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Specific Leaf Area
Laboratory 4
Forest Ecology - FOR 3213
Purpose: to learn how to measure specific leaf area (SLA) and compare the morphology of sun and shade leavesMethods: Collect 5 leaves each from sun and shade sites from conifer and hardwood trees. You may choose any species, but select all the leaves from the same species of conifer and hardwood. Measure leaf area and oven dry weight (ODW) after 24 h at 70 ºC. The leaf area of hardwoods will be measured with an optical planimeter. Multiply the display value by 2 to calculate total two-sided leaf area. Measure conifer needles for radius ( r ) and length ( l ) and use the following equation to calculate area per fascicle (Af): Af = 2rl (n + p ), where n = number of needles per fascicle. Report: Show data from the class in a table. Describe differences in SLA and explain why the differences exist. What morphological differences in the leaf are associated with the differences in SLA? What is the adaptive value of the differences? Are thin leaves better adapted to full sun or deep shade? Explain. The capacity to change leaf morphology from sun to shade environments is called plasticity. Are all species equally plastic in leaf morphology? Which species are plastic and which are not? Give examples.
Leaf Area ________________________________________________________________ leaf type species area per leaf, cm 2 specific leaf area, cm2 g-1broadleaf, sun broadleaf, shade conifer, sun conifer, shade |
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