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Performance of trees in forest canopies: explorations with a bottom‐up functional–structural plant growth model
Author(s) -
Sterck F. J.,
Schieving F.,
Lemmens A.,
Pons T. L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01342.x
Subject(s) - crown (dentistry) , canopy , shading , tree (set theory) , biology , tree structure , tree canopy , growth model , ecology , mathematics , botany , computer science , combinatorics , binary tree , medicine , computer graphics (images) , dentistry , mathematical economics
Summary• Here we present a functional–structural plant model that integrates the growth of metamers into a growing, three‐dimensional tree structure, and study the effects of different constraints and strategies on tree performance in different canopies. • The tree is a three‐dimensional system of connected metamers, and growth is defined by the flush probability of metamers. Tree growth was simulated for different canopy light environments. • The result suggest that: the constraints result in an exponential, logistic and decay phase; a mono‐layered‐leaf crown results from self‐shading in a closed canopy; a strong apical control results in slender trees like tall stature species; the interaction between weak apical control and light response results in a crown architecture and performance known from short stature species in closed forest; correlated leaf traits explain interspecific differences in growth, survival and adult stature. • The model successfully unravels the interaction effects of different constraints and strategies on tree growth in different canopy light environments.