High-fidelity representation of climate variations by Amburana cearensis tree-ring chronologies across a tropical forest transition in South America

Numerous ring-width chronologies from different species have recently been developed in diverse tropical forests across South America. However, the temporal and spatial climate signals these is less well known. In this work, annual growth rings of Amburana cearensis, a widely distributed tree species, were employed to estimate patterns variability transition dry Chiquitano (16–17°S) humid Guarayos-southern Amazon (14–15°S) forests. Four well-replicated (16–21 trees, 22–28 radii) A. cearensis compared with temperature precipitation records available region. The interannual variations all four tree-ring are positively correlated negatively during late dry-early wet season, classic moisture response seen trees temperate worldwide. southern Bolivia reflect regional reduction recent decades, while lowland moist north capture increase basin. These results indicate that not only sensitive balance growing it can also record subtle differences trends forest transition. Comparisons previously Centrolobium microchaete region reveal substantial common signal between similar environments, suggesting major drivers along gradient. difficulty finding over 150-years old main limitation involved paleoclimate application species. expansion monocultures intensive cattle ranching American tropics contributing loss valuable change they contain.