Radial Growth of Dahurian Larch at the Upper Altitude Limit in the Western Part of the Putorana Plateau

Studying the growth of woody plants is extremely important due to the need to assess the response of vegetation to the ongoing climate change, especially in the mountainous regions of the Subarctic, where an increase in surface air temperature has been observed in recent decades. This paper presents the results of a study of the radial growth patterns of Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) at four altitudinal levels of the forest — mountain tundra ecotone on the Putorana Plateau slopes of western and eastern exposures. A comparative analysis of the radial growth magnitude and dynamics of trees belonging to 4 different age groups in forest stands of different density and altitudinal position was carried out. It was found that the radial increment's sensitivity was higher in older trees, indicating that climatic factors had the greatest impact on their growth. It was discovered that young trees of the same age at higher hypsometric levels had higher morphometric characteristics values compared to those growing down the slope in more closed-up stands. The results of the study showed that intraspecific competition under these conditions had a greater impact on the growth of young trees than climatic factors. It was found that, while the climatic conditions in the study area underwent general improvement, no increase in the width of annual rings was observed in adult trees in recent decades. It was found that morphometric parameters and the width of annual rings in young trees had greater values on slopes of the eastern rather than the western exposure.