Dendroclimatic analysis and cartographic modeling of the climatic response of Fagus sylvatica during growth in a sector of the central Cantabrian Mountains

The wide distribution of the common beech (Fagus sylvatica) in Europe reveals its great adaptation to diverse conditions temperature and humidity. This interesting aspect explains context main objective this work: carry out a dendroclimatic analysis species Fagus sylvatica Polaciones valley (Cantabria), an area transition with environmental from characteristic Atlantic type more Mediterranean, at southern limit growth. methodology developed is based on 25 local chronologies growth rings sampled different altitudes along valley, generating reference chronology for study area. Subsequently, patterns response climatic variations are estimated through correlation function, most significant monthly variables annual obtained. Finally, these introduced into Geographic Information System (GIS) where they cartographically modeled altitudinal gradient multivariate analysis, taking account geographic topographic that influence zonal variability response. results analyses cartographic models show which determinant according considered.