Alpine treeline dynamics in relation to slope aspect, western Giant Mts.

In eight selected habitats in the Western Giant Mountains (area of peaks Kotel and Violík) was studied growth of individuals of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in ecotone of alpine treeline. There were selected four habitats in two locations (tree groups and close canopy forest) in the south exposition and four habitats in two locations in the north exposition. With use of size of radial growth and other dendrometrical characteristics was studied differences in growth of trees depend of slope exposition and location of the habitats (tree groups and close canopy forest). There were compiled the standard and residual chronologies. Further was studied the response function of radial growth and temperature characteristics, especialy mean temperature of growing season. It was found the positive a negative pointer years, representive years with extreme ring width, and response function of pointer years indexes and temperature characteristics. Last step was to analyze the tree age structure in studied habitats. There were found statistically significant differencies in radial growth between north and south slope exposition in the close canopy forest position in years 1959 - 1998, although radial growth on south side was larger all the spotted time. In tree groups was radial growth larger in north slope..