Canopy photography for assessment of local light environment of tropical forest trees and palms

Conference · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6107616

Rich, P M; Clark, D B; Clark, D A; Oberbauer, S F

Crown light environments of juvenile trees were assessed using photographic techniques in primary tropical wet forest at La Selva Biological Station, Cost Rica. Hemispherical (fisheye) photographs were taken of the canopy above saplings of the emergent trees Lecythis ampla and Dipteryx panamensis and the subcanopy palms Welfia georgii and Iriartea gigantea. Negatives were video digitized and computer analyzed to estimate direct and diffuse components of light entering through openings in the canopy. Results from analyses of canopy photographs were calibrated using results of quantum sensor studies. Growth rates were directly related to inferred light availability. Changes in growth rates from year to year were associated with changes in canopy openings. Asymmetry of canopy openings resulted in substantial intracrown variability in quantum sensor measurements.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM (US)
• OSTI ID: 6107616
• Report Number(s): CONF-870835-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States) Journal Volume: 68:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
510100 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CANOPIES
CENTRAL AMERICA
COSTA RICA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FORESTS
GROUND COVER
GROWTH
IMAGES
LATIN AMERICA
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
RADIATIONS
TREES
VISIBLE RADIATION