Estimating leaf area index of mature temperate forests using regressions on site and vegetation data

Canopy gap fraction and leaf area index (LAI) were measured using hemispherical photography in 91 mature forests across Switzerland, including coniferous, broadleaved and mixed stands. The gap fraction and LAI derived from five photographs per site could be reproduced with a high coefficient of determination (R² > 0.7) by regression against simple stand parameters obtained from vegetation surveys: coverages of the tree, shrub and herb layers, and tree height. The method appeared to be robust across the different types of forests. Applied to 981 sites across Switzerland, the regression model produced LAI values ranging from 1.4 to 6.7. These predictions were compared with site variables not included in the regression. LAI appeared limited by the altitude, with maximal values decreasing by one third from 400 to 2000 m above see level. Water availability was also clearly a limitation at sites with a negative water balance, i.e. where the yearly potential evapotranspiration exceeded the precipitation. High or low values of a humidity index based on the ground vegetation also corresponded to a limitation of the LAI, with shorter trees at dry sites and more open canopies at wet sites. Compared to optical measurements (including hemispherical photography), our regression method is fast and inexpensive. Such an approach appears very promising for obtaining reliable estimates of LAI for many sites with low costs. These estimates can then be fed into process models at the stand level.     

Dynamics of leaf area index and canopy openness of three forest types in a warm temperate zone

Deciduous broad-leaved forests (DBF), Larix principis-rupprechtii (LF) and Pinus tabulaeformis plantations (PF) are three typical forest communities in the warm temperate zone of the Dongling Mountains. In this study, we used an indirect method, hemispheric photography, to measure and analyze the dynamics of leaf area index (LAI) and canopy openness of the three forest communities. The results show that the LAI values of DBF and LF increased gradually with plant growth and development. The highest LAI value appeared in August, while canopy openness changed inversely with LAI. The lowest value appeared in November. DBF maintained a higher LAI in August and had a more open canopy in November compared with LF. For PF, we observed little changes in the LAI and canopy openness which was attributed to the leaf retention of this evergreen species. However, a similar relation between LAI and canopy openness was found for the three forest communities: canopy openness varied inversely with LAI. The relation is exponential and significant. Therefore, canopy openness is a good indicator of LAI in forests. This result can be used to test the validity of the LAI based on remote sensing and to provide a reference for the study of the canopy heterogeneity and its effect. This also benefits modeling for fluxes of carbon, water and energy from the level of the stand to landscape. __________ Translated from Journal of Plant Ecology, 2007, 31(3): 431–436 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

Changes in leaf stomatal traits of different aged temperate forest stands

Stomata control carbon and water vapor exchange between the leaves and the atmosphere, thus infl uencing photosynthesis and transpiration. Combinations of forest patches with different stand ages are common in nature, however, information of which stomatal traits vary among these stands and how, remains limited. Here, seven different aged forest stands(6, 14, 25, 36, 45, 55, and 100 years) were selected in typical temperate, mixed broadleaf-conifer forests of northeast China. Stomatal density, size and relative area of 624 species, including the same species in stands of different ages were selected. Stomatal density, size and relative area were distributed log-normally,differing across all species and plant functional groups. Stomatal density ranged from 4.2 to 1276.7 stomata mm~(–2), stomatal size ranged from 66.6 to 8315.7 μm~2, and stomatal relative area 0.1–93.3%. There was a significant negative relationship between density and size at the species and functional group levels, while the relative stomatal area was positively correlated with density and size. Stomatal traits of dominant species were relatively stable across different stand ages but were significantly different for herbs. The results suggest that stomatal traits remain relatively stable for dominant species in natural forests and therefore, spatial variation in stomatal traits across forest patches does not need to be incorporated in future ecological models.     

