Temporal and spatial variations of canopy temperature over a C3C4 mixture grassland

✍ Scribed by S. Shimoda; T. Oikawa

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 535 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6087
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6152

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

This study discusses the photosynthetic pathway types involved in canopy temperature measurements on a mixed grassland consisting of C~3~ and C~4~ plants (dominant species in biomass were Solidago altissima (C~3~), Miscanthus sinensis (C~4~), and Imperata cylindrica (C~4~)). In the wet conditions immediately after the rainy season, the mean canopy temperature for S. altissima was the lowest among the dominant species, mainly due to its leaf conductance being twice as large as the other two species. Despite using the same C~4~ photosynthetic pathway, M. sinensis had a lower apparent canopy temperature than I. cylindrica due to a smaller proportion of sunlit elements in the field of view. In the dry conditions during late July, the mean canopy temperatures of the three dominant species were within 0·3 °C of one another. These results can be explained by poor water conditions for C~3~ species (S. altissima). The simultaneous survey of vegetation and thermal imaging can help clarify characteristics of C~3~ and C~4~ canopy temperature over complicated grassland. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.