LIGHT CLIMATE AS A FACTOR IN THE MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF ATHEROSPERMA-MOSCHATUM IN A TASMANIAN FOREST

The growth of saplings of Atherosperma moschatum within a Tasmanian forest during 1987/88 was negatively correlated with canopy closure. The dry weights and specific leaf weights of new leaves were also negatively correlated with canopy closure, but leaf areas showed a maximum at an intermediate canopy closure. Leaf chlorophyll concentration was positively correlated with canopy closure. Internode length was not correlated with canopy closure, but the ratio of leaf dry weight to internode length was negatively correlated with canopy closure. These results indicate that the load of photosynthetically active radiation may be a major determinant of the variation in plant development.