Leaf area and foliar biomass relationships in northern hardwood forests located along an 800 km acid deposition gradient

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Forest Science; (United States)

OSTI ID:5893532

Burton, A J; Pregitzer, K S ^[1]; Reed, D D ^[2]

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1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (United States)
2. Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton (United States)

The canopies of northern hardwood forests dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) were examined at five locations spanning 800 km along an acid deposition and climatic gradient in the Great Lakes region. Leaf area index (LAI) calculated from litterfall ranged from 6.0 to 8.0 in 1988, from 4.9 to 7.9 in 1989, and from 5.3 to 7.8 in 1990. The data suggest that maximum LAI for the sites is between 7 and 8. Insect defoliation and the allocation of assimilates to reproductive parts in large seed years reduced LAI by up to 34%. Allometric equations for leaf area and foliar biomass were not significantly different among sites. They predicted higher LAI values than were estimated from litterfall and could not account for the influences of defoliation and seed production. Canopy transmittance was a viable alternative for estimating LAI. Extinction coefficients (K) of 0.49 to 0.65 were appropriate for solar elevations of 63{degree} to 41{degree}. Patterns of specific leaf area (SLA) were similar for the sites. Average sugar maple SLA increased from 147 cm{sup 2}g{sup {minus}1} in the upper 5 m of the canopy to 389 cm{sup 2}g{sup {minus}1} in the seeding layer. Litterfall SLA averaged 196 cm{sup 2}g{sup {minus}1} for all species and 192 cm{sup 2}g{sup {minus}1} for sugar maple. Similarity among the sites in allometric relationships, maximum LAI, canopy transmittance, and patterns of SLA suggests these characteristics were controlled primarily by the similar nutrient and moisture availability at the sites. A general increasing trend in litter production along the gradient could not be attributed to N deposition or length of growing season due to year to year variability resulting from insect defoliation and seed production.

• OSTI ID: 5893532
• Journal Information: Forest Science; (United States), Journal Name: Forest Science; (United States) Vol. 37:4; ISSN FOSCA; ISSN 0015-749X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOMASS
CANOPIES
DEPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
GREAT LAKES BASIN
LEAVES
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MAPLES
MATERIALS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RAIN
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
REPRODUCTION
SEEDS
TREES
WATERSHEDS