Leafareaindexofanold-growthDouglas-firforestestimated.pdfVIP

1922 Leaf area index of an old-growth Douglas-fir forest estimated from direct structural measurements in the canopy Sean C. Thomas and William E. Winner Abstract: Leaf area index (LAI) in old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) forests exceeds that of any other forest ecosystem by some estimates; however, LAI determinations in coniferous forests have generally been indirect, involving extrapolations of patterns observed in younger stands. Aided by a 75-m construction crane for canopy access, we used a vertical line-intercept method to estimate LAI for a ≥450-year-old Douglas-fir – western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) forest in southwestern Washington state. LAI was calculated as the product of foliage contact frequency and an “extinction coefficient” accounting for foliage angular distribution, geometry, and the ratio of “interceptable” to total leaf area. LAI estimates were 9.3 ± 2.1 (estimate ± 95% confidence interval), 8.5 ± 2.2, and 8.2 ± 1.8 in 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively, or 8.6 ± 1.1 pooled across years. Understory vegetation, including foliage of woody stems 5 cm diameter, represented 20% of this total. Sample points in which Douglas-fir was dominant had a higher total LAI than points dominated by western hemlock, including a higher LAI of understory vegetation. Our results do not support the contention that old-growth Douglas-fir – western hemlock forests maintain an appreciably higher LAI than do other forest ecosystems. Moreover, LAI in very old stands may decline as western hemlock replaces Douglas-fir through the course of succession. Résumé : Selon certains estimés, l’indice de surface foliaire (LAI) dans les vieilles forêts de douglas de Menzies (Pseudotsuga menziesii var menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) dépasse celui de n’importe quel autre écosystème forestier. Cependant, la détermination de la valeur de LAI dans les forêts de conifères a généralement été faite de fa?on indirecte en extrapolant les p