Zonal transition of evergreen,deciduous, and coniferous forests along the altitudinal gradient on a humid subtropical mountain,Mt. Emei,Sichuan, China

Altitudinal zonation of evergreen, deciduous and coniferous forests on Mt. Emei (3099 m asl, 29°34.5' N, 103°21.5' E), Sichuan, China was studied to understand the transition of vegetation zonation from tropical to temperate mountains in humid Asia. On the basis of quantitative data on floristic composition and community structure sampled at ten plots selected in different altitudes on the eastern slope of the mountain, forest zonation and the inter-relationships among different life-forms of trees in each zonal forest community were studied quantitatively. Three forest zones were identified physiognomically along the altitudinal gradient, viz. (i) the evergreen broad-leaved forest zone (660–1500 m asl), (ii) the mixed forest zone (1500–2500 m asl), and (iii) the coniferous forest zone (2500–3099 m asl). Great compositional changes were observed along elevation, and the zonal forest communities were characterized by their dominants and floristic composition. Maximum tree height decreased from 33 m at lower middle altitude (965 m asl) to 13 m near the summit (2945 m asl). There was no apparent deciduous forest zone along the altitudinal gradient, but true mixed forests of three life-forms (evergreen, deciduous, and coniferous) were formed around 2000–2500 m asl. Patches of deciduous forest were found in a lower part of the mixed forest zone, particularly on scree slopes, between 1450 m and 1900 m asl. These patches were dominated by the Tertiary relic deciduous trees, such as Davidia involucrata, Tetracentron sinense, and Cercidiphyllum japonicum var. sinense. High species diversity in the mixed forest zone resulted from the overlapping of different life-forms at middle altitudes, which is partly due to wider variety of temperature-altitude correlations. A comparison of the altitudinal zonation with the other east Asian mountain vegetation clarified that Mt. Emei is located exactly at the ecotone between tropical and temperate zonation types in eastern Asia.     

中国东部森林植被带划分之我见

简要回顾了中国东部森林植被带划分研究的历史及当前存在的争论。提出了中国东部植被带划分应以植被本身的特征，特别是地带性的生物群落集为主要依据，同时参照它们的区系组成和气候指标。根据上述原则将中国东部划分为６个植被带∶北方针叶林带、凉温带针阔混交林带、温带落叶阔叶林带、暖温带常绿落叶阔叶混交林带、亚热带常绿阔叶林带和热带雨林、季雨林带，并对各植被带的特征作了简要的描述。阐述了对一些植被带名称、界线改动的原因，特别讨论了我国常绿落叶阔叶混交林以及常绿阔叶林生物气候带的归属问题，认为前者归属于暖温带植被，后者归属于亚热带植被为宜。     

秦岭太白山桦林的稳定性

本文论述了桦林的稳定性。文中认为桦林地质时期和现代都可形成地带性森林,它是凉温湿润气候的顶极群落,分布在暖温带落叶阔叶林与湿冷生针叶林之间的凉温湿润地带。因此这类林的区系组成无论地质时期或现代,都是以暖温带落叶阔叶林和寒温带针叶林的混合成分为特征。     

秦岭太白山桦林的稳定性

本文论述了桦林的稳定性。文中认为桦林地质时期和现代都可形成地带性森林,它是凉温湿润气候的顶极群落,分布在暖温带落叶阔叶林与湿冷生针叶林之间的凉温湿润地带。因此这类林的区系组成无论地质时期或现代,都是以暖温带落叶阔叶林和寒温带针叶林的混合成分为特征。     

海南五指山森林的垂直分布及其特征

本文探讨了海南五指山森林垂直分布及其特征．并根据五指山自然保护区的６００ｃｍ２样地调查材料,连同区内一些路线调查材料统计结果,计有维管束植物９９８种,５７６属,１７８科;按照植物地理成份分析,指出以樟科、桃金娘科、壳斗科、棕榈科等科、属、种为主的五指山热带、亚热带植物属占总、属数的８９％是很高的。根据调查材料,五指山森林可划分为３个垂直带与１１个植被群系,也就是Ⅰ．热带雨林带,一、热带常绿季雨林：１：荔枝,毛丹群系;Ⅱ．热带山地雨林带：一、低山雨林：（一）低山青梅雨林;１,青梅,蝴蝶树群系：２．鸡毛松．公孙锥群系：（二）沟谷雨林：１．尖叶杜英,海南柿群系;（三）低山枫香林：１．枫香．鸭脚木群系．二、中山雨林：（一）中山针阔叶雨林：１．陆均松．岭南青同群系;２．银背锥．白花含笑群系;３．罗浮锥,海南蕈树群系;Ⅲ．中山矮曲林带：一、中山矮曲林：１．硬壳柯,厚皮香群系;２．少药八角．肖柃群系;二、山顶矮林：１．红脉南烛,南华杜鹃群系。五指山森林垂直分布规律与特点：１．乔木树种多样性随着海拔升高而递减;２．温带树种的数量随着海拔升高而递增：３．青梅天然分布的海拔高度为海南各林区之冠。     

