Waring, R. H.; Emmingham, W. H.; Gholz, H. L.; Grier, C. C. 1979. Variation in maximum leaf area of coniferous forests in Oregon and its ecological significance. Forest Science. 24(1): 131-140.
ABSTRACT. Maximum leaf areas (calculated for all surfaces) accumulated by 40 matureforest stands in western Oregon ranged from 5 to 53 m2m-2. Forests of the west-centralCascade Mountains had much more leaf area than forests in the eastern Siskiyou Mountainsalong the California border.
In both regions, environmental analyses correlated high maximum leaf areas with mod-erate air and soil temperature and with adequate soil moisture. The Siskiyou Mountains,with a more continental climate than the Cascades, had generally lower leaf areas. Therethe greater evaporation in the summer and colder winter temperatures apparently restrictleaf area development more than in the Cascades. In both regions, nutritional limitationsmay restrict the leaf areas to considerably less than the potential afforded by local climaticconditions. FOREST SCI. 24:131-140.
ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS. Biomass, environmental gradients, photosynthesis, respiration.