Oak mast history from dendrochronology : a new technique demonstrated in the southern Appalachian region

Author

James Hardy Speer, University of Tennessee

Date of Award

12-2001

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Geography

Major Professor

Kenneth H. Orvis

Committee Members

Sally P. Horn, Carol B. Harden, Henri D. Grissino-Mayer, Hazel R. Delcourt

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to develop a technique for mast reconstruction using dendrochronology. During this work I collected cores from 845 individual trees from white (Quercus alba), chestnut (Q. prinus), northern red (Q. rubra), black (Q. velutina), and scarlet oaks (Q. coccinea), at 17 sites in the southern Appalachians. I identified five basic steps that are necessary for mast reconstruction. 1) Crossdate the tree-ring series; 2) Standardize the series with a flexible cubic smoothing spline; 3) Use multiple regression to remove climate; 4) Use simple linear regression between the climate residuals and a known mast record to define a regression equation; 5) Use the regression equation to reconstruct mast beyond the scope of the known mast record.

Recommended Citation

Speer, James Hardy, "Oak mast history from dendrochronology : a new technique demonstrated in the southern Appalachian region. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2001.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/6386