Altitudinal biodiversity patterns of seed plants along Gongga Mountain in the southeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

The mechanisms underlying elevation patterns in species and phylogenetic diversity remain a central issue in ecology and are vital for effective biodiversity conservation in the mountains. Gongga Mountain, located in the southeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, represents one of the longest elevational gradients (ca. 6,500 m, from ca. 1,000 to 7,556 m) in the world for studying species diversity patterns. However, the elevational gradient and conservation of plant species diversity and phylogenetic diversity in this mountain remain poorly studied. Here, we compiled the elevational distributions of 2,667 native seed plant species occurring in Gongga Mountain, and estimated the species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, species density, and phylogenetic relatedness across ten elevation belts and five vegetation zones. The results indicated that species diversity and phylogenetic diversity of all seed plants showed a hump‐shaped pattern, peaking at 1,800–2,200 m. Species diversity was significantly correlated with phylogenetic diversity and species density. The floras in temperate coniferous broad‐leaved mixed forests, subalpine coniferous forests, and alpine shrublands and meadows were significantly phylogenetically clustered, whereas the floras in evergreen broad‐leaved forests had phylogenetically random structure. Both climate and human pressure had strong correlation with species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and phylogenetic structure of seed plants. Our results suggest that the evergreen broad‐leaved forests and coniferous broad‐leaved mixed forests at low to mid elevations deserve more conservation efforts. This study improves our understanding on the elevational gradients of species and phylogenetic diversity and their determinants and provides support for improvement of seed plant conservation in Gongga Mountain.     

黄土高原不同植被覆被类型NDVI对气候变化的响应

植被与气候是目前研究生态与环境的重要内容。为探究黄土高原地区植被与气候因子之间的响应机制,利用线性趋势分析、Pearson相关分析、多元线性回归模型以及通径分析的方法,对黄土高原2000—2015年全区和不同植被覆被类型区内NDVI与气候因子的变化趋势以及相互作用关系进行分析。植被覆被分类数据和植被指数数据分别来源于ESA CCI-LC(The European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative Land Cover)以及MODND1T/NDVI(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)。结果表明:(1) 2000—2015年黄土高原全区植被年NDVI_(max)显著增加的区域占总面积的74.25%,不同植被覆被类型年NDVI_(max)分别为常绿阔叶林常绿针叶林落叶阔叶林落叶针叶林镶嵌草地农田镶嵌林地草地灌木,并且都呈显著增加趋势,其中常绿阔叶林和农田增加幅度最大,为0.012/a。(2)黄土高原全区NDVI与气温、日照、降水和相对湿度等气候因子之间没有显著相关性,但在不同植被覆被类型区,气候因子对NDVI存在显著作用,且不同植被覆被类型差异明显。(3)在全区和不同植被覆被类型区NDVI仅对降水的响应比较一致,气温无论在整个区域尺度还是不同植被覆被类型区对植被的影响均不显著。(4)常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林、常绿针叶林及镶嵌林地等以乔木为主的植被覆被类型受年均相对湿度和年总日照时数的显著负效应驱动,草地、镶嵌草地等以草本为主的植被覆被类型则受到年总降水量的显著正效应影响。这说明对植被类型进行区分,更有利于揭示气候对植被的作用机制。     

