辽东栎冠层光合生理特性的空间异质性

冠层作为林木与环境因子相互作用最为直接的部分,研究冠层光合作用是分析森林生产力的基础。以北京东灵山辽东栎为对象,利用Li-6400便携式光合仪测定了不同冠层不同方向部位叶片的光合速率和光响应曲线,研究了叶片光合生理特性在冠层空间上的变化。结果表明：在不同冠层和不同方向上,饱和光合速率、光补偿点、光下暗呼吸和表观量子效率均存在差异,随着冠层下降以及从南至北,大多数光合生理特性指标表现出递减趋势。进一步的通径分析结果得出,光强、水气压亏缺、温度是影响不同层次光合速率的主要因子。冠层光合特性的空间异质性研究,对于在冠层水平上揭示植物固碳能力和估算植物生产力具有很重要的意义。     

麦田冠层气孔导度的分层研究

小麦灌浆期和乳熟期冠层各层叶片上、下表面的气孔导度之间呈正相关关系;冠层不同层的叶片气孔导度从早到傍晚有平行变化的趋势,数值上存在较大的差异,一般从冠层上到下递减。经分析,这主要与冠层叶片接受的光强自上而下递减有关,且这时所对应的叶片水势自冠层上到下递增的幅度大。测算结果表明,冠层气孔导度白天亦呈明显的日变化,灌浆期的值大于乳熟期的值。     

太岳山典型阔叶乔木冠层叶片性状的分布格局

以太岳山4种阔叶乔木不同冠层高度的叶片为研究对象,用LI-3000A叶面积仪和Li-6400便携式光合作用测定系统分别测定了这4种乔木不同冠层高度叶片的叶面积大小和单位面积的叶光饱和速率(Aarea);同时测定了其叶氮含量;计算了其比叶面积(SLA)、单位面积叶氮含量(Narea)、单位重量叶氮含量(Nmass)、单位重量的叶光饱和速率(Amass)和光合氮素利用效率(PNUE),对植株不同冠层高度叶片的SLA、叶氮和光合特性的空间分布格局进行了比较研究,结果表明:Aarea、Amass、Nmass、PNUE、SLA和Narea在树冠上层、中层和下层的差异均达到了极显著水平(P<0.001),表明树冠不同高度的叶片性状参数差异较大;在相同SLA下,Nmass和Narea在冠层中的分布均表现为中层>上层>下层,并出现平行位移现象;Aarea和Nmass都以中层值最大,表明冠层光合能力分布格局以中层相对较高。     

黄土高原不同种植密度下春小麦冠层和叶片高光谱反射特征

2006年4-8月,通过大田试验,测定了7个密度梯度下3个品种的春小麦冠层、叶片在不同生育期的高光谱反射率.结果表明:孕穗期,不同密度的春小麦冠层和叶片光谱差异明显,波形相似,其冠层光谱反射率在可见光区随密度增大降低,在近红外区反射率随密度增加升高;乳熟期,不同种植密度春小麦冠层光谱在可见光区的差异比近红外区小;不同密度的叶片光谱在可见光区和近红外区的变化在不同生育期表现出一致性,但随密度变化的规律性不明显;不同生育期的冠层光谱表现为乳熟期的反射率高于孕穗期;叶片光谱表现为乳熟期较孕穗期在近红外光区反射率大大降低;不同品种春小麦的冠层和叶片光谱存在一定差异;孕穗期,不同品种的冠层光谱在可见光区差异较小,差别主要表现在短波红外和近红外区;成熟期,不同品种冠层光谱的差异小;不同品种叶片光谱在近红外区的差异显著;春小麦红边存在双峰现象,从孕穗期到乳熟期,红边位置蓝移,红边幅值降低,红边面积减小;红边幅值的变化可用于估产,红边位置的变动可指示生育阶段.     

