Laurel forests in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Pt.1. The site, stand structure and stand leaf area distribution
1996
Morales, D. | Jimenez, M.S. | Gonzalez-Rodriguez, A.M. | Cermak, J.
Stand structure and leaf area distribution of a laurel forest in the Agua Garcia mountains of Tenerife are described. The site is situated at 820 m a.s.l., faces NNE, and has a humid mediterranean climate. Summer droughts are mitigated by relatively high air humidity and clouds. The natural mixed hardwood forest is composed of six major tree species: Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco, Persea indica (L.) Spreng, Myrica faya Ait., Erica arborea L. and two species of Ilex (I. platyphylla Webb and Berth. and I. canariensis Poivet.). The experimental stand had a density of 1693 trees ha(-1), a basal area of 33.7 m(2)ha(-1), and a cumulated volume of above-ground parts of trees of 231 m(3) ha(-1) with a corresponding dry mass of 204 ton ha(-1). Diameters at breast height ranged from 6 to 46 cm. Mean concentration of plant dry mass per volume was 1.17 kg m(-3). The vertical pattern of leaf area distribution in individual trees from all tree species was characterized by a Gaussian-like curve. Stand leaf area index was 7.8. These evergreen, broad-leaved (laurisilva or lucidophyllous) forests represent a relic forest that was widespread in the Mediterranean region some 20 million years ago. Our data illustrate some of the structural characteristics of this historically widespread forest type.
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