Stomatal and boundary-layer conductances in an Amazonian terra firme rain forest.

Published online
20 Jul 1990
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2403590

Author(s)
Roberts, J. & Cabral, O. M. R. & Aguiar, L. F. de

Publication language
English
Location
Brazil

Abstract

Diurnal measurements of stomatal conductance (gs) and boundary-layer conductance (ga) were made using a diffusion porometer from a 40-m tower in the Reserva Florestal Ducke, near Manaus, Brazil, in 3 periods: Sep.-Oct. 1983, Jul.-Aug. 1984 and Mar.-Apr. 1985, which covered a range of soil water conditions. The canopy species measured were Piptadenia suaveolens, Licania micrantha, Bocoa viridiflora, Naucleopsis glabra, Enterolobium schomburgkii, Eschweilera fracta, Gustavia angusta and Rinorea racemosa; understorey species were 2 palms (Scheelea sp. and Astrocaryum sp.). Maximum gs values were observed near the top of the 40-m canopy, declining towards the forest floor; ga values also decreased but a slight maximum occurred 20 m above ground. Values of gs were correlated negatively with specific humidity deficit, and positively with solar radiation. Lowest gs values occurred at the same time as lowest soil water potentials.

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