浙江天台山七子花群落主要植物种类的光合特性

对分布在浙江天台山的七子花群落主要植物种类的光合生理生态特性进行了研究。结果表明：夏季,位于群落冠层上层、林窗、林缘的七子花及主要伴生植物叶片的光合日进程均呈“双峰“曲线,有明显的光合“午休“现象。而位于冠层中、下层以及林下的七子花、草本植物,其光合日进程曲线平缓。从冠层上层到下层,七子花叶片的日均净光合速率（Pn）呈下降趋势。林窗、林缘的七子花小树叶片日均Pn比林下大,冠层上层的七子花中树叶片与林窗、林缘的小树叶片日均Pn差异不显著。七子花在不同生境中与伴生植物相比,日均Pn较低,光合能力较弱。同一植株七子花冠层上层叶片叶绿素含量最低,下层次之,中层最高。阴生草本植物在弱光下仍有很高的叶绿素含量。植物叶片的光合能力大小与叶绿素含量高低不呈正相关。相对常绿树种而言,七子花光补偿点较高、光饱和点较低,对光适应的生态幅度较窄。     

田间小麦群体内叶片气孔阻力垂直差异研究

根据田间实测资料, 本文给出了田间小麦群体中叶片不同部位和冠层不同层次叶面气孔阻力的差异, 及其与环境因素特别是土壤水分含量关系的分析结果。结果表明, 小麦冠层各不同层次和叶片不同部位的气孔阻力有明显差异。就冠层上部单个叶片而言, 由叶尖到叶基气孔阻力逐渐增大;叶片正面的气孔阻力小于叶片反面对应部位的气孔阻力。对于水汽和CO₂传导的贡献70%是由冠层上部的两片叶子给出的;群体内不同层次叶片相应部位的气孔阻力是由冠层上部向下逐渐增大, 冠层不同层次叶片和叶片不同部位的气孔对环境因素变化的反空不同, 如当土壤水分不足时, 群体下部叶片和叶片反面的气孔张度首先变小, 且变小的程度较大。     

栲树冠层光合生理特性的空间异质性

森林冠层在能量传输、光合有效辐射和微气象等方面的差异可导致冠层光合生产力空间分布的变化.叶片光合生理特性在空间上的差异对精确估算森林冠层的初级生产力十分重要.本文以亚热带常绿阔叶林优势种---栲树(Castanopsis fargesii)为对象,研究叶片光合生理特性在冠层空间上的变化.结果表明:1)在垂直方向上,冠层北向叶的饱和光合速率(Amax)、光饱和点(LSP)和CO2羧化效率(CCE)均表现为上部>中部>底部,且依次平均降低19.4%、18.1%和37.1%;光补偿点(LCP)、光下暗呼吸(Rd)以及冠层南向叶的饱和光合速率、光饱和点和CO2羧化效率均表现为上部>底部>中部,上部比中部和底部高出12.3%~71.4%;表观量子效率(AQY)表现为底部>上部>中部,底部分别是顶部和中部叶的1.2和1.3倍;2)在水平方向上,冠层上部和底部南向叶的饱和光合速率、光饱和点和CO2羧化效率比北向叶高0.9%~31.5%;冠层中部北向叶的饱和光合速率等6个参数比南向叶高9.6%~63.2%.因此,在冠层水平上模拟和估算植物生产力时,必须考虑冠层光合生理特性的空间差异.     

冠层高度对毛竹叶片光合生理特性的影响

借助LI-6400便携式光合作用系统,研究了冠层高度对不同林龄毛竹(Phyllostachys pubescens)叶片光合生理特性和水分利用效率(WUE)的季节性影响,为促进毛竹林碳汇能力和生产力提升的林分结构调整等可持续栽培技术提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)出笋期,不同竹龄毛竹叶片净光合速率(Pn)和蒸腾速率(Tr)的日均值呈现出冠层上部小于冠层下部的梯度变化趋势,且2a生毛竹不同冠层Pn日均值大于3a生毛竹;孕笋行鞭期,不同林龄毛竹各时间点Pn值和日均值、以及2年生毛竹各时间点的Tr值均为冠层上部大于冠层下部。各生长季节,不同林龄毛竹个体叶片的气孔导度(Gs)均与Tr的变化趋势一致。(2)2年生毛竹各季节仅冠层上部叶片会出现"光合午休",而3年生毛竹仅于出笋期时各冠层叶片出现"光合午休"现象。(3)出笋期毛竹叶片WUE日均值随着冠层高度增加而增加,这种变化趋势不受竹龄影响;而孕笋行鞭期,仅2年生毛竹叶片WUE日均值随着冠层高度增加而下降。不同冠层高度的孕笋行鞭期毛竹叶片WUE日均值都显著高于出笋期;冠层高度对毛竹叶片气体交换特性和WUE的影响受生长发育关键期的季节因素影响,且毛竹叶片WUE与Gs之间存在负相关关系,其不受毛竹个体年龄和叶片冠层高度影响。(4)不同生长季节各冠层叶绿素a/b值均随着冠层高度下降而降低,不同林龄毛竹叶片叶绿素含量基本随着冠层自上而下呈逐渐增加的趋势。各生长季节,不同林龄个体叶片氮素含量、比叶重随冠层高度垂直变化趋势与叶片Pn日均值的垂直变化趋势一致。研究认为,毛竹不同冠层部位叶片通过改变形态、氮素含量来适应不同生长季节生长环境的变化,以便充分利用光能提高光合能力。     

