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Stratification of δ13C values of leaves in Amazonian rain forests

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Summary

The contribution of soil respiration to the photosynthesis of the shade flora in the Amazon forest was evaluated by measuring the δ13C values of leaves collected at different levels in two forest communities. Canopy leaves have an average δ13C of-30.5‰ in the podsol forest and-28.7‰ in the laterite forest. Leaves from plants in the lower forest strata have a significantly lower value of-35.2‰ in the podsol forest and-34.3‰ in the laterite forest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Centro de Ecologia, Aptdo. 1827, Caracas, Venezuela

    E. Medina

  2. Physics and Engineering Laboratory, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

    P. Minchin

Authors
  1. E. Medina
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  2. P. Minchin
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Additional information

Mailing address of the first author: Before May 31, 1980: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 USA. After May 31: Centro de Ecologia, IVIC Aptdo. 1827. Caracas, Venezuela

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Medina, E., Minchin, P. Stratification of δ13C values of leaves in Amazonian rain forests. Oecologia 45, 377–378 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540209

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540209

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