Scale dependence of canopy trait distributions along a tropical forest elevation gradient

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.14068
• Publication Date: 2016-06-29T05:37:08Z
• Authors: Gregory P. Asner; Roberta E. Martin; Christopher B. An...; Katherine Kryston; Nicholas Vaughn; David E. Knapp; Lisa Patrick Bentley; Alexander Shenkin; Norma Salinas; Felipe Sinca; Raul Tupayachi; Katherine Quispe ...; Milenka Montoya P...; Flor Delis Ccori ...; Sandra Díaz; Brian J. Enquist; Yadvinder Malhi
• Keywords: Elevation (ballistics); Trait

Average responses of forest foliar traits to elevation are well understood, but far less is known about trait distributional at multiple ecological scales. This limits our understanding the scales which variation occurs in response environmental drivers and change. We analyzed compared canopy distributions using field sampling airborne imaging spectroscopy along an Andes-to-Amazon gradient. Field-estimated were generated from three community-weighting methods, remotely sensed estimates made defined by grain size extent. Field remote sensing approaches revealed increases average leaf mass per unit area (LMA), water, nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) polyphenols with increasing elevation. Foliar nutrients photosynthetic pigments displayed little no trend. Sample weighting had impact on field-estimated Plot representativeness landscape decreased Remote indicated elevation-dependent variance skew. Multiscale invariance LMA, water NSC mark these as candidates for tracking changing climate. Trait-based studies can be greatly enhanced multiscale possible spectroscopy.