不同树形龙安柚冠层特性

以开心形、Y字形、双层分层形和自然圆头形的龙安柚为试验材料,比较不同树形的冠层特性、叶片结构和生理特征,以期为龙安柚果园小环境的调控提供理论基础。结果表明:(1)开心形间隙分数阈值最高,是自然圆头形的4.33倍。开心形与Y字形的冠层光合辐射与透射系数均显著高于其他树形,但二者无显著差异,表明开心形和Y字形的冠层通风透光特性较好。(2)开心形与Y字形叶片厚度增加,叶面积和气孔密度较大,栅栏/海绵组织厚度和组织紧密度较高,叶片组织疏密度较低,且二者无显著差异,表明开心形与Y字形利于提高叶片的光合作用,降低蒸腾作用。(3)Y字形和开心形净光合速率、水分利用率、最大表观电子传递速率、初始斜率和半饱和光强较高,而蒸腾速率较低,二者对强光的耐受能力较强;其中开心形蒸腾速率最低为2.43 mmol m~(-2)s~(-1),且其结果枝光抑制参数最小,为0.629。说明开心形为最佳的高光效树形。(4)冠层微环境因子、叶片结构及光合生理指标之间多呈极显著相关关系,但开心形叶片结构和生理的大部分指标与冠层环境因子之间相关性较低,说明开心形树形不同部位的营养枝和结果枝的叶片性状差异较小,其光渗透性好,整个冠层的光截获能力和有效光辐射的分布差异较小,笔者认为开心形是龙安柚栽培中的适宜高光效树形。     

苹果密植园与间伐园树冠层内叶片光合潜力比较

通过对成龄苹果密植园和间伐园树冠不同层次和部位叶片光合潜力及辐射通量密度、叶片N含量和比叶重等指标的比较分析,研究了苹果园改造前后辐射能和氮素利用效率差异及其与产量品质的关系.结果表明：间伐显著改善了冠层内的辐射环境,间伐园冠层内的辐射分布明显比密植园均匀,相对辐射通量密度小于30%的无效光区接近0,而密植园冠层内的最低相对辐射通量密度为17%,在相对高度03以下均为无效光区;间伐园内冠层叶片的光合效率显著提高,间伐园树冠中、下部叶片的光合速率比密植园分别提高了78%和102%;叶片的最大羧化速率和最大电子传递速率也有较大幅度的提升.苹果园冠层叶片的光合效率与叶片N含量存在显著的相关关系,而叶片N含量又与辐射通量密度存在显著的相关关系,因此,可根据冠层叶片相对N含量的垂直分布间接和定量地判断叶片的光合效率或相对辐射通量密度的空间分布.     

Development of branch,crown, and vertical distribution leaf area models for contrasting hardwood species in Maine,USA

Key message

Branch, crown vertical leaf area distribution models were developed for naturally regenerated hardwood species and planted hybrid poplar clones. Species-specific differences were found at all levels of investigation.

Abstract

Coexistence in mixed-species stands is strongly influenced by species differences in leaf area production and distribution. The majority of leaf area models in the literature are focused on conifer species, which have substantially different crown forms than hardwood species. Therefore, the goal of this investigation was to develop branch, crown, and vertical leaf area distribution models for various hardwood species that accounted for their greater crown complexity. A nonlinear model including branch diameter, branch tip height, and height to the start of the foliage was the best fit for branch leaf area. Branch leaf area ranged from 0.05 to 0.37 m² for Populus grandidentata and Betula populifolia for an averaged sized branch, respectively. The best fit model for crown leaf area was a nonlinear form accounting for stem diameter and crown length. Crown leaf area ranged from 3.26 to 9.85 m² for Populus tremuloides and Betula populifolia for an averaged sized tree, respectively. Vertical leaf area distribution was best fit by a right-truncated Weibull distribution and showed a peak in the middle third of the crown for most of species. In addition, leaf area production varied among four hybrid poplar clones in plantations, suggesting a strong genetic control over crown form. Overall, leaf area varied among species at all levels of investigation, suggesting that coexistence of hardwood saplings in this investigation was strongly influenced both by inherent species-specific leaf area production and vertical distribution.     