Importance of woody materials for seasonal variation in leaf area index from optical methods in a deciduous needleleaf forest

Woody materials (woody area index, WAI) is a key error source in estimating leaf area index (LAI) by optical methods, but how to correct the error caused by WAI during different seasons has not reached consensus. In this study, effective plant area index (PAI_e) was first estimated using two indirect optical methods (digital hemispherical photography, DHP, and LAI-2000) in a deciduous needleleaf forest, and then four different schemes for correcting the contribution of WAI to PAI_e were tested here. We also directly estimated the seasonality of LAI by a litter collection method and an allometric method. Directly subtracting WAI from PAI resulted in a greater degree of uncertainty in correcting seasonal changes of PAI_e from both DHP and LAI-2000. Therefore, we introduced a new correction factor, the stem-to-total area ratio, which was reasonable and useful for quantifying seasonal changes in the contribution of WAI to PAI_e. We finally recommend a practical scheme for correcting PAI_e from both DHP and LAI-2000, with accuracies as high as 88% and 87% during most growing seasons, respectively. Additionally, LAI values estimated from allometry were concordant with those estimated from litter collection, indicating that the allometry method is useful for tracking seasonal changes in LAI.     

Shoot structure, leaf area index and productivity of evergreen conifer stands

For 12 conifer species, the maximum ratio of shoot to leaf silhouette area of shade-acclimated shoots was found to vary from 0.50 to 0.99. Maximum leaf area index (leaf area per unit ground area) of conifer stands varied from 3.5 to 20, and maximum mean annual increment varied by a factor of 2. Significant correlations were found between leaf silhouette area ratio of shade-acclimated shoots and the maximum leaf area index (R(2) = 0.84) and the maximum mean annual increment (R(2) = 0.93). These results support a hypothesis that species to species differences in the morphology of shade-adapted shoots strongly affect both the development of leaf area and the productivity of stands of evergreen conifers.     

Estimating biomass in northern lower Michigan forest stands

Forest biomass data are now being sought by many forest managers and specialists. These data have been accumulating rapidly in recent years, but numerous gaps remain for various forest types, locations, and site quality levels. This paper illustrates how available information was carefully synthesized to generate biomass data for the evaluation and management of forest stands in northern lower Michigan. The basic approach involved the integration of published specific gravity and biomass distribution data with bolewood volumes predicted from regression equations relating these volumes to stand height and basal area. Preliminary evaluations of the data thus generated indicate that the approach should produce reasonable estimates of stand biomass in this region.     

苏南丘陵区主要林型叶面积指数季节动态

应用LAI-2000冠层分析仪,研究了苏南丘陵区主要林型的叶面积指数(LAI)季节动态。结果表明:4种林型的LAI随季节变化具有明显的规律性,充分反映了4种林型叶片的生长状态,LAI值由大到小依次为毛竹(3.45)>杉木(2.87)>麻栎(2.62)>马尾松(2.00);冠层空隙度总体变化趋势与LAI的总体变化趋势恰好相反,在8月份出现最小值,分别为杉木6.7%、毛竹2.8%、麻栎5.6%、马尾松15.1%;叶倾角的季节变化不大,均在一定范围内波动。对4种林型的冠层均匀性进行比较分析,结果发现,杉木林冠层均匀性最好,麻栎林冠层均匀性最差。对4种林型的叶面积指数与冠层空隙度进行回归分析,发现两者之间呈指数回归关系(R2>0.95),通式为:y=ae-bx。     

Calibration and assessment of seasonal changes in leaf area index of a tropical dry forest in different stages of succession

A simple measure of the amount of foliage present in a forest is leaf area index (LAI; the amount of foliage per unit ground surface area), which can be determined by optical estimation (gap fraction method) with an instrument such as the Li-Cor LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer. However, optical instruments such as the LAI-2000 cannot directly differentiate between foliage and woody components of the canopy. Studies investigating LAI and its calibration (extracting foliar LAI from optical estimates) in tropical forests are rare. We calibrated optical estimates of LAI from the LAI-2000 with leaf litter data for a tropical dry forest. We also developed a robust method for determining LAI from leaf litter data in a tropical dry forest environment. We found that, depending on the successional stage of the canopy and the season, the LAI-2000 may underestimate LAI by 17% to over 40%. In the dry season, the instrument overestimated LAI by the contribution of the woody area index. Examination of the seasonal variation in LAI for three successional stages in a tropical dry forest indicated differences in timing of leaf fall according to successional stage and functional group (i.e., lianas and trees). We conclude that when calculating LAI from optical estimates, it is necessary to account for the differences between values obtained from optical and semi-direct techniques. In addition, to calculate LAI from litter collected in traps, specific leaf area must be calculated for each species rather than from a mean value for multiple species.     

