Influence of Climatic Changes on the Dendrochronological Features of Tugai Forests along the Syr Darya and Ili Rivers in the Territory of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Tugai forests, unique island plant communities, are intricately linked to the activities of specific river systems. Anthropogenic degradation of Central Asian Tugai forests is primarily attributed to the regulation of river flow. This study seeks to illuminate the impacts of climatic changes on the dendrochronological characteristics of certain Tugai flora. A critical assessment of the tree-ring chronology of Populus diversifolia, found in the floodplains of the Syr Darya and Ili Rivers, reveals a sensitivity to extant regional climate changes. This is manifested as an increasing trend in the annual ring width over calendar time, mirroring rising trends in air temperature and precipitation observed over recent decades. Consequently, Populus diversifolia may serve as a viable indicator of long-term climatic changes.