Significant overestimation of needle surface area estimates based on needle dimensions in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Needle length and width at midpoint are often used to make estimates of needle surface area for conifers. For these estimates, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) fascicles are assumed to be cylindrical; thus, for a two-needle pine, the cross section of a needle within the fascicle is assumed to be hemicylindrical. The objectives of this study were to determine whether these assumptions lead to a good estimate of the actual surface area and how needles vary with tree age and crown position. We used a digital scanning microscope to measure needle width, thickness, and perimeter at 11 positions along 28 needles from different crown positions in different-aged trees and found that they varied with position within the individual needle as well as with tree age and crown position. Needle shape was relatively constant: needle width and perimeter both increased from the base to the needle midpoint and then decreased slightly to the needle tip, but needles were not hemicylindrical and actual perimeters were nearly 12% larger than predicted perimeters. The predicted surface areas based on measurements of width at the needle midpoint and length need to be reduced by 9% to account for the fact that needles taper and are not cylindrical. Furthermore, tree age and crown position must be considered when crown-level estimates are made.