Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest

Leaf phenology was studied in individuals of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Euphorbiaceae), at various ontogenetic stages, in a Malaysian rain forest. The timing of leaf emergence was not synchronized among sapling individuals, and was not correlated with any meteorological factors of the...

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Main Authors: Osada, Noriyuki, Takeda, Hiroshi, Furukawa, Akio, Awang, Muhamad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2002
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/1/116748.pdf
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author Osada, Noriyuki
Takeda, Hiroshi
Furukawa, Akio
Awang, Muhamad
author_facet Osada, Noriyuki
Takeda, Hiroshi
Furukawa, Akio
Awang, Muhamad
author_sort Osada, Noriyuki
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Leaf phenology was studied in individuals of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Euphorbiaceae), at various ontogenetic stages, in a Malaysian rain forest. The timing of leaf emergence was not synchronized among sapling individuals, and was not correlated with any meteorological factors of the preceding month. The timing of leaf fall in saplings was positively correlated with net radiation, and maximum and minimum temperature, but negatively correlated with relative humidity the preceding month, although these correlations were weak. The leaf production rate was larger under higher light, but the leaf fall rate was not related to the light regime of the saplings. Thus, leaf production was enhanced by the light availability for each individual, while leaf fall may have been enhanced by drought stress. Non-synchronous leaf production appears to be important for sapling growth, allowing saplings to occupy better-lit space quickly. On the other hand, tall trees showed a clear synchronous leaf-fall pattern, with an annual cycle, and no meteorological factors were correlated with the timing of leaf fall. Mature trees of this species produced flowers simultaneously with new leaves, after shedding their leaves. This suggests that the need to synchronize flowering might be the primary determinant of leaf production phenology in mature individuals.
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spelling upm-1167482025-07-04T08:03:14Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/ Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest Osada, Noriyuki Takeda, Hiroshi Furukawa, Akio Awang, Muhamad Leaf phenology was studied in individuals of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Euphorbiaceae), at various ontogenetic stages, in a Malaysian rain forest. The timing of leaf emergence was not synchronized among sapling individuals, and was not correlated with any meteorological factors of the preceding month. The timing of leaf fall in saplings was positively correlated with net radiation, and maximum and minimum temperature, but negatively correlated with relative humidity the preceding month, although these correlations were weak. The leaf production rate was larger under higher light, but the leaf fall rate was not related to the light regime of the saplings. Thus, leaf production was enhanced by the light availability for each individual, while leaf fall may have been enhanced by drought stress. Non-synchronous leaf production appears to be important for sapling growth, allowing saplings to occupy better-lit space quickly. On the other hand, tall trees showed a clear synchronous leaf-fall pattern, with an annual cycle, and no meteorological factors were correlated with the timing of leaf fall. Mature trees of this species produced flowers simultaneously with new leaves, after shedding their leaves. This suggests that the need to synchronize flowering might be the primary determinant of leaf production phenology in mature individuals. Cambridge University Press 2002 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/1/116748.pdf Osada, Noriyuki and Takeda, Hiroshi and Furukawa, Akio and Awang, Muhamad (2002) Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 18 (1). pp. 91-105. ISSN 0266-4674 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-tropical-ecology/article/abs/ontogenetic-changes-in-leaf-phenology-of-a-canopy-species-elateriospermum-tapos-euphorbiaceae-in-a-malaysian-rain-forest/1D8CDA47A0CF85A62606363303AC5AB4 10.1017/s0266467402002055
spellingShingle Osada, Noriyuki
Takeda, Hiroshi
Furukawa, Akio
Awang, Muhamad
Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest
title Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest
title_full Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest
title_fullStr Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest
title_full_unstemmed Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest
title_short Ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos (Ephorbiaceae), in a Malaysian rain forest
title_sort ontogenetic changes in leaf phenology of a canopy species, elateriospermum tapos (ephorbiaceae), in a malaysian rain forest
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116748/1/116748.pdf