The Inter-Annual Growth Characteristics of Rhododendron spp. Shrubs in Mt. Halla, Jeju Island, Korea Based on Their Tree Rings

The Rhododendron spp. (R. yedoense and R. mucronulatum) at high elevations of Mt. Halla in Jeju Island are the dominant species shrubland. Despite recent damage to their growth due climate change spread Sasa spp., these have not yet been studied systematically Korea. Therefore, current study aimed verify effect abiotic factors, e.g., temperature precipitation, as a neighbor on based ring-width measurement data. In addition, death years were dated using cross-dating method developed dendrochronology by comparing individual time series from dead with corresponding chronology established living trees. For study, disk samples obtained 11 10 mucronulatum, respectively, establish tree-ring series. To investigate years, six also collected each shrub species. relatively occurrence missing or discontinuous rings is characteristic shrubs, which makes analysis difficult. Through cross-dating, it was verified that mucronulatum 4.3% 5.3% and/or (the total number rings/the tree rings), respectively. All shrubs successfully synchronization chronologies cross-dated series; nine died 2010s other two 1996 2001, Most deaths occurred when quelpaertensis dominantly occupied sites. From relationships between residual bioclimate predictors (BioClim), only showed reliable correlations Bio5 (maximum warmest month) +0.28 (p < 0.05) Bio18 (precipitation quarter) −0.33 0.05). This result means summer limiting factor for mucronulatum. this Korea can be used research rings.