Spatial and temporal relationships between growth traits and metabolic heat rates in coast redwood

Abstract

The relation of metabolic heat rates to growth of coast redwood (Sequoiasempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) trees was studied as a function of time in the growing season and location within the plantation. Significant within-clone variations in growth and metabolic heat rates were found among ramets growing in different sections of the plantation. Specific metabolic heat rates of all clones began to increase in early May, peaked in mid-July, and returned to a low level by September. Metabolic heat rates of individual clones, averaged over a 5- to 6-week period, were strong predictors (R2 = 0.93) of clonal height growth during that period.