Optical and litter collection methods for measuring leaf area index in an old-growth temperate forest in northeastern China

Hemispherical photographs combined with litter collection were applied to determine seasonal dynamics of leaf area index (LAI) between the period of maximum leaf area and the leafless period from an old-growth temperate forest in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains, northeastern China. Our objective is to explore the change in the relationship between “true” LAI and effective LAI (calculated only from hemispherical photography) and to find the best LAI estimation models. Effective LAI in November is corrected for contribution of woody material and clumping at shoot and beyond shoot levels, to give minimum “true” LAI. The “true” LAI in each period is estimated as a sum of the minimum “true” LAI and litter collection LAI in each period. Power function regression calibration models were then carried out between “true” LAI and effective LAI in each period and the entire litter-fall period. Then, significance tests were applied to detect the differences among different models. The results showed that the average “true” LAI ranged from 2.74 ± 0.54 on November 1 to 6.64 ± 1.34 on July 1. For the entire season, average effective LAI was 53.16 % lower than the average “true” LAI. After significance tests, calibration models were classified into two types: (1) maximum LAI period and the period of maximum leaf fall; (2) the period during which leaves began falling and all deciduous leaves had fallen. Based on our experience, we believe that the classified models can produce reliable and accurate LA1 values for the needle and broad-leaved mixed forest stands under the non-destructive condition.     

Use of middle infrared radiation to estimate the leaf area index of a boreal forest

The leaf area index (LAI) of boreal forest can be estimated using reflected radiation recorded by satellite sensors. Measurements of visible and near infrared radiation are commonly used in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to estimate LAI. However, research, mainly in tropical forest, has demonstrated that LAI is related more closely to radiation of middle infrared wavelengths than of visible wavelengths. This paper derives a vegetation index, VI3, based on radiation from vegetation recorded at near and middle infrared wavelengths. For a boreal forest canopy, the relationship between VI3 and LAI was observed to be much stronger than that between NDVI and LAI. In addition, the LAI estimated using VI3 accounted for about 76% of the variation in field estimates of LAI, compared with about 46% when using the NDVI. We conclude that information provided by middle infrared radiation should be considered when estimating the leaf area index of boreal forest.     

Stand structure of hemiboreal old-growth forests: Characteristic features,variation among site types,and a comparison with FSC-certified mature stands in Estonia

To improve the silvicultural targets for ecologically sustainable forestry, we quantified functionally important structural features for the first time in a representative set of old-growth forests in hemiboreal Europe. Altogether, 23 old-growth stands of four site-type groups were compared with mature commercial stands nearby in the Estonian state forests that hold the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificate of sustainable forestry. These two treatments did not differ significantly in terms of tree-species diversity, volumes of woody debris of <20 cm diameter (including fine woody debris) and its decay-stage composition. However, mature stands had many more early-successional trees and lacked late-successional deciduous species; they also had a higher overall density and volume of live trees, due to abundant individuals of 10–39 cm diameter at breast height. Old-growth stands had at least twice as many live trees ≥40 cm, standing dead trees ≥30 cm and lying wood ≥20 cm in diameter, any freshly fallen debris, and regeneration. For lying wood ≥20 cm in diameter, the treatment effect depended on site type: both treatments of Vaccinium-type dry boreal forests were remarkably deadwood-poor (indicating historical management of the old-growth stands), while mature eutrophic stands of Aegopodium-type were most impoverished relative to old-growth levels. We conclude that many functional characteristics of old growth were present in the FSC-certified, mostly naturally regenerated, commercial stands. The main problem is the lack of very large trees, particularly of late-successional deciduous species, which should be addressed by their well-planned retention in cut areas and reconsideration of salvage logging strategies. A dense regeneration in old-growth stands also indicated the potential of selection cuttings. The study highlighted the need for region- and site-type specific numerical targets for sustainable forest management, which in the hemiboreal region should address the characteristic occurrence of late-successional deciduous trees on fertile soils and higher natural deadwood volumes than in typical boreal forests. For certification, the issues of structural impoverishment revealed both the inadequacy of some silvicultural practices and some indicators set by the national FSC-standard in Estonia.     

