Abstract

MELO-CRUZ, Omar; RODRIGUEZ-SANTOS, Nathaly  and  ROJAS-RAMIREZ, Ferney. Foliar architecture patterns of five native woody species utilized for ecological restoration in Bogotá. Colomb. for. [online]. 2012, vol.15, n.1, pp.119-130. ISSN 0120-0739.

This research was carried out in La Poma Ecological Park, which is located on the Sabana de Bogotá and corresponds to an area of Lower Montane dry forest. Frequent incidences of frost means that it is a challenging environment for vegetation growth. Leaf components, patterns of canopy architecture and functional growth parameters were evaluated and characterized for populations of Abatia parviflora (Ap), Dodonaea viscosa (Dv), Escallonia paniculata(Ep), Baccharis macrantha (Bm) and Quercus humboldtii (Qh) that ranged in age from one to ten years. We hypothesized that particular growth tendencies were associated with a specific architectural pattern. Morphometric leaf, canopy architecture and functional growth variables were evaluated for these species. An Anova (P <0.05) was performed for each variable along with a multiple range Tukey test that separated the means. We found that the species with higher photosynthetic efficiency and higher dry matter accumulation capacity expressed in biomass were Qh and Dv. These species have an erectophil canopy with the highest light absorption. The other species (Ap, Ep, and Bm) have planophil and plagiophil canopies that have a lower productive capacity. This work provides information on the potential use of woody shrub species in environments where trees have restricted growth.

Keywords : woody shrub; leaf area; forest biomass; global climate change; Andean plant ecophysiology; leaf diversity; canopy.

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