Forest/environment relationships in Yosemite National Park,California, USA

Forest compositional patterns in Yosemite National Park, California, were related to environmental factors through numerical classification of forest types, arrangement of forest types along elevational and topographic gradients, and development of regression models relating basal area of common tree species to environmental variables. The eight forest types are differentiated primarily by elevation zone and secondarily by topographic setting. Lower montane forests (1200–1900 m) were divided into the Abies concolor/Calocedrus type occurring primarily on mesic sites and the Pinus ponderosa/Calocedrus type predominantly on xeric sites. Upper montane forests (1900–2500 m) included the Abies concolor/Abies magnifica type on mesic sites, the Abies magnifica/Pinus type on somewhat more xeric sites, and Juniperus occidentalis/Pinus jeffreyi woodlands on granitic domes. Subalpine forests (2500–3300 m) embraced three types: Tsuga mertensiana/Pinus forests on mesic sites, monotypic Pinus contorta forests on drier sites, and Pinus albicaulis/Pinus contorta groves at treeline. Regression models consistently included elevation and soil magnesium content as explanatory variables of species basal area totals. The two Abies spp. were negatively correlated with soil magnesium levels, whereas other montane species (e.g. Calocedrus decurrens, Pinus lambertiana, and Pinus ponderosa) exhibited positive correlation with soil magnesium. Topography and soil physical properties were only infrequently incorporated into species regression models.Abbreviations DBH= diameter at breast height (1.4 m) - DCA= detrended correspondence analysis - TWINSPAN= two-way indicator species analysis     

Elevation,Topography, and Edge Effects Drive Functional Composition of Woody Plant Species in Tropical Montane Forests

Tropical montane forests comprise heterogeneous environments along natural gradients of topography and elevation. Human‐induced edge effects further increase the environmental heterogeneity in these forests. The simultaneous effects of natural and human‐induced gradients on the functional diversity of plant leaf traits are poorly understood. In a tropical montane forest in Bolivia, we studied environmental gradients associated with elevation (from 1900 m to 2500 m asl), topography (ridge and gorge), and edge effects (forest edge vs. forest interior), and their relationship with leaf traits and resource‐use strategies. First, we investigated associations of environmental conditions (soil properties and microclimate) with six leaf traits, measured on 119 woody plant species. Second, we evaluated changes in functional composition with community‐weighted means and functional structure with multidimensional functional diversity indices (FRic, FEve and FDiv). We found significant associations between leaf traits and soil properties in accordance with the trade‐off between acquisition and conservation of resources. Functional composition of leaf traits shifted from the dominance of acquisitive species in habitats at low altitudes, gorges, and forest interior to the dominance of conservative species in habitats at high altitudes, ridges, and forest edges. Functional structure was only weakly associated with the environmental gradients. Natural and human‐induced environmental gradients, especially soil properties, are important for driving leaf traits and resource‐use strategies of woody plants. Nevertheless, weak associations between functional structure and environmental gradients suggest a high redundancy of functional leaf traits in this tropical montane forest.     

论黄山松林在庐山植被垂直带谱中的位置

 黄山松林是我国东部亚热带中山地区垂直带上特有的山地温性针叶林,垂直分布高度从海拔600～700m以上的山坡、山脊,上限可分布到1750～1900m左右的山顶。庐山的黄山松林主要分布在海拔800～850m以上至山顶的地段．本文通过对庐山黄山松林的生境、区系性质、生活型谱、以及群落动态和残存群落的分析,有关孢粉资料的考证和与周围山地的对比,认为黄山松林是温性针叶林,尽管目前由于人为活动而使之成为庐山海拔1000m以上地区现存植被的优势类型,但在植被垂直带划分中它应从属于山地落叶阔叶林带。     

哀牢山北段西坡蝽类昆虫垂直分布的研究

哀牢山是横断山的余脉,由低到高分布着谷地、丘陵、山地等,逐级向上过渡,形成了多层性地形,造成气候、土壤和植被等的垂直差异。这势必也引起昆虫在垂直方向上的分异。 结合哀牢山森林生态系统生态站和云南亚热带山地生态垂直分异及其合理开发利用的研究工作,1982～1985年在哀牢山北段西坡的景东川洱坝至徐家坝山顶(北纬24°32′,     

四川省峨眉山森林植被垂直分布的初步研究

本文对四川省峨眉山森林植被的垂直分布特点进行了初步研究。文中,采用数量分类的方法,结合对群落生态外貌特点和区系组成的分析,以及群落所处海拔高度,划分出森林植被的垂直带如下：1．常绿阔叶林带 1900米以下;2．常绿、落叶阔叶混交林带 1500米至2000米;3．针阔混交林带 2000米至2500米;4．寒温性针叶林带 2500米至3099米。     

