Composition, leaf area index and standing biomass of eucalypt open forests near Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia

• DOI: 10.1071/bt99022
• Publication Date: 2005-12-19T07:09:57Z
• Authors: A. P. O'Grady; X. Chen; D. Eamus; L. B. Hutley
• Keywords: Dry season; Basal area; Understory; Sclerophyll; Plant litter

Savanna communities dominate the wet–dry tropical regions of world and are an important community type in monsoonal northern Australia. As such they have a significant impact on water carbon balance this region. Above 1200-mm isohyet, savanna’s dominated by Eucalyptus miniata–E. tetrodonta open forests. We described detail composition structure as well seasonal patterns leaf area index above-ground biomass E. forests Gunn Point region near Darwin Northern Territory In all, 29 tree species from four phenological guilds were recorded these Stand suggests that still recovering impacts cyclone Tracy subsequent frequent fires. miniata contributors to overstorey standing (>70%), both strongly correlated basal area. Leaf was at maximum (about 1.0) end wet season declined over dry about 30–40%. There proportionally greater changes understorey reflecting contribution deciduous semi-deciduous strata. Standing 55 t ha –1 . Detailed descriptions inputs into development for