Influence de l'altitude, de l'exposition et du climat sur la croissance du pin à crochets (Pinus uncinata Ram.) en Cerdagne (Pyrénées orientales françaises)

Abstract

A dendroecological study was carried out on mountain Pine (Pinus uncinata Ram.) in the French Cerdagne (Pyrénées Orientales). It permits to analyze the influence of three environmental factors: the altitude, the exposure and the climate. 175 dominant trees were sampled between 1780 and 2120 meters on north and south slopes. At the same altitude, the pines on north facing slope are four meters higher than those growing on south slope. However, a detailed analysis of 12874 tree-rings demonstrates that the radial growth is faster on the south slope. On such exposure, the basal area of the hundred years old trees increases 43 % higher than on north slope. Both forests show a similar high mean sensitivity. However, slight differences appear on the climatical response. The rainfall plays a more important part on south exposure, whereas the snow reduces the growth on north slopes. Moreover, the influence of the temperatures is greater than those of the precipitations. Warm spring temperatures are more efficient in the South, while the North is more influenced by the temperatures in autumn.