中国4种典型森林中常见乔木叶片的非结构性碳水化合物研究

植物叶片的非结构性碳水化合物(non-structural carbohydrates,NSC)不仅为植物的代谢过程提供重要能量,还能一定程度上反映植物对外界环境的适应策略。以温带针阔混交林(长白山)、温带阔叶林(东灵山)、亚热带常绿阔叶林(神农架)和热带雨林(尖峰岭)4种森林类型的树种为研究对象,利用蒽酮比色法测定了163种常见乔木叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC(可溶性糖+淀粉)含量,探讨了不同森林类型植物叶片NSC的差异及其地带性变化规律。结果显示：（1）从森林类型上看,植物叶片NSC含量从北到南递减,即温带针阔混交林(170.79 mg/g)>温带阔叶林(100.27 mg/g)>亚热带常绿阔叶林(91.24 mg/g)>热带雨林(80.13 mg/g)。（2）从生活型上看,无论是落叶树还是阔叶树,其叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量均表现为：温带针阔混交林>温带阔叶林>亚热带常绿阔叶林>热带雨林;北方森林叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量均表现为落叶树种>常绿树种,或阔叶树种>针叶树种。（3）森林植物叶片NSC含量、可溶性糖与淀粉含量比值与年均温和年均降水量均呈显著负相关。研究表明,森林植物叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量以及可溶性糖与淀粉含量比值均具有明显的从北到南递减的地带性规律;其NSC含量以及可溶性糖与淀粉含量比值与温度和水分均呈显著负相关的变化规律可能是植物对外界环境适应的重要机制之一。该研究结果不仅为阐明中国主要森林树种碳代谢和生长适应对策提供了数据基础,而且为理解区域尺度森林植被对未来气候变化的响应机理提供新的视角。     

佛坪国家级自然保护区植被垂直带谱及其与邻近地区的比较

在首先确定垂直带划分的原则和将佛坪自然保护区植被划分为落叶阔叶林带、中山小叶林带和亚高山针叶林带３个垂直带,各垂直带植被物种组成的区系、生活型组成和物种多样性的差异证实了这种划分的合理性。与邻近地区植被垂直带谱的比较表明,佛坪自然保护区的植被垂直带谱与秦岭北坡有明显差异,表现为典型的暧温带与北亚热带过渡区域的植被景观,虽然基带以上各植被带暖温带特色很明显,但其植被属性应是北亚热带的。     

鼎湖山森林群落的光能利用效率

本文研究了鼎湖山自然保护区,亚热带季风常绿阔叶林和针叶阔叶混交林的光能利用效率。根据群落的垂直结构和成层现象,应用红外线CO_2气体分析法,分层测定了主要植物22种58株的光合速率.计算了群落的生产力;用量子传感器分层测定了两个群落的光合有效辐射,并计算其光能利用效率。结果表明:阔叶林总生产力的光能利用效率为14.28%,混交林为12.01%,说明了不同森林类型对光能资源的利用效率。     

山东植物区系的演变和来源

1　现代植物区系山东省位于我国东部、黄河下游 ,北濒渤海 ,东临黄海 ,地理范围介于北纬 34°2 3′～38°2 4′,东经 1 1 4°4 8′～ 1 2 2°4 3′之间。全省总面积为 1 5.72万 km2 ,占全国总面积的 1 .6%。属暖温带季风气候 ,沿海比较湿润 ,地带性植被主要是暖温带落叶阔叶林和松、栎类针阔叶混交林。山东省在中国植物区系的分区地位隶属于泛北极植物区、中国 -日本森林植物亚区、华北植物地区 [1 ]。据最近研究统计 ,现有野生维管植物 1 47科、61 4属 ,约 1 547种 (包括变种 ,下同 )。其中蕨类植物 2 4科 39属 1 0 5种 ,裸子植物 3科 3属 …     

