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Towards a predictive description of forest canopies from litter properties

  1. J. ROBERTS1,
  2. R. HOPKINS1,
  3. M. MORECROFT2

Article first published online: 27 MAR 2002

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00312.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 13, Issue 2, pages 265–272, April 1999

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How to Cite

ROBERTS, J., HOPKINS, R. and MORECROFT, M. (1999), Towards a predictive description of forest canopies from litter properties. Functional Ecology, 13: 265–272. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00312.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    NERC Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OX10 8BB and,

  2. 2

    NERC Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Oxford University Field Laboratory, Wytham, Oxford, OX2 8QT, UK

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 MAR 2002
  2. Article first published online: 27 MAR 2002

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Keywords:

  • Canopy structure;
  • δ13C;
  • forest floor;
  • leaf nitrogen;
  • specific leaf area

1. Specific leaf area (SLA), carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) and leaf nitrogen content (N) were measured in litter in 1993 and in the litter layer and canopy in 1996 in a pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) wood at Wytham, Oxford.

2. The frequency distribution of SLA of leaves falling through the late summer and autumn of 1993 changed with a greater contribution of leaves of high SLA earlier in the period. For the same SLA leaves falling earlier in the season had less negative δ13C and higher N content than leaves falling later.

3. The frequency distribution of SLA of litter leaves was similar in both years but litter leaves had lower N and less negative δ13C in 1996.

4. In the canopy, there was a highly significant negative relationship between height in the canopy and SLA in green and senescent leaves. The relationship between SLA and both δ13C ratio and leaf N was different between green, senescent and litter leaves.

5. The frequency distribution of foliage in the canopy estimated from the frequency of SLA in the litter and the vertical pattern of SLA in the canopy was similar to the distribution measured by the ‘drop-line’ method.

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