Frontiers in tree-ring research at the interface of archaeology, climatology and ecology

Annually resolved and absolutely dated tree ring-based climate reconstructions form a scientific backbone of the ongoing global change debate (i.e. dendroclimatology), and effects of climate variability on forest ecosystem productivity and functioning can be best estimated from different tree-ring parameters (e.g. ring width, wood anatomy, chemistry and density, stable isotopes), among various spatiotemporal scales (i.e. dendroecology). In this presentation, I will, however, not only exhibit the potential of modern tree-ring research that often benefits from massive sample replication, but I will also emphasize data-related and methodological-induced limitations. In this regard, I will stress drawbacks in our understanding of past climate variability at multi-centennial to millennial time-scales, with a particular emphasis on historical drought estimates. Moreover, I will advocate for interdisciplinary approaches including aspects of archaeology, climatology and ecology, which consequently should apply innovative statistical techniques and consider wood anatomical characteristics. Finally, I will provide timely examples of dendrochronological contributions beyond their traditional research foci, where information preserved in different tree-ring parameters might be able to offer additional insight into biological, epidemiological, mycological and even oceanographic forefront investigations.