Patterns of litterfall and nutrient return at different altitudes in evergreen hardwood forests of Central Taiwan

Table 1 Sites characteristic of nature hardwoods among three elevations in central Taiwan

Sites	Location	Elevation (m a.s.l.)	Mean air temperature (°C)	Rainfall (mm year⁻¹)	Mean air humidity (%)	Area (ha)	Leaf area index^a (m² m⁻²)
Mt Peitungyen	24 °04′24″ N	2,098	12.3	2,802.5	91.2	2,373	1.27^z,b
Mt Peitungyen	121 °07′42″ E	2,098	12.3	2,802.5	91.2	2,373	1.27^z,b
HSEF	24 °04′31″ N	1,066	19.4	3,041.1	84.8	210	1.81^y
HSEF	121 °02′05″ E	1,066	19.4	3,041.1	84.8	210	1.81^y
Lienhauchi	23 °55′51″ N	782	20.3	2,132.5	96.1	461	2.02^x
Lienhauchi	120 °53′34″ E	782	20.3	2,132.5	96.1	461	2.02^x

HSEF Hui-Sun Experiment Forest, Nationl Chung Hsing University
^aWe measured leaf area index in March, 2010
^bThe means of leaf area index with the same letter (x, y, z) do not differ significantly at α = 0.05

ISSN: 1297-966X