Understanding changes in black (Picea mariana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) foliage biomass and leaf area characteristics

Key message

Growth conditions related to inter-tree competition greatly influence black and white spruce foliage biomass and projected leaf area characteristics.

Abstract

Foliage characteristics such as biomass and area are important among other reasons because they can be related to tree growth. Despite their economic and ecologic importance, equations to characterize foliage biomass and projected area of black (Picea mariana (Miller) BSP) and white (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) spruces are sparse. Total foliage biomass and projected leaf area, foliage biomass and leaf area density, and relative vertical distribution of black and white spruces foliage biomass and leaf area were modelled with linear and nonlinear mixed effect models. A total of 65 white spruces and 57 black spruces were destructively sampled at four different locations in Alberta, Québec, and Ontario, Canada. Our results show that for each species, total tree foliage biomass and projected leaf area is proportional to stem diameter, total height, and crown length. The addition of crown length in the equations improved the precision of the predictions of total foliage biomass for both species and diminishes greatly the site level random effect. An increase in DBH for black spruce and in the DBH to total height ratio for white spruce skewed the relative vertical foliage biomass distribution toward the base of the living crown. According to our results, growth conditions or tree development stage influence both foliage biomass and leaf area characteristics of black and white spruces. Our results emphasize the importance of inter-tree competition on foliage biomass characteristics.     

Competition-dependent modelling of foliage biomass in forest stands

Currently, foliage biomass is estimated based on stem diameter or basal area. However, it is questionable whether the relations between foliage and stem observed from plantations of a single tree species can be applied to stands of different structure or species composition. In this paper, a procedure is presented to simulate foliage and branch biomass of tree crowns relative to crown size and light competition. Crowns are divided into layers and segments and each segment is divided into a foliated and an unfoliated fraction. Depending on the competitive status of the segment, leaf area density, specific leaf area and foliated branch fraction are determined. Based on this information, foliage biomass is calculated. The procedure requires a crown shape function and a measure to characterise competition for light and space of each individual segment within the canopy. Simple solutions are suggested for both requirements to enable an application with data that can be measured non-destructively in the field; these were stem position, tree height, crown base height, crown radii and some general crown shape information. The model was parameterised from single trees of Norway spruce and European beech and partly evaluated with independent data close to the investigation plot. Evaluations showed that the model can attribute the ecology of the different crown forms. Modelled foliage distribution for beech and spruce as well as total needle biomass of spruce agreed well with measurements but foliage biomass of beech was underestimated. The results are discussed in the context of a general model application in structured forests.     

Causes of vertical stratification in the density of Cameraria hamadryadella

1. The density of Cameraria hamadryadella, a leaf-mining moth, is vertically stratified within the crown of oak trees. It occurs at higher densities on foliage in the lower crown. 2. Oviposition preference tests indicate that females display no preference to oviposit on foliage from the lower tree crown over foliage from the upper tree crown. 3. Experiments in which potted trees were placed at various heights indicate that foliage nearest ground level receives more oviposition, and that the higher rates of oviposition on foliage near the ground is not caused by differences in quality between foliage from low or high in the tree crown. 4. Host-plant- and natural-enemy-mediated juvenile mortality and the abundance of parasitoids did not differ between the upper and lower crown. 5. Vertical differences in the timing of leaf production within the tree crown are unlikely to account for the observed gradient in the abundance of C. hamadryadella. Furthermore, the mean date of leaf fall does not differ among heights within the tree crown. 6. It is argued that microclimatic gradients and interspecific competition are also unlikely to account for the observed gradients in the density of C. hamadryadella within the tree crown. 7. Because of the absence of effects of other potentially causal factors, the most likely explanation for the gradient in density of C. hamadryadella is a lack of movement by females into the upper tree crown from overwintering, emergence, or resting sites located in the lower tree crown, combined with egg depletion by females as they move from the lower to the upper tree crown. 8. It is suggested that the lack of movement and egg depletion hypothesis should serve as the null hypothesis in studies of vertical stratification of tree-feeding insects. In the absence of evidence of an effect of foliage quality, natural enemies, plant phenology, interspecific competition, or microclimate, the movement and egg depletion hypothesis is the most reasonable.     

