Regional Drought Conditions Control Quercus brantii Lindl. Growth within Contrasting Forest Stands in the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran

The magnitude and duration of ongoing global warming affects tree growth, especially in semi-arid forest landscapes, which are typically dominated by a few adapted species. We investigated the effect climatic control on growth Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.), is dominant species Central Zagros Mountains western Iran. A total 48 stem discs was analyzed from trees at three sites, differing local site stand conditions (1326 to 1704 m a.s.l.), as well level type human impact (high intervention for silvopastoral site, moderate agroforestry low site). used principal component analysis (PCA) investigate common signals precipitation, air temperature, drought (represented SPEI 1 months) across chronologies. PC1 explains 83% variance, indicating response regional that independent environmental (i.e., density land-use type). Growth–climate analyses revealed radial Q. positively affected water availability during growing season (r = 0.39, p < 0.01). Precipitation April May has played an ever-important role recent decades. Our study provides evidence hydroclimatic tree-ring formation this region, dominating effects topography impact. This finding highlights great potential combining historical samples living different stands order generate multi-centennial tree-ring-based hydroclimate reconstructions.