Insect‐related differences in growth of birch and pine at northern treeline in Swedish Lapland

Abstract

The tree‐ring patterns of birch and pine in the Torneträsk area of Swedish Lapland were compared. In order to dendrochronologically identify years of major insect attacks on birch, pine being unaffected by these outbreaks, served as control. The sharp growth increase in birch following the historically confirmed, heavy outbreak in 1954–55 is discussed and evidence pointing to possible earlier outbreaks is presented.