Efficiency of alternative forest inventory methods in partially harvested stands

Forest inventory is vital to all aspects of forest management and inventory methods can vary greatly in their accuracy, precision, efficiency and cost. In Maine, much of the forestland base has been managed using partial harvesting methods over the past two decades. These partial harvesting methods generally produce highly heterogeneous stand structures and composition. Consequently, it is currently unclear which inventory methods are best given the distinct spatial and structural heterogeneity that is created. We compared efficiency and stand-level inventory estimates using horizontal point, fixed area and horizontal line sampling measurement methods in 16 partially harvested stands across northern and central Maine. Some stand-level variables were sensitive to measurement method (e.g., volume, quadratic mean diameter and small stem density and basal area), while others were less sensitive (e.g., overall basal area and stem density). Efficiency, defined as a combination of precision of volume estimates and measurement time, varied among measurement methods at lower stand basal area values but was similar at higher basal area, with the exception of the fixed area method. Overall, horizontal line sampling proved to be a viable method in post-partial harvest stand conditions. Our results illustrate the trade-offs between precision and time costs involved in several measurement methods under a range of heterogeneous stand conditions.     

Decreasing the error in the measurement of the ecosystem effective leaf area index of a Pinus massoniana forest

Decreasing the forest ecosystem leaf-area index error(LAIe)helps accurately estimate the growth and light energy utilization of aboveground foliage.Analyzing light transmission in forest ecosystems can effectively determine LAIe.The LAI-2200 plant canopy analyzer(PCA)is used extensively for rapid field-effective LAI(LAIe)measurements and primarily to measure forest canopy LAIe values.However,sometimes this parameter must also be measured in forests with small clearings.In this study,we used the LAI-2200 PCA to obtain one A-value and four B-values each for the canopy,herbaceous layer,and forest ecosystem LAIe.Field measurements showed that the three LAIe types were obviously different.In certain quadrats,the average herbaceous layer(Dicranopteris dichotoma Bernh.)LAIe apparently exceeded that of the Pinus massoniana forest ecosystem.The sources of this error were measuring and recording A-value readings for small canopies and underestimating the ecosystem LAIe.We obtained similar coefficients of determination for both the pre-recomputation and post-recomputation of the canopy and forest ecosystem LAIe(R^2C 0.96 and R^2C 0.99,respectively);thus,the error was decreased.Measuring field LAIe with the LAI-2200 PCA and recomputation should compensate for LAIe underestimation in complex forest ecosystems.     

Modelling biomass and leaf area index in a sub-arctic Scandinavian mountain area

Estimates of biomass and leaf area index (LAI) are important variables in ecological and climate models. However, very little is known about the biomass and LAI of the vegetation in the Scandinavian mountain area. In this study, extensive field data consisting of diameter at breast height for 13?000 trees and height for 550 trees were collected. Furthermore, biomass and leaf area (LA) measurements for 46 mountain birch trees [Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii (Orlowa) Hämet-Ahti] and biomass and LA measurements for shrubs (e.g. Salix spp., Betula nana) at 36 sample plots were carried out. Multiplicative linear models for trees were fitted to tree biomass and LA measurements using basal area at breast height, height, crown diameter and diameter at stump height as explanatory variables. Additive linear models were fitted to shrub biomass and LAI measurements using coverage of shrubs, topographic variables and soil type as explanatory variables. The functions were then used to predict the biomass and LAI for trees and shrubs for the entire test area, which covers an area of 84 km² and is located at latitude 68° N. The mean total biomass estimates were 27?493 kg ha^?1 for the forest and 7650 kg ha^?1 for snow-protected heath and meadow vegetation. The LAIs were 2.06 and 0.52, respectively. For monitoring biomass and LAI in the Scandinavian mountain area, the functions could also be applied to data from traditional field-based inventories and the estimates might further be improved by combining the estimates from the test area with auxiliary information such as remote sensing images.     