Changes in foliage distribution with relative irradiance and tree size: Differences between the saplings ofAcer platanoides andQuercus robur

Dependencies of foliage arrangement and structure on relative irradiance and total height (TH) were studied in saplings ofAcer platanoides andQuercus robur. The distribution of relative foliar area and dry weight (leaf area and weight in a crown layer per total tree leaf area and weight, respectively) were examined with respect to relative height (RH, height in the crown per TH) and characterized by the Weibull function. The distributions of relative area and weight were nearly identical, and the differences between them were attributable to a systematic decline in leaf dry weight per area with increasing crown depth. Foliage distribution was similarly altered by tree size in both species; RH at foliage maximum was lower and relative canopy size (RCS, length of live crown per TH) greater in taller trees. However, the distribution was more uniform inA. platanoides than inQ. robur. Apart from the size effects, relative irradiance also influenced canopy structure; RCS increased inQ. platanoides and decreased inQ. robur with increasing irradiance. As crown architecture was modified by irradiance, foliage distribution was shifted upwards with decreasing irradiance inA. platanoides, but it was independent of irradiance inQ. robur. Higher foliage maximum at lower irradiance in more shade-tolerantA. platanoides is likely to contribute towards more efficient foliar display for light interception and increase the competitive ability of this species in light-limited environments. Consequently, these differences in crown architecture and foliage distribution may partly explain the superior behavior ofA. platanoides in understory.     

Variation in crown light utilization characteristics among tropical canopy trees

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Light extinction through crowns of canopy trees determines light availability at lower levels within forests. The goal of this paper is the exploration of foliage distribution and light extinction in crowns of five canopy tree species in relation to their shoot architecture, leaf traits (mean leaf angle, life span, photosynthetic characteristics) and successional status (from pioneers to persistent). METHODS: Light extinction was examined at three hierarchical levels of foliage organization, the whole crown, the outermost canopy and the individual shoots, in a tropical moist forest with direct canopy access with a tower crane. Photon flux density and cumulative leaf area index (LAI) were measured at intervals of 0.25-1 m along multiple vertical transects through three to five mature tree crowns of each species to estimate light extinction coefficients (K). RESULTS: Cecropia longipes, a pioneer species with the shortest leaf life span, had crown LAI <0.5. Among the remaining four species, crown LAI ranged from 2 to 8, and species with orthotropic terminal shoots exhibited lower light extinction coefficients (0.35) than those with plagiotropic shoots (0.53-0.80). Within each type, later successional species exhibited greater maximum LAI and total light extinction. A dense layer of leaves at the outermost crown of a late successional species resulted in an average light extinction of 61% within 0.5 m from the surface. In late successional species, leaf position within individual shoots does not predict the light availability at the individual leaf surface, which may explain their slow decline of photosynthetic capacity with leaf age and weak differentiation of sun and shade leaves. CONCLUSION: Later-successional tree crowns, especially those with orthotropic branches, exhibit lower light extinction coefficients, but greater total LAI and total light extinction, which contribute to their efficient use of light and competitive dominance.     

Crown hollowing as a consequence of early shedding of leaves and shoots

Leafing pattern has long been considered as an important element characterizing the growth strategy of tree species; however, the consequences of leafing pattern for tree-crown formation have not been fully understood. To address this issue, the dynamic events (growth, birth, and death) of current-year shoots and leaves were investigated together with their location in saplings of a pioneer tree, Alnus sieboldiana. The leafing pattern was characterized by successive emergence and shedding of short-lived leaves. The combination of successive leafing and within-crown variation in leaf production brought about characteristic outcomes in crown morphology. In the outer crown, because of continuous leaf production, the shoots achieved great extension and enormous daughter shoot production, resulting in rapid expansion of the crown. In contrast, in the inner crown, due to early termination of leaf production, the shoots completely lost their leaves early in the growing season and consequently themselves died and were shed within the season. Such quick shedding of shoots caused “crown hollowing”, i.e., the interior crown consisted of primary branches with little secondary development or foliage. These dynamic features are an effective adaptive strategy in early succession but also may be a disadvantage to maintaining foliage for longer period. Crown maintenance associated with the longevity of structural components is thought to play an important role in survival strategy of tree species.     

