Identifying and understanding the response of tree species to climate variability and drought events is a key challenge in addressing climate change in the Andean ecosystems of southern South America. This study aims to: (1) determine the main temporal patterns of radial growth of three Nothofagus species (N. pumilio, N. dombeyi, and N. alpina) on the northwest slope of the Choshuenco volcano, around 40 degrees S, (2) examine the relationship between radial growth and environmental variables, as well as climatic forcings, and (3) evaluate the resilience of these species across an altitudinal gradient in the Valdivian Andes. The chronologies of the three Nothofagus species were assessed using principal component analysis, correlation analysis between the chronologies and environmental variables, and resilience analysis for drought years. The Nothofagus chronologies reveal an increased common signal in radial tree growth since the 1980s. At the beginning of the growing season (November) all chronologies exhibit a negative relation with precipitation and some chronologies positive relations with mean air temperature and the 0 degrees C isotherm height. These findings suggest that the persistence of snow cover during spring may be crucial for the onset of the tree growth. Previous year hydroclimate appears to have an important role favoring tree growth, with most chronologies exhibiting positive relations with summer soil moisture, and circulation patterns forced by the Antarctic oscillation that favors wet mild and summers. The response to drought varies among species, with N. alpina notably exhibiting high resistance, recovery and resilience, likely due to its location near the southern limit of its distribution. Integrating analyses of temporal growth patterns, growth-environment variables relationships, and drought resilience enhances understanding of how Nothofagus species have responded to climatic variability in recent decades in the Valdivian Andes forests.

It is widely accepted that global warming is affecting forests near the tree line by increasing tree growth in these cold-limited environments. However, since about 1970, a reduction in tree growth near the tree line has been observed in response to warming and increased drought stress. This reduction in tree growth has been mainly reported in forests of the northern hemisphere but less studied in southern forests. In this study, we investigated tree populations of Nothofagus pumilio located near the arboreal altitudinal limit in the central Patagonian Andes (45-47 degrees S, Aysen region, Chile). In this region, warming has been accompanied by increased drought conditions since the 2000s. We explored whether this climatic variability has promoted or reduced tree growth at the regional scale in tree lines of these broadleaved temperate forests of central Patagonia. We constructed tree-ring chronologies and determined common growth patterns and trends, and then analyzed the influence of recent climate. We detected a significant change in the slope of regional growth trends between the periods 1955-1985 and 1985-2015. We found that positive growth trends in the period 1955-1985 were associated with warmer and drier springs. However, after 1985, we found a stabilization in N. pumilio growth associated with a steady increase in temperature in autumn. Our results support the idea that more frequent warm autumns, with very thin or no snow cover, have stabilized tree growth due to water deficit at the end of the growing season of N. pumilio. The predicted climate change scenario of increasing temperatures and drought in central Patagonia may increase competition among trees for water, particularly at the end of the growing season. Consequently, we could expect a decreasing forest growth trend in central Patagonia, potentially impacting forest dynamics of these southern forests.