LONG-TERM VARIATION OF LITTER FALL, CANOPY LEAF-AREA AND FLOWERING INA EUCALYPTUS-MACULATA FOREST ON THE SOUTH COAST OF NEW-SOUTH-WALES

Litter fall, canopy leaf area and environmental conditions were monito red in a regrowth stand of Eucalyptus maculata Hook. in Kioloa State F orest on the south coast of New South Wales, from spring 1977 to winte r 1992. Litter fall during the first half of the study period was stro ngly influenced by two of the most serious droughts that had occurred in 100 years. Canopy renewal and, hence, leaf fall and changes of leaf area index (LAI), were also influenced by the flowering phenology of E. maculata. Total annual litter fall (including bark shed from lower holes) averaged 5.7 t ha(-1) and ranged from 3.1 up to 7.5 t ha(-1). T he respective means (plus absolute ranges) of annual leaf, twig and ba rk fall were 2.8 (1.5-4.2), 0.9 (0.3-1.4) and 1.6 (0.5-3.1) t ha(-1). Forest LAI varied between 0.7 and 5 m(2) m(-2). Leaves comprised 50% o f the average annual litter fall; bark shed from lower boles of E. mac ulata contributed 0.63 t ha(-1) to average annual bark fall. Flower bu ds were produced by a proportion of overstorey trees of E. maculata ab out every second year. Synchronous production and flowering of buds on all trees was observed only once in 15 years. Less than 15% of flower buds (overall) produced fruit.