Abstract
The seasonal growth of a heath on a ground-water podzol in southern Victoria is presented. Seasonal changes in the dry weight of standing vegetation, dry weight of surface roots, and soil moisture were followed. Three phases of growth are obvious. The first phase, shoot growth in late spring-early summer, may be the result of a redistribution of metabolites. During the second phase, a significant increase in the dry weight of tops may occur; this presumably leads to an increase in evapotranspiration and a decrease in soil moisture. Death of some roots then occurs, followed by abscission of older leaves and death of weaker plants. Any increase in the biomass of tops is thus cancelled in this heath ecosystem. With reduction in leaf area, evapotranspiration decreases and soil moisture increases. In this third phase in late summer, the root weight increases to approximately that of the previous winter. Thus the ecosystem maintains a fluctuating equilibrium in root-top biomass from year to year.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Heath shoot growth occurred in late spring to early summer.
Verbatim
e0“The first phase, shoot growth in late spring-early summer”
t0“Growth of heath vegetation”
Claim · model-written summary
Dry weight of tops may rise significantly in the second phase.
Verbatim
e0“During the second phase, a significant increase in the dry weight of tops may occur”
t0“Growth of heath vegetation”
Claim · model-written summary
Increased tops were inferred to increase evapotranspiration.
Verbatim
e0“this presumably leads to an increase in evapotranspiration”
t0“Growth of heath vegetation”
Claim · model-written summary
Increased tops were inferred to decrease soil moisture.
Not reportedQualifier
Verbatim
e0“and a decrease in soil moisture”
t0“Growth of heath vegetation”
Claim · model-written summary
Some roots died, followed by older leaf abscission and weaker plant death.
Verbatim
e0“Death of some roots then occurs, followed by abscission of older leaves and death of weaker plants.”
t0“Growth of heath vegetation”
Claim · model-written summary
Losses cancelled any increase in top biomass.
Verbatim
e0“Any increase in the biomass of tops is thus cancelled in this heath ecosystem.”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced leaf area accompanied decreased evapotranspiration and increased soil moisture.
Verbatim
e0“With reduction in leaf area, evapotranspiration decreases and soil moisture increases.”
t0“Growth of heath vegetation”
Claim · model-written summary
Root weight in late summer returned approximately to its previous-winter level.
Verbatim
e0“In this third phase in late summer, the root weight increases to approximately that of the previous winter.”
t0“Growth of heath vegetation”