Estimating mixtures of leaf functional types using continental-scale satellite and climatic data

dc.contributor.authorBerry, Sandra Lee
dc.contributor.authorRoderick, Michael
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-13T23:27:18Z
dc.date.available2015-12-13T23:27:18Z
dc.date.issued2002
dc.date.updated2015-12-12T09:49:50Z
dc.description.abstractAim Recent research has shown that much of the variability in leaf gas exchange and leaf longevity can be related to variations in the surface : volume ratio of leaves. The aim of this paper was to develop a theoretical framework and a practical method to extend that result to the vegetation at the continental scale. The study was conducted in Australia. We propose that vegetation is composed of a mixture of three basic leaf types, 'turgor' (T), 'mesic' (M) and 'sclerophyll' (S) leaves. Changes in the relative proportions of T, M and S leaves within a vegetation type are visualized using a ternary diagram and differences in vegetation structure are shown to be easily mapped onto the ternary diagram. We estimate the proportions of T, M and S leaves using readily available data. The total amount of PAR absorbed by the vegetation (fPAR) is estimated using continental-scale satellite observations. The total fPAR is then decomposed into that absorbed by T, M and S leaves. The relative absorption of PAR by T leaves is estimated from the temporal dynamics in the satellite signal, while the relative proportions of M and S leaves are estimated using climatic (solar radiation, rainfall) data. When the availability of light, nutrients and water were near-optimal, the vegetation was composed of predominantly M leaves. In low nutrient environments S leaves predominated. T leaves were dominant in disturbed environments. The theoretical framework is used to predict that elevated atmospheric CO2 would tend to increase the proportion of M and S leaves in an ecosystem and the resulting change means that the proportion of T leaves would decrease. In terms of the TMS scheme, this implies that elevated CO2 has the same net effect on the vegetation as a decrease in disturbance.
dc.identifier.issn1466-822X
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/93262
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Ltd
dc.sourceGlobal Ecology and Biogeography
dc.subjectKeywords: carbon dioxide enrichment; community structure; functional group; light availability; nutrient availability; vegetation dynamics; water supply; carbon dioxide; gas exchange; leaf area index; satellite imagery; vegetation mapping; vegetation structure; veg Australia; Elevated CO2; Leaf functional types; Leaf surface volume ratio; PAR; Satellite observations; Vegetation dynamics; Vegetation structure
dc.titleEstimating mixtures of leaf functional types using continental-scale satellite and climatic data
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage39
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage3
local.contributor.affiliationBerry, Sandra Lee, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationRoderick, Michael, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.authoremailu9613353@anu.edu.au
local.contributor.authoruidBerry, Sandra Lee, u8810335
local.contributor.authoruidRoderick, Michael, u9613353
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.description.refereedYes
local.identifier.absfor060705 - Plant Physiology
local.identifier.ariespublicationMigratedxPub26654
local.identifier.citationvolume11
local.identifier.doi10.1046/j.1466-822X.2002.00183.x
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-0036183780
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByMigrated
local.type.statusPublished Version

Downloads

Back to topicon-arrow-up-solid
 
APRU
IARU
 
edX
Group of Eight Member

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.


Contact ANUCopyrightDisclaimerPrivacyFreedom of Information

+61 2 6125 5111 The Australian National University, Canberra

TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C ABN: 52 234 063 906