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Related Experiment Videos

Evolutionarily stable leaf area production in plant populations.

Niels P R Anten1

  • 1Department of Plant Ecology, Utrecht University, 800.84, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands. nielsanten@hotmail.com

Journal of Theoretical Biology
|August 17, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Plants evolve a stable leaf area index (ES-LAI) to maximize individual photosynthesis, which differs from the canopy structure that maximizes overall photosynthesis. This ES-LAI is influenced by leaf traits and light conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Photosynthesis Research

Background:

  • Canopy structure influences light capture and plant productivity.
  • Individual plant optimization may differ from population-level optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the evolutionarily stable leaf area index (ES-LAI) for plant stands.
  • To investigate the relationship between individual plant optimization and canopy structure.

Main Methods:

  • Analytical modeling to derive ES-LAI.
  • Comparison of model predictions with field measurements of leaf area index (LAI) and leaf nitrogen content.

Main Results:

  • An ES-LAI exists for a given total canopy nitrogen, optimizing individual photosynthesis.

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  • ES-LAI is greater than the optimal LAI for stand photosynthesis.
  • ES-LAI is positively correlated with leaf photosynthetic efficiency (leaf-PPNUE) and negatively with light extinction coefficient (K(L)), light availability, and apparent quantum yield (phi).

    • Conclusions:

    • Canopy structure is shaped by the maximization of individual plant photosynthesis per unit nitrogen.
    • Leaf traits like PPNUE and leaf inclination are causally linked to stand structural characteristics (e.g., LAI).