Forest vegetation of the Himalaya

This review deals with the forest vegetation of the Himalaya with emphasis on: paleoecological, phytogeographical, and phytosociological aspects of vegetation; structural and functional features of forest ecosystem; and relationship between man and forests. The Himalayan mountains are the youngest, and among the most unstable. The rainfall pattern is determined by the summer monsoon which deposits a considerable amount of rain (often above 2500 mm annually) on the outer ranges. The amount of annual rainfall decreases from east to west, but the contribution of the winter season to the total precipitation increases. Mountains of these dimensions separate the monsoon climate of south Asia from the cold and dry climate of central Asia. In general, a rise of 270 m in elevation corresponds to a fall of 1°C in the mean annual temperature up to 1500 m, above which the fall is relatively rapid. Large scale surface removals and cyclic climatic changes influenced the course of vegetational changes through geological time. The Himalayan ranges, which started developing in the beginning of the Cenozoic, earlier supported tropical wet evergreen forests throughout the entire area (presently confined to the eastern part). The Miocene orogeny caused drastic changes in the vegetation, so much so that the existing flora was almost entirely replaced by the modern flora. Almost all the dominant forest species of the Pleistocene continue to maintain their dominant status to the present. Presently the Himalayan ranges encompass Austro-Polynesian, Malayo-Burman, Sino-Tibetan, Euro-Mediterranean, and African elements. While the Euro-Mediterranean affinities are well represented in the western Himalayan region (west of 77°E long.), the Chinese and Malesian affinities are evident in the eastern region (east of 84°E long.). However, the proportion of endemic taxa is substantial in the entire region. A representation of formation types in relation to climatic factors, viz., rainfall and temperature, indicates that boundaries between the types are not sharp. Formation types often integrate continuously, showing broad overlaps. Climate does not entirely determine the formation type, and the influence of soil, fire, etc., is also substantial. The ombrophilous broad leaf forests located in the submontane belt (< 1000 m) of the eastern region are comparable to the typical tropical rain forests. On the other extreme, communities above 3000 m elevation are similar to sub-alpine and alpine types. From favorable to less favorable environments, as observed with decreasing moisture from east to west, or with decreasing temperature from low to high elevations, the forests become increasingly open, shortstatured and simpler, with little vertical stratification. Ordination of forest stands distributed within 300–2500 m elevations of the central Himalaya, by and large indicates a continuity of communities, with scattered centers of species importance values in the ordination field. Within the above elevational transect, sal (Shorea robusta) and oak (Quercus spp.) forests may be designated as the climax communities, respectively, of warmer and cooler climates. The flora of a part of the central Himalayan region is categorized as therohemigeophytic and that of a part of the western Himalayan region as geochamaephytic. An analysis of population structure over large areas in the central Himalaya, based on density-diameter distribution of trees, suggests that oldgrowth forests are being replaced by even-aged successional forests, dominated by a few species, such asPinus roxburghii. Paucity of seedlings of climax species, namelyShorea robusta andQuercus spp. over large areas is evident. The Himalayan catchments are subsurface-flow systems and, therefore, are particularly susceptible to landslips and landslides. Loss of water and soil in terms of overflow is insignificant. Studies on recovery processes of forest ecosystems damaged due to shifting cultivation or landslides indicate that the ecosystems can recover quite rapidly, at least in elevations below 2500 m. For example, on a damaged forest site, seedlings of climax species (Quercus leucotrichophora) appeared only 21 years after the landslide. In the central Himalaya, the biomass of a majority of forests (163-787 t ha^?1) falls within the range (200-600 t ha^?1) given for many mature forests of the world, and the net primary productivity (found in the range of 11.0–27.4 t ha^?1 yr^?1) is comparable with the range of 20–30 t ha^?1 yr^?1 given for highly productive communities of favorable environments. In most of the forests of this region, the litter fall values (2.1-3.8 t C ha^?1 yr^?1) are higher than the mean reported for warm temperate forests (2.7 t C ha^?1 yr^?1). Of the total litter, the tree leaves account for 54–82% in the Himalayan forests. The rate of decomposition of leaves in some broadleaf species of submontane belt (0.253-0.274% day^?1) are comparable with those reported for some tropical rain forest species. Because of the paucity of microorganisms and microarthropods in the forest litter and soil, high initial C:N ratio and high initial lignin content in leaves, the rate of leaf litter decomposition inPinus roxburghii is markedly slower than in other species of the central Himalaya. The fungal species composition of the leaf litterof Pinus roxburghii is also distinct from those of other species. A greater proportion of nutrients is accumulated in the biomass component of the Himalayan forests than in the temperate forests. Although litter fall is the major route through which nutrients return from biomass to the soil pool, a substantial proportion of the total return is in the form of throughfall and stemflow. Among the dominant species of the central Himalaya, retranslocation of nutrients from the senescing leaves was markedly greater inPinus roxburghii than inQuercus spp. andShorea robusta. Consequently, the C:N ratio of leaf litter is markedly higher inPinus roxburghii than in the other species. Immobilization of nutrients by the decomposers of the litter with high C:N ratio is one of the principal strategies through whichPinus roxburghii invades other forests and holds the site against possible reinvasion by oaks. Observations on the seasonality of various ecosystem functions suggest that Himalayan ecosystems are geared to take maximum advantages of the monsoon period (rainy season). Most of the human population depends on shifting-agriculture in the eastern region and on settled agriculture in the central and western regions. Either of these is essentially a forest-dependent cultivation. Each unit of agronomic energy produced in the settled agriculture entails about seven units of energy from forests. Consequently, forests with reasonable crown cover account for insignificant percentage of the land. Tea plantations and felling of trees for timber, paper pulp, etc., are some of the major commercial activities which adversely affected the Himalayan forests.     