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from mature forest stands in the boreal forest, Saskatchewan, Canada

Despite the spatial significance of Canada's boreal forest, there is very little known about CH₄ and N₂O emissions from non-peatlands within it. The primary objective of this project was to study the atmosphere–soil exchange of CH₄ and N₂O at three sites in the boreal forest of central Saskatchewan. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, CH₄ and N₂O emissions were measured along transects in three different mature forest stands (aspen, black spruce and jack pine) using a sealed chamber method. At the aspen site, the gross rates of mineralization and nitrification, and the relative contribution of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O emissions, were also measured using the ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique. Results indicated that the jack pine and black spruce sites were slight sinks of CH₄ (−0.123 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹and −0.017 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ respectively in 2006 and −0.095 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹and 0.045 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ respectively in 2007), whereas the aspen site was a net source (4.40 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2006 and 19.60 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2007). The high CH₄ emissions at the aspen site occurred at depressions that were water-filled due to above-average precipitation levels in 2005–2007. All three sites had very low cumulative N₂O emissions, ranging from −0.002 to 0.014 g N₂O–N m⁻² yr⁻¹ in both years. The ¹⁵N results indicated that N cycling at the aspen site was very conservative, allowing little N to escape the system as N₂O; the emissions that did occur were due primarily to a nitrification-related process.     

Applicability of non-destructive substitutes for leaf area in different stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) focusing on traditional forest crown measures

Since individual tree leaf area is an important measure for productivity as well as for site occupancy, it is of high interest in many studies about forest growth. The exact determination of leaf area is nearly impossible. Thus, a common way to get information about leaf area is to use substitutes. These substitutes are often variables which are collected in a destructive way which is not feasible for long term studies. Therefore, this study aimed at testing the applicability of using substitutes for leaf area which could be collected in a non-destructive way, namely crown surface area and crown projection area. In 8 stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.), divided into three age classes and two thinning treatments, a total of 156 trees were felled in order to test the relationship between leaf area and crown surface area and crown projection area, respectively. Individual tree leaf area of the felled sample trees was estimated by 3P-branch sampling with an accuracy of ±10%. Crown projection area and crown surface area were compared with other, more commonly used, but destructive predictors of leaf area, namely sapwood area at different heights on the bole. Our investigations confirmed findings of several studies that sapwood area is the most precise measure for leaf area because of the high correlation between sapwood area and the leaf area. But behind sapwood area at crown base and sapwood area at three tenth of the tree height the predictive ability of crown surface area was ranked third and even better than that of sapwood area at breast height (R² = 0.656 compared with 0.600). Within the stands leaf area is proportional to crown surface area. Using the pooled data of all stands a mixed model approach showed that additionally to crown surface area dominant height and diameter at breast height (dbh) improved the leaf area estimates. Thus, taking dominant height and dbh into account, crown surface area can be recommended for estimating the leaf area of individual trees. The resulting model was in line with many other findings on the leaf area and leaf mass relationships with crown size. From the additional influence of dominant height and dbh in the leaf area model we conclude that the used crown model could be improved by estimating the position of the maximum crown width and the crown width at the base of the crown depending on these two variables.     

Spatiotemporal pattern of urban forest leaf area index in response to rapid urbanization and urban greening

Rapid urbanization and urban greening have caused great changes to urban forests in China. Understanding spatiotemporal patterns of urban forest leaf area index(LAI) under rapid urbanization and urban greening is important for urban forest planning and management. We evaluated the potential for estimating urban forest LAI spatiotemporally by using Landsat TM imagery. We collected three scenes of Landsat TM(thematic mapper)images acquired in 1997, 2004 and 2010 and conducted a field survey to collect urban forest LAI. Finally, spatiotemporal maps of the urban forest LAI were created using a NDVI-based urban forest LAI predictive model.Our results show that normalized differential vegetation index(NDVI) could be used as a predictor for urban forest LAI similar to natural forests. Both rapid urbanization and urban greening contribute to the changing process of urban forest LAI. The urban forest has changed considerably from 1997 to 2010. Urban vegetated pixels decreased gradually from 1997 to 2010 due to intensive urbanization.Leaf area for the study area was 216.4, 145.2 and173.7 km~2 in the years 1997, 2004 and 2010, respectively.Urban forest LAI decreased sharply from 1997 to 2004 and increased slightly from 2004 to 2010 because of numerous greening policies. The urban forest LAI class distributions were skewed toward low values in 1997 and 2004. Moreover, the LAI presented a decreasing trend from suburban to downtown areas. We demonstrate the usefulness of TM remote-sensing in understanding spatiotemporal changing patterns of urban forest LAI under rapid urbanization and urban greening.     

