Methods of dendrochronology by means of incremental coring
have been refined in this study for specific use in northern
California riparian floodplains. Little information is available
on riparian dendrochronology because of the challenges of
analyzing riparian tree species. Three dominant tree species
(Alnus rubra, Umbellularia californica, Acer macrophyllum)
in the floodplain of Redwood Creek were evaluated for the
relationship between age and diameter at breast height (DBH)
using a least squares linear regression analysis. Through this
study, complications with analysis for the riparian tree species
led to a more thorough investigation as to enhancing core
quality and annual growth ring visibility. As methods of coring
and ring enhancement were refined, core quality and analysis
improved. The correlation of determination for both red alder
and California bay laurel were strong (R2= 0.957; R2= 0.982,
respectively). Strong R2 values suggest DBH can be determined
for red alder and California bay laurel using the specific linear
regression equations for each species. Linear regression model
of Bigleaf maple had a lower correlation determination value
(R2=0.452). Big leaf maple regression models may increase in
R2 value with more sampling. Linear regression equations for
these red alder and California bay laurel are suitable across
the watershed to simplify dendrochronology by requiring only
measured diameter of trees. Regression equations from this
study informed restoration planning of the age floodplains in
the lower reaches of the Redwood Creek watershed, obviating
other more destructive and expensive means of dating habitat.
Future restoration projects in this watershed may apply this
refined method for these species to gather pertinent historical
information of environmental conditions. The equations may
also be applicable to red alder and California bay laurel in other
watersheds with similar environmental conditions, requiring only
a few tree core samples to determine applicability. The refined
dendrochronology method may also improve tree coring of other
tree species with similar wood anatomy.
","abstract_html":"<p>Methods of dendrochronology by means of incremental coring</p> <p>have been refined in this study for specific use in northern</p> <p>California riparian floodplains. Little information is available</p> <p>on riparian dendrochronology because of the challenges of</p> <p>analyzing riparian tree species. Three dominant tree species</p> <p>(Alnus rubra, Umbellularia californica, Acer macrophyllum)</p> <p>in the floodplain of Redwood Creek were evaluated for the</p> <p>relationship between age and diameter at breast height (DBH)</p> <p>using a least squares linear regression analysis. Through this</p> <p>study, complications with analysis for the riparian tree species</p> <p>led to a more thorough investigation as to enhancing core</p> <p>quality and annual growth ring visibility. As methods of coring</p> <p>and ring enhancement were refined, core quality and analysis</p> <p>improved. The correlation of determination for both red alder</p> <p>and California bay laurel were strong (R2= 0.957; R2= 0.982,</p> <p>respectively). Strong R2 values suggest DBH can be determined</p> <p>for red alder and California bay laurel using the specific linear</p> <p>regression equations for each species. Linear regression model</p> <p>of Bigleaf maple had a lower correlation determination value</p> <p>(R2=0.452). Big leaf maple regression models may increase in</p> <p>R2 value with more sampling. Linear regression equations for</p> <p>these red alder and California bay laurel are suitable across</p> <p>the watershed to simplify dendrochronology by requiring only</p> <p>measured diameter of trees. Regression equations from this</p> <p>study informed restoration planning of the age floodplains in</p> <p>the lower reaches of the Redwood Creek watershed, obviating</p> <p>other more destructive and expensive means of dating habitat.</p> <p>Future restoration projects in this watershed may apply this</p> <p>refined method for these species to gather pertinent historical</p> <p>information of environmental conditions. The equations may</p> <p>also be applicable to red alder and California bay laurel in other</p> <p>watersheds with similar environmental conditions, requiring only</p> <p>a few tree core samples to determine applicability. The refined</p> <p>dendrochronology method may also improve tree coring of other</p> <p>tree species with similar wood anatomy.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Barry, Devin"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)","degree_level":"Project/Capstone - Global access","degree_discipline":"Environmental Management","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Gretchen C. Coffman"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-05-13T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-05-13T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:42:50Z","subjects":["dendrochronology","riparian","DBH","red alder","California bay laurel","tree core","Environmental Monitoring","Natural Resources and Conservation","Natural Resources Management and Policy","Other Environmental Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/27","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Gretchen C. Coffman"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Barry, Devin"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["1970-01-01T11:36:18Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Environmental Management"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Project/Capstone - Global access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["dendrochronology","riparian","DBH","red alder","California bay laurel","tree core","Environmental Monitoring","Natural Resources and Conservation","Natural Resources Management and Policy","Other Environmental Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/27"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Methods of dendrochronology by means of incremental coring
