationships between the oxygen isotope ratio of tree-ring cellulose and climate. These empirical relationships, however, did not provide us with the confidence that they are robust through time, across taxa and across geographical locations. The second phase began with a rudimentary understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms responsible for the oxygen isotope ratios of cellulose, which is necessary to increase the power of this tool. This phase culminated in a mechanistic tree-ring model integrating concepts of physiology and biochemistry in a whole-plant system. This model made several assumptions about leaf water isotopic enrichment and biochemistry which, in the nascent third phase, are now being challenged, with surprising results. These third-phase results suggest that, contrary to the model assumption, leaf temperature across a large latitudinal gradient is remarkably constant and does not follow ambient temperature. Recent findings also indicate that the biochemistry responsible for the incorporation of the cellulose oxygen isotopic signature is not as simple as has been assumed. Interestingly, the results of these challenges have strengthened the tree-ring model. There are several other assumptions that can be investigated which will improve the utility of the tree-ring model.     

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.     

xRing—An R package to identify and measure tree-ring features using X-ray microdensity profiles

Climate influences tree-ring density and ring-density variables extracted from X-ray images have been widely used for climate reconstructions. The R package xRing was developed to identify and measure tree rings on X-ray microdensity profiles automatically. This package is available for free and it offers functions to visualize and calibrate X-ray images, to detect tree-ring borders and to identify earlywood-latewood transition using wood density variations at the inter- and the intra-ring scale. The most important functions are calibrateFilm, detectRings, correctRings, detectEwLw, and getDensity. Outputs of these functions are S3 objects, for which specific methods are provided, including plot and print. The non-linear relationship between optical density of the film and wood density is defined by the function calibrateFilm. The function detectRings detects tree rings using wood density profiles as input. This function uses the difference between local maximum and minimum values to identify tree-ring borders automatically. The correctRings function is used to call a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to visualize and to correct tree-ring borders manually. After correcting tree-ring borders, the detectEwLw function is used to compute earlywood and latewood widths by dividing rings according to relative intra-ring density changes. The getDensity function computes for each tree ring the minimum (maximum) density and the mean earlywood, latewood and whole-ring density. Finally, a list with dataframes with tree-ring width and density variables can be obtained using the function getRwls. One of the major advantages of xRing package is that requires little knowledge of R language, but at the same time it can be easily changed or adapted by experienced users.     

Dry/wet variations in the eastern Tien Shan (China) since AD 1725 based on Schrenk spruce (Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey) tree rings

Cores of Schrenk spruce from seven sites of eastern Tien Shan were used to develop a regional tree-ring chronology to extend the climate record. We developed an August–July Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) reconstruction that spans AD 1725–2013 based on the regional tree-ring chronology. The reconstruction model accounts for 45.3% of the SPEI variance from 1959 to 2013. The SPEI reconstruction agrees reasonably well with the dry and wet periods previously estimated from tree rings in northern Xinjiang. The correlation analysis revealed that temperature plays an important role in regional drought variability, and some extreme wet years also coincide with the volcanic eruptions.     

Tree-ring distinctness,dating potential and climatic sensitivity of laurel forest tree species in Tenerife Island

Macaronesian laurel forests are the only remnants of a subtropical palaeoecosystem dominant during the Tertiary in Europe and northern Africa. These biodiverse ecosystems are restricted to cloudy and temperate insular environments in the North Atlantic Ocean. Due to their reduced distribution area, these forests are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances and changes in climatic conditions. The assessment of laurel forest trees’ response to climate variation by dendrochronological methods is limited because it was assumed that the lack of marked seasonality would prevent the formation of distinct annual tree rings. The aims of this study were to identify the presence of annual growth rings and to assess the dendrochronological potential of the most representative tree species from laurel forests in Tenerife, Canary Islands. We sampled increment cores from 498 trees of 12 species in two well-preserved forests in Tenerife Island. We evaluated tree-ring boundary distinctness, dating potential, and sensitivity of tree-ring growth to climate and, particularly, to drought occurrence. Eight species showed clear tree-ring boundaries, but synchronic annual tree rings and robust tree-ring chronologies were only obtained for Laurus novocanariensis, Ilex perado subsp. platyphylla, Persea indica and Picconia excelsa, a third of the studied species. Tree-ring width depended on water balance and drought occurrence, showing sharp reductions in growth in the face of decreased water availability, a response that was consistent among species and sites. Inter-annual tree-ring width variation was directly dependent on rainfall input in the humid period, from previous October to current April. The four negative pointer years 1995, 1999, 2008 and 2012 corresponded to severe drought events in the study area. This study gives the first assessment of dendrochronological potential and tree-ring climate sensitivity of tree species from the Tenerife laurel forest, which opens new research avenues for dendroecological studies in Macaronesian laurel forests.     

