Abstract
Spatial variation in photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was investigated in detail at different heights within the canopy of aMiscanthus sinensis grassland to evaluate the light environment of microsites for establishment of heliophilic tree seedlings. Highly heterogeneous patterns of light distribution were revealed within the apparently uniform grass canopies, especially under direct light. The frequency distribution patterns of relative PPFD (RPFD) were compared among different solar and sky conditions. With increasing height in the canopy, the mean RPFD value and standard deviation (SD) increased, while the skewness and kurtosis of the distribution decreased. The mean RPFD and SD were higher, especially at higher solar elevation angles, under direct light than those under diffuse light conditions. The frequency distribution of RPFD was more platykurtic under direct light and at higher solar elevation angles.
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Tang, YH., Washitani, I., Tsuchiya, T. et al. Spatial heterogeneity of photosynthetic photon flux density in the canopy ofMiscanthus sinensis . Ecol. Res. 4, 339–349 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348453
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348453