Abstract
Individual leaf area (LA) is a key variable in studies of tree ecophysiology because it directly influences light interception, photosynthesis and evapotranspiration of adult trees and seedlings. We analyzed the leaf dimensions (length - L and width - W) of seedlings and adults of seven Neotropical rainforest tree species (Brosimum rubescens, Manilkara maxima, Pouteria caimito, Pouteria torta, Psidium cattleyanum, Symphonia globulifera and Tabebuia stenocalyx) with the objective to test the feasibility of single regression models to estimate LA of both adults and seedlings. In southern Bahia, Brazil, a first set of data was collected between March and October 2012. From the seven species analyzed, only two (P. cattleyanum and T. stenocalyx) had very similar relationships between LW and LA in both ontogenetic stages. For these two species, a second set of data was collected in August 2014, in order to validate the single models encompassing adult and seedlings. Our results show the possibility of development of models for predicting individual leaf area encompassing different ontogenetic stages for tropical tree species. The development of these models was more dependent on the species than the differences in leaf size between seedlings and adults.
Highlights
Individual leaf area (LA) is a key variable in forest ecophysiological studies, because it directly influences light interception, photosynthesis and evapotranspiration of adult trees, saplings and seedlings (Niinemets, 2010; Zhang and Pan, 2011)
We analyzed leaf dimensions of seedlings and adults of seven Neotropical rainforest tree species with the objective to test the feasibility of single regression models to estimate LA of both adults and seedlings
The values of leaf dimensions (L, W and LA) were much higher in adults than in seedlings for all the seven species analyzed in our study
Summary
Individual leaf area (LA) is a key variable in forest ecophysiological studies, because it directly influences light interception, photosynthesis and evapotranspiration of adult trees, saplings and seedlings (Niinemets, 2010; Zhang and Pan, 2011). The direct determination or estimation of LA is of great importance to evaluate the performance of seedlings in tree plantations and in natural forests (Coste et al, 2011; Houter and Pons, 2012; Laurans et al, 2012). The methods used for LA estimation can be either destructive or nondestructive. Nondestructive methods do not require leaf destruction and are based on regression models to estimate LA from leaf linear dimensions, as length (L) and width (W) (Kandiannan et al, 2002; Antunes et al, 2008; Rouphael et al, 2010; Zhang and Pan, 2011; Pompelli et al, 2012; Souza and Habermann, 2014)
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