Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

The aim of the study was to develop a tree-ring width chronology of European beech growing in the lower montane belt of the Gorce Mountains and to assess the influence of air temperature and precipitation on its radial growth. The analyses were based on synchronized tree-ring width series from 21 trees, resulting in a chronology spanning the period 1748–2023. Dendroclimatic analysis indicated a significant influence of thermal and pluvial conditions on growth variability during the period of cambial activity as well as in the preceding months. A positive effect of high air temperature in October and low temperature in August of the previous year on the radial growth was observed. In addition, high precipitation in July of the previous year and in April of the current year had a positive effect, whereas high precipitation in February had a limiting influence. These results enhance our understanding of beech ecology, particularly how this species responds to variability in climatic elements in mountainous regions.