Leaf area index development in temperate oak and beech forests is driven by stand characteristics and weather conditions |
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Authors: | R Bequet M Campioli V Kint D Vansteenkiste B Muys R Ceulemans |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;(2) Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, Box 2411, 3001 Leuven, Belgium;(3) Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Forest and Water Management, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium |
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Abstract: | Using data from 20 even-aged and homogeneous mature beech and oak study plots in Flanders (Northern Belgium), an analysis
of the empirical relationships between the rates of leaf area index (LAI) change throughout the leaf development of 2008 and
stand, site and meteorological variables was performed. Species-specific multiple linear regressions were fitted between the
rates of LAI change and the predictors for two distinct periods from April until August. After a sharp increase in LAI following
budburst, the seasonal LAI development for both species showed a marked period of stationary LAI development over all study
plots. The cause for the cessation of LAI growth was assumed to be the decline of air temperature and radiation during this
period. Later on, the rate of LAI development restarted similarly in every plot. The influence of weather on LAI development
was high and its effects were different between species, with beech mostly affected by radiation and oak negatively related
to minimal and maximal values of air temperature. Furthermore, our analysis suggested that stand structural (tree density
and stand basal area for both species) and tree growth characteristics (average tree-ring width ratio for oak) variables were
major drivers of the LAI development during early spring. Later during the growth period, stand variables became less predominant
in affecting LAI development. Site quality variables affected LAI development to a lesser extent. The seasonal LAI development
was found very similar among stands. This study adds a more accurate and comprehensive approach to the modelling of LAI development
during leaf growth of two important European temperate deciduous forest species. |
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