Premium
Spatial and seasonal heterogeneity in understory light conditions caused by differential leaf flushing of deciduous overstory trees
Author(s) -
Kato Shogo,
Komiyama Akira
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1703.2002.00529.x
Subject(s) - understory , deciduous , flushing , canopy , phenology , environmental science , spatial variability , seasonality , spatial heterogeneity , ecology , biology , mathematics , statistics , endocrinology
In a deciduous broad‐leaved forest, we investigated the seasonality and heterogeneity of understory light conditions in relation to the leaf phenology of overstory trees. Fisheye photographs were taken from spring to autumn to estimate direct and indirect light conditions above the understory. Spatial variation in daily direct photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was highest in late May, when the early and the intermediate‐flushing trees had finished flushing and the late‐flushing trees had just started flushing. After whole canopy closure, spatial variation in direct PPFD became low. Thus, asynchronous overstory leaf flushing in spring resulted in spatial heterogeneity in understory light conditions. These results suggest that the leaf phenological patterns of overstory trees are an important factor in the formation of the understory community.