Collaborative Research: Annual Rings in the Tropical Tree Hymenaea Courbaril--Determination by 14C and Climatic Interpretation

University Of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz CA

Investigators

Abstract

This award is to support research that will determine whether tree rings in the tropical hardwood species Hymenaea courbaril represent annual growth rings. Field work will be undertaken to collect samples of Hymenaea courbaril from localities where short instrumental records are available for calibration. Isotopic analyses and and visual and computer assisted methods of cross dating will be used to determine the growth history of this species. The broader impacts of this proposed research are that, if the growth rings are determined to be annual, a pan-tropic taxon will be available for dendrochronology and climatologic studies of tropical terrestrial environments.