The impact of light quality and leaf wetness on photosynthesis in north-west Andean tropical montane cloud forest

TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of light quality and leaf wetness on photosynthesis in north-west Andean tropical montane cloud forest

AU - Letts, M G

AU - Mulligan, M

PY - 2005/9

Y1 - 2005/9

N2 - Photosynthesis was limited by low-intensity photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and leaf wetness in a lower montane cloud forest (LMCF) of Cauca, Colombia. Mean PAR intensity remained below the saturation level for leaf-scale net photosynthesis (Pn) throughout the solar day during the wet season and for most of the solar day during the dry season. PAR represented a smaller fraction of total solar radiation (K) in LMCF than in lowland rain forest (LRF). In LMCF trees and shrubs, mean PAR-saturated Pn ranged from 4.3-10.6 mu mol C m(-2) s(-1) at 1450m, and from 3.5-10.2 mu mol C m(-2) s-1 at 2150 m. P-n was reduced by abaxial wetness in leaves of some trees and shrubs, and eliminated in others. This study indicates that persistent cloudiness and interception of cloud water by leaves limit LMCF productivity

AB - Photosynthesis was limited by low-intensity photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and leaf wetness in a lower montane cloud forest (LMCF) of Cauca, Colombia. Mean PAR intensity remained below the saturation level for leaf-scale net photosynthesis (Pn) throughout the solar day during the wet season and for most of the solar day during the dry season. PAR represented a smaller fraction of total solar radiation (K) in LMCF than in lowland rain forest (LRF). In LMCF trees and shrubs, mean PAR-saturated Pn ranged from 4.3-10.6 mu mol C m(-2) s(-1) at 1450m, and from 3.5-10.2 mu mol C m(-2) s-1 at 2150 m. P-n was reduced by abaxial wetness in leaves of some trees and shrubs, and eliminated in others. This study indicates that persistent cloudiness and interception of cloud water by leaves limit LMCF productivity

U2 - 10.1017/S0266467405002488

DO - 10.1017/S0266467405002488

M3 - Article

VL - 21

SP - 549

EP - 557

JO - JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY

JF - JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY

IS - 5

ER -