Climate-Driven Differences in Growth Performance of Cohabitant Fir and Birch in a Subalpine Forest in Dhorpatan Nepal

Himalayan Silver Fir (Abies spectabilis) and Birch (Betula utilis) are tree species often found coexisting in sub-alpine forests of the Nepal Himalayas. To assess species-specific growth performances these species, tree-ring samples were collected from subalpine forest Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal. Standard ring width chronologies both correlated with climatic variables static running windows. Differential contrasting temporal responses radial to climate found. Warmer drier springs appeared limit birch growth. Whereas fir showed weakened sensitivity. Moving correlation analyses revealed divergent influences spring on birch. Significant warming that occurred 1970s coincided declines an increase fir, as indicated by basal area increment. In summary, recent has been unfavorable for birch, favorable