Local variations of ecosystem functions in Mediterranean evergreen oak woodland

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Abstract

The spatial variation of ecosystem function was studied in a Quercus ilex coppice growing on hard limestone with low soil water availability. Spatial structures obtained from data on i) leaf area index, ii) leaf litterfall, and iii) leaf litter decay rate were compared. Mean average leaf litterfall over 10 years (1984-1993) was 254 g.m-2. The leaf area index (LAI) was estimated at the same points with a plant canopy analyzer. The mean value was 2.96 ± 0.30. The limit of spatial dependence for LAI was very close to that obtained for leaf litterfall (range = 8.5 m). The percentage of ash-free litter mass remaining (LMR) estimated using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy indicates the stage of decomposition. It decreased strongly between the surface (mean value 85.6%) and the subsurface layers (mean value 63.4%). The two variables directly related to the structure of the canopy (LAI and leaf litterfall) exhibited close spatial dependence and differed from the soil process-related variables (stage of decomposition) whose ranges were approximately double.

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Joffre, R., Rambal, S., & Romane, F. (1996). Local variations of ecosystem functions in Mediterranean evergreen oak woodland. Annales Des Sciences Forestieres, 53(2–3), 561–570. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:19960235

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