Methodology comparison for slope correction in canopy leaf area index estimation using hemispherical photography

The slope effect and correction methods for estimation of canopy gap fraction, leaf area index (LAI), mean leaf angle and clumping index using hemispherical photography, were investigated. The evaluation was carried out in tropical cloud forest and plantations in South-East Kenya in order to consider a range of canopy architecture and slopes up to 65%. The aim was to compare two acquisition techniques and various correction procedures. All estimates assume uniform slope, canopy parallel to ground and homogeneous canopy structure at the photo site level.

(1) Photographs oriented to local zenith (levelled acquisition). Calculation and removal of sky parts of the hemisphere obstructed by topography. Azimuthal inversion of gap fraction without prior averaging, deriving local LAI estimates (quasi-random model). (i) Fixed path lengths over azimuths. Zenith reference axis. LAI referred to horizontal and corrected for topographic shading. (ii) Variable path lengths over azimuths. Normal to slope reference axis. LAI adjusted to horizontal by dividing by the slope cosine.

(2) Photographs oriented parallel to slope (tilted acquisition). Fixed path lengths over azimuths. Normal to slope reference axis. LAI adjusted to horizontal by dividing by the slope cosine. Azimuthal inversion of gap fraction without prior averaging, deriving local LAI estimates (quasi-random model).

Gap fractions present a stronger upslope/downslope asymmetry if retrieved from levelled acquisition. As a result, gap dispersion index and clumping index proved to be significantly higher for levelled acquisition (P < 0.001). LAI estimates adjusted to horizontal are not significantly different, whether retrieved from levelled or tilted acquisitions, up to 30% slopes. From levelled acquisition, fixed and variable path length do not yield significantly different LAI estimates along the whole slope gradient. From tilted acquisition, LAI values were systematically higher than from levelled acquisitions, the stronger the slope, the higher the difference. Mean leaf angles do not differ significantly (P > 0.05) for fixed vs. variable path lengths along the slope gradient up to 30%. For more severe slopes, variable path lengths yield lower mean leaf angle values. The interpretation of results from tilted acquisition remains uncertain. As a preliminary study, no preference is suggested for the levelled or tilted acquisition technique. Further investigation is needed and indirect optical derived estimates should be checked against direct reference measures, which are almost entirely lacking for mountainous areas.     

不同林分类型樗蚕自然种群动态规律

该文研究了3种林分类型樗蚕Philosamia cynthia自然种群动态.结果表明:樗蚕世代内种群数量呈不断减少趋势;在各虫期中,1～2龄幼虫存活率最低,卵期存活率最高;不同世代间,第1代存活率高于第2代;在不同林分类型中枣粮间作存活率最低,而臭椿片林最高.在不同世代间各虫期的死亡原因和死亡率及变异程度有所不同,在不同年度间以蛹期死亡率变异最大;在不同林分类型中枣粮间作类型中樗蚕世代总死亡率及各虫期死亡率高于臭椿片林和臭椿行道树.     

Two-compartment models for describing temporal variation in the effective leaf area index of Robinia pseudoacacia stands on the Loess Plateau

Leaf area index (LAI) is a key parameter in many ecological models and its phenology significantly affects on net ecosystem production in deciduous forests. We examined trends in LAIe (effective leaf area index) using two-compartment models to test effects of stand age and slope aspect on seasonal rates of LAIe increase (k₁) and decrease (k₂). LAIe measurements were acquired from 24 sample plots over five months and used to develop robust predictive models for modeling LAIe dynamics. Generally, the stands’ k₁ values were substantially greater than their k₂ values. The LAIe increased rapidly between leaf emergence and saturation, and then lower slowly from leaf saturation to senescence. The strongest increase in LAIe was observed in 11- to 15-year-old stands on shady slopes (k₁ = 4.76) and in young stands (<10 years) on sunny slopes (k₁ = 3.94), but k₂ values were largest in mature stands. The trees on shady slopes generally had higher k₁ and lower k₂ values than those on sunny slopes, except in the youngest stand. The results showed that two-compartment models can robustly describe leaf growth and loss rates in black locust stands, and that both stand age and aspect both strongly affect the rate and magnitude of changes in LAIe during the growing season. Hence, the two-compartment model is recommended as an effective method when monitoring the LAIe quantitative dynamics of broad-leaved forest.