What does the presence of tree rings indicate?

The presence of tree rings primarily indicates the age of the tree. Each year, trees typically produce a new growth ring, and by counting these rings, one can determine how many years the tree has been growing. This process is known as dendrochronology.

While tree rings can provide some insights into the health of the tree, as wider rings generally suggest favorable growing conditions and narrower rings might indicate stress, the most direct and reliable information derived from tree rings is indeed the tree's age. The specific characteristics of the rings, such as their width and density, can also reflect environmental conditions during different growth periods, but the fundamental ability to count the rings to determine age makes this option the most accurate choice.

Regarding the other options, while tree species can influence the appearance of rings and soil quality can affect growth, these factors do not directly relate to the primary purpose of counting rings which is to ascertain age.