have been refined in this study for specific use in northern
California riparian floodplains. Little information is available
on riparian dendrochronology because of the challenges of
analyzing riparian tree species. Three dominant tree species
(Alnus rubra, Umbellularia californica, Acer macrophyllum)
in the floodplain of Redwood Creek were evaluated for the
relationship between age and diameter at breast height (DBH)
using a least squares linear regression analysis. Through this
study, complications with analysis for the riparian tree species
led to a more thorough investigation as to enhancing core
quality and annual growth ring visibility. As methods of coring
and ring enhancement were refined, core quality and analysis
improved. The correlation of determination for both red alder
and California bay laurel were strong (R2= 0.957; R2= 0.982,
respectively). Strong R2 values suggest DBH can be determined
for red alder and California bay laurel using the specific linear
regression equations for each species. Linear regression model
of Bigleaf maple had a lower correlation determination value
(R2=0.452). Big leaf maple regression models may increase in
R2 value with more sampling. Linear regression equations for
these red alder and California bay laurel are suitable across
the watershed to simplify dendrochronology by requiring only
measured diameter of trees. Regression equations from this
study informed restoration planning of the age floodplains in
the lower reaches of the Redwood Creek watershed, obviating
other more destructive and expensive means of dating habitat.
Future restoration projects in this watershed may apply this
refined method for these species to gather pertinent historical
information of environmental conditions. The equations may
also be applicable to red alder and California bay laurel in other
watersheds with similar environmental conditions, requiring only
a few tree core samples to determine applicability. The refined
dendrochronology method may also improve tree coring of other
tree species with similar wood anatomy.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Refining dendrochronology to evaluate the relationship between age and diameter for dominant riparian trees in the Redwood Creek watershed"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Gretchen C. Coffman"],"dc:creator":["Barry, Devin"],"dc:date.available":["1970-01-01T11:36:18Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Methods of dendrochronology by means of incremental coring
have been refined in this study for specific use in northern
California riparian floodplains. Little information is available
on riparian dendrochronology because of the challenges of
analyzing riparian tree species. Three dominant tree species
(Alnus rubra, Umbellularia californica, Acer macrophyllum)
in the floodplain of Redwood Creek were evaluated for the
relationship between age and diameter at breast height (DBH)
using a least squares linear regression analysis. Through this
study, complications with analysis for the riparian tree species
led to a more thorough investigation as to enhancing core
quality and annual growth ring visibility. As methods of coring
and ring enhancement were refined, core quality and analysis
improved. The correlation of determination for both red alder
and California bay laurel were strong (R2= 0.957; R2= 0.982,
respectively). Strong R2 values suggest DBH can be determined
for red alder and California bay laurel using the specific linear
regression equations for each species. Linear regression model
of Bigleaf maple had a lower correlation determination value
(R2=0.452). Big leaf maple regression models may increase in
R2 value with more sampling. Linear regression equations for
these red alder and California bay laurel are suitable across
the watershed to simplify dendrochronology by requiring only
measured diameter of trees. Regression equations from this
study informed restoration planning of the age floodplains in
the lower reaches of the Redwood Creek watershed, obviating
other more destructive and expensive means of dating habitat.
Future restoration projects in this watershed may apply this
refined method for these species to gather pertinent historical
information of environmental conditions. The equations may
also be applicable to red alder and California bay laurel in other
watersheds with similar environmental conditions, requiring only
a few tree core samples to determine applicability. The refined
dendrochronology method may also improve tree coring of other
tree species with similar wood anatomy.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/27"],"dc:subject":["dendrochronology","riparian","DBH","red alder","California bay laurel","tree core","Environmental Monitoring","Natural Resources and Conservation","Natural Resources Management and Policy","Other Environmental Sciences"],"dc:title":["Refining dendrochronology to evaluate the relationship between age and diameter for dominant riparian trees in the Redwood Creek watershed"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Environmental Management"],"thesis:degree_level":["Project/Capstone - Global access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:42:50Z"}