摩天岭北坡森林植被垂直带的初步研究

本文对摩天岭北坡森林植被的垂直分布特点进行了初步研究。采用排序的方法,结合对群落生态外貌特点的分析,以及群落所处海拔高度,划分出森林植被垂直带如下：(1)山地常绿落叶阔叶林带,海拔1600m以下;(2)山地落叶阔叶林带,海拔1600—2100m;(3)山地针阔叶混交林带,海拔2100—2900m;(4)亚高山针叶林带,海拔2900—3450m;(5)高山灌丛草甸带,海拔3450m以上。     

Quantifying nationwide land cover and historical changes in forests of Nepal (1930–2014): implications on forest fragmentation

This study quantifies the nationwide land cover and long-term changes in forests and its implications on forest fragmentation in Nepal. The multi-source datasets were used to generate the forest cover information for 1930, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2014. This study analyzes distribution of land cover, rate of deforestation, changes across forest types, forest canopy density and pattern of fragmentation. The land cover legend for 2014 is consisting of 21 classes: tropical dry deciduous sal forest, tropical moist deciduous sal forest, subtropical broad-leaved forest, subtropical pine forest, lower temperate broad leaved forest, upper temperate broad leaved forest, lower temperate mixed broad leaved forest, upper temperate mixed broad leaved forest, temperate needle leaved forest, subalpine forest, plantations, tropical scrub, subtropical scrub, temperate scrub, alpine scrub, grassland, agriculture, water bodies, barren land and settlements. The forest cover statistics for Nepal obtained in this study shows an area of 76,710 km² in 1930 which has decreased to 39,392 km² in 2014. A net loss of 37,318 km² (48.6%) was observed in last eight decades. Analysis of annual rate of net deforestation for the recent period indicates 0.01% during 2005–2014. An increase in the number of forest patches from 6925 (in 1930) to 42,961 (in 2014) was noticed. The significant observation is 75.5% of reduction in core 3 forest, whereas, patch, perforated and edge classes show the increase in percentage of fragmentation classes from 1930 to 2014. The results of this work will support the understanding of deforestation and its consequences on fragmentation for maintaining and improving the forest resources of Nepal.     

Altitudinal Change in LAI and Stand Leaf Biomass in Tropical Montane Forests: a Transect Study in Ecuador and a Pan-Tropical Meta-Analysis

Abstract Leaf area index (LAI) is a key parameter controlling plant productivity and biogeochemical fluxes between vegetation and the atmosphere. Tropical forests are thought to have comparably high LAIs; however, precise data are scarce and environmental controls of leaf area in tropical forests are not understood. We studied LAI and stand leaf biomass by optical and leaf mass-related approaches in five tropical montane forests along an elevational transect (1,050–3,060 m a.s.l.) in South Ecuador, and conducted a meta-analysis of LAI and leaf biomass data from tropical montane forests around the globe. Study aims were (1) to assess the applicability of indirect and direct approaches of LAI determination in tropical montane forests, (2) to analyze elevation effects on leaf area, leaf mass, SLA, and leaf lifespan, and (3) to assess the possible consequences of leaf area change with elevation for montane forest productivity. Indirect optical methods of LAI determination appeared to be less reliable in the complex canopies than direct leaf mass-related approaches based on litter trapping and a thorough analysis of leaf lifespan. LAI decreased by 40–60% between 1,000 and 3,000 m in the Ecuador transect and also in the pan-tropical data set. This decrease indicates that canopy carbon gain, that is, carbon source strength, decreases with elevation in tropical montane forests. Average SLA decreased from 88 to 61 cm² g⁻¹ whereas leaf lifespan increased from 16 to 25 mo between 1,050 and 3,060 m in the Ecuador transect. In contrast, stand leaf biomass was much less influenced by elevation. We conclude that elevation has a large influence not only on the leaf traits of trees but also on the LAI of tropical montane forests with soil N (nitrogen) supply presumably being the main controlling factor.