PRELIMINARY DENDROECOLOGICAL SURVEY ON PEDUNCULATE OAK (QUERCUS-ROBUR L) STANDS IN TUSCANY (ITALY)

This paper studies the influence of climate on pedunculate oak radial growth in some stands of central Mediterranean Italy. Three populations growing along the course of the River Arno were selected. Core samples were measured, and their growth curves standardized and modellized, in order to isolate the climate signal. The response functions were calculated by orthogonal regression of the variables of the tree ring (dependent variables) and the climate (explicative variables). This paper provides an eco-physiological analysis of the results, This study helps us understand how the ecotype of the pedunculate oak has adapted to a Mediterranean climate where water supply is a strong limiting factor.