title: Climate response among growth increments of fish and trees.
abstract: Significant correlations were found among the annual growth increments of stream fish, trees, and climate variables in the Ozark region of the United States. The variation in annual growth increments of rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) from the Jacks Fork River was significantly correlated over 22 years with the ring width of four tree species: white oak (Quercus alba), post oak (Quercus stellata), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) and eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Rock bass growth and tree growth were both significantly correlated with July rainfall and stream discharge. Variations in annual growth of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from four streams were significantly correlated over 29 years (1939-1968) with mean May maximum air temperature but not with tree growth. The magnitude and significance of correlations among growth increments from fish and trees imply that conditions such as topography, stream gradient, organism age, and the distribution of a population relative to its geographic range can influence the climatic response of an organism. The timing and intensity of climatic variables may produce different responses among closely related species.
authors.affiliation: The school of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 1-30 Agriculture Building, 65211, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Guyette
authors.affiliation: National Biological Service, Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Missouri, 112 Stephens Hall, 65211, Columbia, Mo, USA.
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Rabeni
keywords: Climate change; Dendroehronology; Ecosystem; Rock bass; Smallmouth bass