A methodology for the estimation of light environments under a forest canopy from hemispherical photographs of sites within the forest and a computerized technique using a common video camera and a cheap video scanner for image analysis is described. Estimated diurnal light intensity using this technique was compared with the measured data. Under cloudy conditions, the estimated data had a high positive correlation with the measured (r=0.966 maximum), whereas under clear conditions with some clouds, the estimated instantaneous data deviated from the measured data because of the diatance between the photon sensors, one for open light and the other for forest sites. However, for the three hours' means or the diurnal integrated data of the photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD), the measured data correlated strongly (r=0.971 and r=0.982, respectively) with the estimate from photographs. Using the above technique, both relative light intensity (RLI) for cloudy conditions, and also time separated gap light index (GLI, the ratio of integrated PPFD over one year inside and outside the forest) for clear condition, were estimated in order to demonstrate a relation to the seedling growth of the six species of Dipterocarps (Anisoptera costata, Shorea seminis, S. ovalis, S. academia, Hopea mengarawan, Cotylelodium burckii). RLI was highly correlated to daily GLI calculated for a whole year, but not with time separated GLI. The vertical growth was inhibited by strong morning light for S. ovalis and C. burckii, and by strong late afternoon light for S. academia. This may imply that the vertical growth inhibition observed in high RLI is not caused by strong mid day light, but by other factors such as the red light/far red light ratio.
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