The influence of seasonality on leaf production and canopy dynamics was evaluated in four areas in the Rio Doce State Park—RDSP, which is part of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve in Marliéria city, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Leaf production was determined during a period of two years (2007 I and 2008 II) and on a monthly basis (25 collectors of 0.25 m 2 ) to determine dry mass and specific leaf area at four different areas (Preta, Central, Garapa, and Aníbal). Leaf area index of canopy values (LAI-canopy) was determined using hemispheric canopy photographs in October 2008 and March 2009. Specific leaf area of the leaf litter samples (LAI-SLA) was calculated during November (2008) and March (2009). Leaf production followed a seasonal rhythm, with higher cumulative production between the middle of the dry season and beginning of the rainy season (August to November). The LAI-canopy values did not have significant variations between the four areas evaluated; however, significant difference between seasons was observed in the Aníbal and Central areas. The LAI-SLA was higher in Aníbal while Preta, Central, and Garapa presented similar values. Our results evidenced the possible influence of the leaf fraction on canopy dynamics and LAI and revealed the rapid leaf renewal characteristics of seasonal semideciduous forests. We observed spatial heterogeneity of semideciduous forests maintaining a partial canopy cover even in the season with the greatest leaf fall. This explains to the absence of any significant correlation between leaf production and LAI-canopy as observed in the present study.

中文翻译：

---

巴西东南部热带大西洋森林镶嵌中的冠层动态

在巴西东南部米纳斯吉拉斯州 Marliéria 市大西洋森林生物圈保护区的一部分，Rio Doce 州立公园 - RDSP 的四个区域评估了季节性对叶片生产和冠层动态的影响。在两年期间（2007 年 I 和 2008 II 年）和每月（25 个 0.25 m 2 收集器）测定叶产量，以确定四个不同区域（Preta、Central、Garapa 和阿尼巴尔）。冠层值的叶面积指数 (LAI-canopy) 是使用 2008 年 10 月和 2009 年 3 月的半球冠层照片确定的。在 2008 年 11 月和 2009 年 3 月期间计算了凋落物样本的比叶面积 (LAI-SLA)。叶片生产遵循季节性规律，旱季中期和雨季开始（8 月至 11 月）之间的累积产量较高。LAI 冠层值在评估的四个区域之间没有显着差异；然而，在阿尼巴尔和中部地区观察到明显的季节差异。Aníbal 的 LAI-SLA 较高，而 Preta、Central 和 Garapa 的值相似。我们的结果证明了叶分数对冠层动态和 LAI 的可能影响，并揭示了季节性半落叶林的快速叶更新特征。我们观察到半落叶林的空间异质性，即使在落叶最大的季节也能保持部分树冠覆盖。这解释了在本研究中观察到的叶片产量和 LAI 冠层之间没有任何显着相关性。