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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

A Technical Perspective in Modern Tree-ring Research - How to Overcome Dendroecological and Wood Anatomical Challenges
Published on: March 5, 2015
Monitoring wood phenology using dendrometers: opportunities and pitfalls
Ignatius Kristia Adikurnia1, Cyrille B K Rathgeber2
1Department of Material and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia.
Abstract:
Numerous studies have investigated the impact of climate change on tree growth and carbon sequestration, exploring the effect of climatic factors on the onset and cessation of wood formation. Some studies used microcores for histological observations of xylem, while many others used dendrometer recordings to infer stem growth. However, the reliability of dendrometers in providing accurate estimates of growth phenology has yet to be fully assessed. We compared the phenology estimated using dendrometer- and microcore-based approaches for six tree species growing in contrasted site conditions and exhibiting contrasted tree-ring structures (non-porous, diffuse-porous and ring-porous) and bark types (smooth, scaled, fissured). Our results show that dendrometer estimate accuracy is poor and varied according to several factors, including species life traits, climate and site conditions. These results highlight the limitations of dendrometers in evaluating wood phenology in trees, and advocate for the concurrent monitoring of xylogenesis.
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