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Relationship of litterfall to basal area and climatic variables in cool temperate forests of southern Tasmania
Author(s) -
TURNBULL C. R. A.,
MADDEN J. L.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
australian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 0307-692X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1983.tb01339.x
Subject(s) - shrubland , basal area , plant litter , nothofagus , temperate climate , temperate rainforest , litter , forestry , environmental science , ecology , geography , biology , ecosystem
Components of litter accession were measured for 2 years in two re growth eucalypt stands, a Nothofagus mixed forest, and a tall shrubland in the temperate forests of southern Tasmania. Total annual litterfall (t ha ‐1 ) ranged from 4.77 to 5.64 in the regrowth eucalypt stands and 4.06 to 4.94 and 1.95 to 2.17 in the Nothofagus mixed forest and tall shrubland, respectively.Significant correlations were found between annual litterfall of individual tree species and their respective basal area measured at 1.3 m height. The seasonal patterns of litterfall were most closely related to mean maximum temperatures. However, fall of non‐leaf material was also related to gale force winds associated with the spring equinox.