Literature Review of Dendrochronology Research in Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Abstract

Dendrochronology, the study of tree-rings to help understand events of the past, is a growing body of research that has become well-established in scientific literature within the last century. Oklahoma is a distinct resource to dendrochronology as it exists at the eastern deciduous forests and western prairies/grasslands transition. The extent of dendrochronological research conducted in Oklahoma has not yet been determined. A literature review was performed to catalogue and quantify dendrochronological research for Oklahoma. Thirty-seven written works were identified ranging through years 1923 to 2018. Nine research topics were developed to aid publication synthesis, with climate reconstruction, fire history, and stand dynamics being the most frequently encountered topics. Reviewed publications indicated that humans and climate, specifically drought, largely impacted Oklahoma forests historically, and remain a current threat. Results provide a detailed resource of dendrochronological applications within Oklahoma that spans the past century. Presented literature can be referenced for future Oklahoma dendrochronology studies, with presented knowledge also benefiting studies of similar forest types elsewhere.