The Climate-Growth Relationship between Picea smithiana (Wall.) Boiss. and Abies pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Royle along the Latitudinal Gradient in Northern Pakistan

A changing climate and global warming have adversely affected Pakistan’s moist dry temperate vegetation. Abies pindrow (fir) (Royle ex D.Don) Royle Picea smithiana (spruce) Wall.) Boiss are the two major representative species of forests in Northern Pakistan. The dendroclimatic study both is crucial for assessment variability at various spatial temporal scales. This examined dendroclimatology fir spruce, analyzed growth–climate relationship along latitudinal gradient. Two hundred nineteen samples (ring cores) were collected from five different sites (Shogran (SHG), Upper Dir (UDS), Bahrain Swat (BSG), Astore Gilgit (NPKA), Sharan Kaghan (SHA)) cores cross-dated, chronologies generated climatic data (precipitation, temperature, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI)) correlated with radial growth. interspecies correlations calculated as 0.54, 0.49, 0.52, 0.60, 0.48 SHG, UDS, BSG, NPKA, SHA, respectively, whereas case 0.44 0.55 0.49 BSG. Climate was observed species, which showed significant drought humid years specific intervals. With respect to correlation between tree-ring width factors, a positive growth summer season precipitation, mean PDSI spring, summer, autumn seasons. Similarly, spruce positively precipitation (in February, September, May) seasons); however, no monthly temperature seasonal change negative after 1980, following rapid warming. During winter coefficient an initial upward trend followed by progressive decrease increasing latitude. Seasonal variations regarding latitude (increasing winter; decreasing spring summer; increase then autumn). In same way, trends latitude, except season.