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A Model of Competition Incorporating Plasticity through Modular Foliage and Crown Development
Author(s) -
Sorrensen-Cothern Kristin A.,
Ford E. David,
Sprugel Douglas G.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
ecological monographs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.254
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1557-7015
pISSN - 0012-9615
DOI - 10.2307/2937102
Subject(s) - competition (biology) , resource acquisition is initialization , modular design , canopy , ecology , crown (dentistry) , resource (disambiguation) , competition model , resource distribution , stand development , tree (set theory) , resource allocation , computer science , biology , mathematics , economics , microeconomics , medicine , profit (economics) , computer network , mathematical analysis , dentistry , operating system
The model of competition for light presented here uses modular autonomy to incorporate plasticity in plant growth under competition. Once plants are characterized as composed of modules, then model structure for competition changes in a fundamental way. Interactions between the plant module and its local resource environment must be modeled rather than the traditionally viewed interactions between whole plants and their neighbors. We assume that a plant module interacts with its local resource environment regardless of whether this environment was altered by a neighbor or by the same plant. Two spatial processes are considered: resource acquisition and growth. The spatial pattern of resource acquisition by a module determines a growth and allocation pattern, e.g., the elongation of branches into a gap. The spatial structure of a module and its connection to the whole tree then determines the pattern of resource distribution and resource acquisition of the next time step.Plasticity of plant growth is incorporated by variation in both the efficiency of resource capture of modules and patterns of resource allocation for individuals of different canopy positions and results in individuals in the community having different spatial structures. The model simulates the three—dimensional development of tree crown structure over time. It is applied to the 30—yr development of a dense, spatially aggregated stand of Abies amabilis beginning with an initial pattern of seedlings. The importance of incorporation of plasticity is apparent when the model output is compared to observed height distribution and crown structure data. Simulations indicate that asymmetrical crown development, one form of plasticity, is advantageous to stand productivity and becomes more advantageous as the degree of spatial aggregation in the initial spacing of trees increases.