Evaluation of methods to estimate foliage density in the understorey of a tropical evergreen forest

Jain, Manjari and Kuriakose, Giby and Balakrishnan, Rohini (2010) Evaluation of methods to estimate foliage density in the understorey of a tropical evergreen forest. In: Current Science (Bangalore), 98 (4). pp. 508-515.

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Abstract

Foliage density and leaf area index are important vegetation structure variables. They can be measured by several methods but few have been tested in tropical forests which have high structural heterogeneity. In this study, foliage density estimates by two indirect methods, the point quadrat and photographic methods, were compared with those obtained by direct leaf counts in the understorey of a wet evergreen forest in southern India. The point quadrat method has a tendency to overestimate, whereas the photographic method consistently and ignificantly underestimates foliage density. There was stratification within the understorey, with areas close to the ground having higher foliage densities.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Current Science (Bangalore)
Publisher:	Indian Academy of Sciences
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords:	Forest structure; foliage density; leaf area index; point quadrat; Western Ghats
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited:	12 Apr 2010 08:16
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:59
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/27049

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