RESPONSE OF SCOTS PINE (Pinus sylvestris L.) TO CLIMATIC CHANGES IN THE FOREST-STEPPE CONDITIONS OF BAYANAUL NATIONAL PARK

Abstract

An analysis of the relationship between the radial growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and key climatic variables (air temperature and precipitation) was conducted under arid conditions in the forest-steppe zone of Northeastern Kazakhstan, within the territory of Bayanaul State National Nature Park. It was found that high air temperatures in May and June are the primary limiting factors for the earlywood growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Additionally, the growth of Scots pine was shown to depend on the amount of precipitation during the current growing season. The chronology of Bayanaul National Park can be considered relatively insensitive to external environmental factors, as indicated by a sensitivity coefficient of 2.8. Furthermore, a high first-order autocorrelation value (≥ 0.50) highlights the influence of past climatic conditions on the current annual growth of Scots pine.