Ligot, Gauthier; Ameztegui, Aitor; Coll, Lluis et Kneeshaw, Daniel D.
(2016).
« Tree light capture and spatial variability of understory light increase with species mixing and tree size heterogeneity. ».
Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
Fichier(s) associé(s) à ce document :
Résumé
Mixed and multi-layered forest ecosystems are sometimes more productive than monospecific and single-layered ones. It has
been suggested that trees of different species and sizes occupy complementary positions in space which would act as a
mechanism to increase canopy light interception and wood production. However, greater canopy light interception reduces
the average amount and variability of transmitted radiation offering fewer opportunities for all species to regenerate and to
maintain forest heterogeneity in the long-run. We investigated whether increasing overstory heterogeneity indeed results
in greater canopy light interception and lower variability in transmittance. We modeled the three-dimensional structure of
forest stands with 3 typical forest structures, 10 mixtures of four tree species, and 3 different basal areas. We used the forest
light interception model SAMSARALIGHT and performed three-way analyses of covariance to analyze the effects of the
three varied components of forest heterogeneity. We found no evidence that increasing heterogeneity increases canopy light
interception. In contrast, homogeneous stands intercept more light than heterogeneous stands. Variability in transmittance
increased in some cases with compositional heterogeneity and, to a lesser extent, with tree size inequalities. The advantage
of heterogeneous forests is in opportunities for natural regeneration rather than in opportunities to enhance canopy light
interception.
RECHERCHER
PARCOURIR
LIBRE ACCÈS
