XVI International Botanical Congess

Dendrochronology, also called tree-ring dating, is the study of the chronological sequence of annual growth rings in trees. While studying these sequences, one can gain a better understanding of the history of an area, such as fire occurrences and climatic changes, and be able to develop more efficient and ecological management techniques. Also, if an area has an extensive fire history, fire management techniques can be developed to deal with possible high fire risk sites. The purpose of this study is to conduct a tree-ring analysis of Old Nations Ranch in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. Two species of pine were examined: Pinus cembroides and P. ponderosa. The data collected was used to create a climatic history of the area and then compared with available historical data to create a historical record of Old Nations Ranch.