DENDROECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CORDIA-ALLIODORA, PSEUDOBOMBAX-SEPTENATUM AND ANNONA-SPRAGUEI IN CENTRAL PANAMA

Several plant communities in central Panama, each community located ne ar a weather station, contain trees with annual growth rings, i. e. Co rdia alliodora, Pseudobombax septenatum, and Annona spraguei. Tree-rin g data are particularly valuable when concomitant weather information is readily available. Patterns of growth for the above species of tree s were investigated across central Panama in relation to climate. A li near aggregate climate model was fitted to chronologies of each specie s at three sites along a rainfall gradient. Comparisons were made amon g sites to help explain how climate influences tree growth within cent ral Panama.