Climatic Signal in Earlywood and Latewood in Conifer Forests in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Tree ring analysis reveals that the growth of conifer species Abies religiosa and Pinus pseudostrobus in Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is highly sensitive to seasonal climate variations. Precipitation during late autumn (October-December) and spring (January-May) positively influences their growth, while higher mean maximum temperatures negatively impact it. Notably, A. religiosa shows greater sensitivity to temperature changes compared to P. pseudostrobus, with its earlywood and latewood growth positively correlated with monthly minimum temperatures. The study suggests that future warmer and drier climates could severely reduce the growth of A. religiosa, potentially threatening the overwintering habitat of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.). This research underscores the vulnerability of these conifer forests to climate change, highlighting their ecological importance.

Carlón-Allende, T., Villanueva-Díaz, J., Mendoza, M. E., & Pérez-Salicrup, D. R. (2018). Climatic Signal in Earlywood and Latewood in Conifer Forests in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Tree-Ring Research, 74(1), 63–75. https://doi.org/10.3959/1536-1098-74.1.63