A simple technique of random leaf collecting for biometric studies in a tree stand

The method reflects proportions in the number of leaves of different sizes and shapes, which appear in a tree stand. The study was carried out during autumn leaf fall, in about a hundred years old tree stand, dominated by beech. Leaves were collected three times, altogether with assessment of foliage density. For all gathered leaves, the width and length were measured and the data were statistically analyzed. Differences among all three samples were significant, which indicates different size of falling leaves in the following periods. Thus, only the research carried on at the end of leaves falling allows collecting a sample which represents proportions among leaves of different sizes in the tree stand.