Mapping leaf age structure in tropical moist forests

Leaf age regulates the physical and chemical properties of plant leaves in tropical moist forests and exerts considerable impacts on the leaf photosynthesis, thereby influencing their carbon sink potential. However, trees in this biome often asynchronously shed and rejuvenate leaves asynchronously, leading to diverse leaf ages that may vary from months to several years. However, in situ measurements of leaf age and related traits are still limited and thus the continental-scale distribution and variability of leaf age structures remain poorly understood. The significant knowledge gaps highlight the need and urgency to explore new technologies for unraveling the spatiotemporal variability in leaf age structure across tropical moist forests. In this presentation, Dr. Chen will introduce their recent studies about mapping tropical leaf age structure using state-of-the-art remote sensing techniques, and assessments of the spatial variations and temporal trends in tropical leaf age.

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