Evaluating the dendroecological potential of Moringa peregrina from the hyper-arid desert in Egypt

Climate scenarios indicate the Middle East and Northern Africa to experience a high risk of drought. Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori is a key species in Africa due to its medicinal and economic values. It is an endangered species facing several threats as dryer climate conditions, reduced recruitment of new individuals, and the presence of human disturbances. Investigating Xylogenesis and ring growth of Moringa will allow developing a long chronology from stem discs and identifying long-term relationships to climate variables. In addition, studying the carbon and oxygen isotopic composition (13C and 18O) within the trees and the source water will help gaining knowledge on the ecophysiological performance of this tree species under arid conditions. We aim on analyzing the exact formation of tree-rings in Moringa during a calendar year, building a long chronology for this species, and analyzing 13C and 18O to assess the tree-environment interactions, particularly precipitation.