Growth response of Sabina tibetica to climate factors along an elevation gradient in south Tibet

We examine the climate significance in tree-ring chronologies retrieved from Sabina tibetica Kom. (Tibetan juniper) at two sites ranging in elevation from 4124 to 4693 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the Namling region, south Tibet. The study region is under the control of semi-arid plateau temperate climate. The samples were grouped into high- and low-elevation classes and standard ring-width chronologies for both classes were developed. Statistical analysis revealed a decreasing growth rate yet increasing chronology reliability with increasing elevation. Overall, correlation analyses showed that radial growth in S. tibetica at the study sites was controlled by similar climatic factors, regardless of elevation; these factors comprised early winter (November) and early summer (May–June) temperatures as well as annual precipitation (July–June). Slight differences in the correlation between tree growth along the elevation gradient and climate variables were examined. The correlations with early winter temperature varied from significantly positive at the low-elevation site to weakly positive at the high-elevation site, whereas the correlations between radial growth and early summer temperature increased from weakly negative at the low-elevation sites to strongly negative at the high-elevation sites. The abundant precipitation through the year may have masked variations in tree growth on different elevation aspects. Our results will aid future dendroclimatological studies of Namling tree rings in south Tibet and demonstrate the potential of S. tibetica Kom. for improving our understanding of environmental impacts on tree growth.     

13CO2 pulse-labelling of photoassimilates reveals carbon allocation within and between tree rings

Post-photosynthetic fractionation processes during translocation, storage and remobilization of photoassimilate are closely related to intra-annual sigma13C of tree rings, and understanding how these processes affect tree-ring sigma13C is therefore indispensable for improving the quality of climate reconstruction. Our first objective was to study the relationship between translocation path and phloem grain. We pulse-labelled a branch of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. and later analysed the sigma13C distribution in the stem. A 13C spiral translocation path closely related to the spiral grain was observed. Our second objective was to study the use of remobilized storage material for earlywood formation in spring, which is a suspected cause of the autocorrelation (correlation of ring parameters to the climate in the previous year) observed in (isotope) dendroclimatology. We pulse-labelled whole trees to study how spring, summer and autumn photoassimilate is later used for both earlywood and latewood formation. Analysis of intra-annual sigma13C of the tree rings formed after the labelling revealed that earlywood contained photoassimilate from the previous summer and autumn as well as from the current spring. Latewood was mainly composed of photoassimilate from the current year's summer/autumn, although it also relied on stored material in some cases. These results emphasize the need for separating earlywood and latewood for climate reconstruction work with narrow boreal tree rings.     

亚洲树轮平均敏感度分布特征及其影响因素

树轮敏感度是指示树轮对气候变化敏感程度的重要统计参数,研究大尺度树木敏感度的分布特征及其影响因素有助于理解树木生长和气候的相互关系.本文使用来自国际树轮库(ITRDB)的573条树轮宽度记录,研究亚洲树轮敏感度的分布特征及可能的影响因素.结果表明: 在干旱地区和温度较低的区域,树木的平均敏感度更高,降水对敏感度的影响强于温度.平均敏感度随海拔的上升表现出下降-上升-下降的波动变化.这种波动与降水随着海拔表现的上升-下降-上升的变化相吻合,说明海拔变化导致的降水改变可能是导致平均敏感度变化的重要因素之一.不同树种生理性状的差异导致其敏感度差异较大,祁连圆柏、西藏白皮松等阳生树种由于耐旱性而具有更高的敏感度,而阴生树种如云杉属和冷杉属则敏感度较低;老龄树可能具有更高的敏感度.     

Hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of tree ring cellulose for field-grown riparian trees

The isotopic composition of tree ring cellulose was obtained over a 2-year period from small-diameter riparian-zone trees at field sites that differed in source water isotopic composition and humidity. The sites were located in Utah (cool and low humidity), Oregon (cool and high humidity), and Arizona (warm and low humidity) with source water isotope ratio values of –125/–15‰ (δD/δ¹⁸O), –48/–6‰, and –67/–7‰, respectively. Monthly environmental measurements included temperature and humidity along with measurements of the isotope ratios in atmospheric water vapor, stream, stem, and leaf water. Small riparian trees used only stream water (both δD and δ¹⁸O of stem and stream water did not differ), but δ values of both atmospheric water vapor and leaf water varied substantially between months. Differences in ambient temperature and humidity conditions between sites contributed to substantial differences in leaf water evaporative enrichment. These leaf water differences resulted in differences in the δD and δ¹⁸O values of tree ring cellulose, indicating that humidity information was recorded in the annual rings of trees. These environmental and isotopic measurements were used to test a mechanistic model of the factors contributing to δD and δ¹⁸O values in tree ring cellulose. The model was tested in two parts: (a) a leaf water model using environmental information to predict leaf water evaporative enrichment and (b) a model describing biochemical fractionation events and isotopic exchange with medium water. The models adequately accounted for field observations of both leaf water and tree ring cellulose, indicating that the model parameterization from controlled experiments was robust even under uncontrolled and variable field conditions. Received: 7 April 1999 / Accepted: 8 December 1999     

An oxygen isotope chronometer for cellulose deposition: the successive leaves formed by tillers of a C4 perennial grass

Multiannual time series of (palaeo)hydrological information can be reconstructed from the oxygen isotope composition of cellulose (δ¹⁸O_Cel) in biological archives, for example, tree rings, but our ability to temporally resolve information at subannual scale is limited. We capitalized on the short and predictable leaf appearance interval (2.4 d) of a perennial C₄ grass (Cleistogenes squarrosa), to assess its potential for providing highly time‐resolved δ¹⁸O_Cel records of vapour pressure deficit (VPD). Plants grown at low (0.63 kPa) or high (1.58 kPa) VPD were swapped between VPD environments and exposed to the new environment for 7 d with simultaneous ¹³CO₂ labelling. Then, leaves were sampled by age/position along individual tillers. Five leaves at different developmental stages were growing simultaneously. The period of most‐active leaf elongation, from 10 to 90% of final length, lasted 6.6 d, and ~80% of all carbon and oxygen incorporation in whole‐leaf cellulose occurred within 7 d. Cellulose deposition stopped at (or shortly after) full leaf expansion. The direction of change, low‐to‐high or high‐to‐low VPD, had no differential effect on new oxygen and carbon incorporation in cellulose. Successive leaves produced by tillers of C. squarrosa provide a δ¹⁸O_Cel record useful for reconstructions of short‐term hydrological dynamics.     

A lonely dot on the map: Exploring the climate signal in tree-ring density and stable isotopes of clanwilliam cedar,South Africa

Clanwilliam cedar (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis; WICE), a long-lived conifer with distinct tree rings in Cape Province, South Africa, has potential to provide a unique high-resolution climate proxy for southern Africa. However, the climate signal in WICE tree-ring width (TRW) is weak and the dendroclimatic potential of other WICE tree-ring parameters therefore needs to be explored. Here, we investigate the climatic signal in various tree-ring parameters, including TRW, Minimum Density (MND), Maximum Latewood Density (MXD), Maximum Latewood Blue Intensity (MXBI), and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) measured in WICE samples collected in 1978. MND was negatively influenced by early spring (October-November) precipitation whereas TRW was positively influenced by spring November-December precipitation. MXD was negatively influenced by autumn (April-May) temperature whereas MXBI was not influenced by temperature. Both MXD and MXBI were negatively influenced by January-March and January-May precipitation respectively. We did not find a significant climate signal in either of the stable isotope time series, which were measured on a limited number of samples. WICE can live to be at least 356 years old and the current TRW chronology extends back to 1564 CE. The development of full-length chronologies of alternative tree-ring parameters, particularly MND, would allow for an annually resolved, multi-century spring precipitation reconstruction for this region in southern Africa, where vulnerability to future climate change is high.