A plot-based method for rapid estimation of forest canopy chemistry

In this study we present a rapid method to scale the leaf-level chemistry of forest stands to the whole-canopy level. The method combines simple leaf-level measurements of mass and chemistry with a camera-based technique to estimate the fractional distribution of speciesʹ foliage area in a forest canopy. Results using this methodology for the estimation of whole-canopy N concentration (g/100 g) are presented and are shown to be comparable with those derived directly from litter fall collection. The ability to efficiently scale leaf-level traits to whole forest canopies enhances our ability to examine key relationships associated with these traits at various levels from the leaf to the forest stand and, with remote sensing technologies, to larger landscapes.