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SOME PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF CLIMATIC STUDIES BASED ON TWO PINE TREE SPECIES OF HIMALAYAN AREA OF PAKISTAN

MOINUDDIN AHMED, MUHAMMAD WAHAB, NASRULLAH KHAN, JONATHAN PALMER, KANWAL NAZIM, MUHAMMAD UZAIR KHAN AND MUHAMMAD FAHEEM SIDDIQUI^*

Abstract: Standardized ring-width chronologies of Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson and Pinus gerardiana Wall. ex Lamb., are presented, covering maximum period from AD 1300-2000 and 1400-2000AD respectively. These chronologies are based on highly correlated (0.636) and cross-matchable wood samples. Response function analysis was used to investigate the climatic signals in these chronologies. Both response function analysis were statistically significant at p<0.05 level. Kalash response function showed 40% while Astore explained 22% variance due to climate. It is shown that though both sampling area fall under dry temperate area, good growth in Pinus wallichiana (Astore) is associated with hot and dry conditions, while reverse is the case with Pinus gerardiana (Kalash). However, despite these differences, both species showed some similar effects, responses and trends. Therefore it may be concluded that both species are suitable for paleoclimatic reconstruction back to at least 500 years. It is also suggested that more and detailed investigations are required before making concrete conclusion and reconstruction of past climatic variations.

Laboratory of Dendrochronology and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi 75300, Pakistan

^*Department of Botany, Govt. Degree Science/Commerce College, Landhi/Korangi, Karachi, Pakistan

Gondwana Tree-Ring Laboratory, Christchurch, New Zealand