Modeling the vertical foliage distribution of an individual <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanopsis cuspidata</Emphasis> (Thunb.) Schottky,a dominant broad-leaved tree in Japanese warm-temperate forest

The vertical foliage distribution of Castanopsis cuspidata (Thunb.) Schottky was examined in trees of various sizes to clarify its variation in relation to tree size and the light environment in a stand. As indices of these parameters, we analyzed crown social position (CSP: percent of stand height) and specific leaf area (SLA). The vertical foliage distribution of trees was expressed by a Weibull function. The variation in the vertical foliage distribution of C. cuspidata could be categorized into three types using crown social position and light environment. In the first type, leaves were concentrated to the top 20% of the tree; such trees are canopy trees that can receive full sunlight. The second type had a large relative crown depth and an asymmetric distribution with the maximum foliage located near the top of the tree; such trees are suppressed trees whose crowns do not receive sufficient light. The third type had a large relative crown depth and a symmetric distribution; such trees occur in high light environments, although their crowns are in the understory layer. The differences in the vertical foliage distribution are related to the strategies used to capture light. Multiple regression analysis showed that CSP and SLA at the top layer of the tree explained successive changes in the vertical foliage distribution. These results will contribute to scaling-up the vertical foliage distribution to the community level in pure stands of C. cuspidata using an individual-based model.     

Convergence in light capture efficiencies among tropical forest understory plants with contrasting crown architectures: a case of morphological compensation

Leaf and crown characteristics were examined for 24 tree and herbaceous species of contrasting architectures from the understory of a lowland rainforest. Light-capture efficiency was estimated for the crowns of the different species with a three-dimensional geometric modeling program. Causal relationships among traits affecting light absorption at two hierarchical levels (leaf and whole crown) were quantified using path analysis. Light-capture and foliage display efficiency were found to be very similar among the 24 species studied, with most converging on a narrow range of light absorption efficiencies (ratio of absorbed vs. available light of 0.60-0.75). Exceptionally low values were found for the climber vines and, to a lesser extent, for the Bromeliad Aechmea magdalenae. Differences in photosynthetic photon flux density (PFD) absorbed per unit leaf area by individual plants were mostly determined by site to site variation in PFD and not by the differences in crown architecture among individuals or species. Leaf angle, and to a lesser extent also supporting biomass, specific leaf area, and internode length, had a significant effect on foliage display efficiency. Potential constraints on light capture such as the phyllotactic pattern were generally offset by other compensatory adjustments of crown structure such as internode length, arching stems, and plagiotropy. The variety of shoot morphologies capable of efficiently capturing light in tropical forest understories is greater than initially thought, extending over species with very different phyllotactic patterns, crown architectures, leaf sizes, and morphologies.     

The expression of light-related leaf functional traits depends on the location of individual leaves within the crown of isolated Olea europaea trees

Background The spatial arrangement and expression of foliar syndromes within tree crowns can reflect the coupling between crown form and function in a given environment. Isolated trees subjected to high irradiance and concomitant stress may adjust leaf phenotypes to cope with environmental gradients that are heterogeneous in space and time within the tree crown. The distinct expression of leaf phenotypes among crown positions could lead to complementary patterns in light interception at the crown scale.Methods We quantified eight light-related leaf traits across 12 crown positions of ten isolated Olea europaea trees in the field. Specifically, we investigated whether the phenotypic expression of foliar traits differed among crown sectors and layers and five periods of the day from sunrise to sunset. We investigated the consequences in terms of the exposed area of the leaves at the tree scale during a single day.Key Results All traits differed among crown positions except the length-to-width ratio of the leaves. We found a strong complementarity in the patterns of the potential exposed area of the leaves among day periods as a result of a non-random distribution of leaf angles across the crown. Leaf exposure at the outer layer was below 60 % of the displayed surface, reaching maximum interception during morning periods. Daily interception increased towards the inner layer, achieving consecutive maximization from east to west positions within the crown, matching the sun’s trajectory.Conclusions The expression of leaf traits within isolated trees of O. europaea varies continuously through the crown in a gradient of leaf morphotypes and leaf angles depending on the exposure and location of individual leaves. The distribution of light-related traits within the crown and the complementarity in the potential exposure patterns of the leaves during the day challenges the assumption of low trait variability within individuals.