Research Commons
      • Browse 
        • Communities & Collections
        • Titles
        • Authors
        • By Issue Date
        • Subjects
        • Types
        • Series
      • Help 
        • About
        • Collection Policy
        • OA Mandate Guidelines
        • Guidelines FAQ
        • Contact Us
      • My Account 
        • Sign In
        • Register
      View Item 
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Research
      • Science and Engineering
      • Science and Engineering Papers
      • View Item
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Research
      • Science and Engineering
      • Science and Engineering Papers
      • View Item
      JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

      Light interception efficiency explained by two simple variables: a test using a diversity of small- to medium-sized woody plants

      Duursma, R.A.; Falster, Daniel S.; Valladares, F.; Sterck, F.J.; Pearcy, R.W.; Lusk, Christopher H.; Sendall, K.M.; Nordenstahl, M.; Houter, N.C.; Atwell, B.J.; Kelly, N.; Kelly, J.W.G.; Liberloo, M.; Tissue, D.T.; Medlyn, B.E.; Ellsworth, D.S.
      DOI
       10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03943.x
      Link
       onlinelibrary.wiley.com
      Find in your library  
      Citation
      Export citation
      Duursma, R.A., Falster, D.S., Valladares, F., Sterck, F.J., Pearcy, R.W., …, Ellsworth, D.S. (2012). Light interception efficiency explained by two simple variables: a test using a diversity of small- to medium-sized woody plants. New Phytologist, 193(2), 397-408.
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/6064
      Abstract
      •Plant light interception efficiency is a crucial determinant of carbon uptake by individual plants and by vegetation. Our aim was to identify whole-plant variables that summarize complex crown architecture, which can be used to predict light interception efficiency.

      •We gathered the largest database of digitized plants to date (1831 plants of 124 species), and estimated a measure of light interception efficiency with a detailed three-dimensional model. Light interception efficiency was defined as the ratio of the hemispherically averaged displayed to total leaf area. A simple model was developed that uses only two variables, crown density (the ratio of leaf area to total crown surface area) and leaf dispersion (a measure of the degree of aggregation of leaves).

      •The model explained 85% of variation in the observed light interception efficiency across the digitized plants. Both whole-plant variables varied across species, with differences in leaf dispersion related to leaf size. Within species, light interception efficiency decreased with total leaf number. This was a result of changes in leaf dispersion, while crown density remained constant.

      •These results provide the basis for a more general understanding of the role of plant architecture in determining the efficiency of light harvesting.
      Date
      2012-01
      Type
      Journal Article
      Publisher
      Wiley
      Collections
      • Science and Engineering Papers [3124]
      Show full item record  

      Usage

       
       
       

      Usage Statistics

      For this itemFor all of Research Commons

      The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wānanga o WaikatoFeedback and RequestsCopyright and Legal Statement