Prep notes for Oct. 26, 2004: leaves

Concepts: sun leaves & shade leaves, leaf anatomy, leaf morphology, leaf size, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf development, specialized leaves, sclerophylly, leaf lifespan, autumn color changes, leaf area index (LAI)

Questions:

• What functions do leaves serve?
• What traits might reduce self-shading?
• What morphological traits have what adaptive functions?
• What's important about leaf size?
• What's important about SLA?
• How are sclerophylly and leaf lifespan related?
• How are SLA and leaf lifespan related?
• Why do many trees' leaves change color before dropping in autumn?