Leaf dynamics and maintenance of tree crowns in a Malaysian rain forest stand

1 Leaf demography was examined for trees of various heights over a 3.7-year period in a Malaysian rain forest. We compared demography between upper and lower parts of the crown and its relation to height. The results were analysed at the stand level by pooling several trees of various shade-tolerant species, as well as three species for which multiple individuals were sampled. 2 Photon flux density was generally higher in the upper than in the lower crowns. Leaf production rate and leaf loss rate were faster, and number of leaf cohorts and median leaf life span were therefore lower, in the upper crowns of most trees. Faster rates of leaf loss and shorter life spans were associated with increasing height, although leaf production rate was unaffected. 3 Leaf life span and specific leaf area were plastic traits which decreased with height within several shade-tolerant tree species, indicating functional convergence. 4 Vertical distribution of leaf biomass was almost even in the stand. Because leaf life span was shorter in the upper canopy, these leaves contributed most to litter production. The vertical structure of the forest stand was therefore maintained through dynamic processes in trees of various heights over short time-scales.

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