Related Concept Videos
02:45Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
02:16Light Acquisition
In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
03:02Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Vascular plants, which account for over 90% of the Earth’s vegetation, all undergo primary growth—which lengthens roots and shoots. Many land plants, notably woody plants, also undergo secondary growth—which thickens roots and shoots.
01:57Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
02:19Morphogenesis
Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.
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Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
10:14
Reconstructing Terrestrial Paleoclimate and Paleoecology with Fossil Leaves Using Digital Leaf Physiognomy and Leaf Mass Per Area
Published on: October 25, 2024
Seasonality and phenology alter functional leaf traits.
Athena D McKown1, Robert D Guy, M Shofiul Azam
1Department of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Forest Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada. admckown@gmail.com
Oecologia
|December 6, 2012
Summary
Plant phenology significantly impacts functional leaf traits, even before fall senescence. Key traits like photosynthetic capacity and leaf mass change substantially after bud set in black cottonwood.
Area of Science:
- Plant ecophysiology
- Functional leaf traits
- Phenology
Background:
- Functional leaf traits are typically not studied in relation to canopy phenological phases.
- Leaf traits in deciduous species vary seasonally, but late-summer changes before senescence are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of phenology on canopy physiology by examining leaf traits before and after bud set.
- To understand how functional leaf traits change throughout the summer season in relation to bud set.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a common garden with over 2,000 black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) individuals across a wide latitudinal range.
- Collected data on annual phenological events and 12 leaf functional traits throughout the summer, synchronized by bud set date.
Main Results:
- Significant shifts in photosynthetic, mass, and nitrogen-based leaf traits were observed after bud set.
- Most leaf traits differed significantly between pre-bud set and post-bud set trees, with many showing >25% change.
- Trait-trait relationships were altered post-bud set, often linked to changes in leaf mass.
Conclusions:
- Phenological stage, specifically bud set, drives substantial changes in functional leaf traits in black cottonwood.
- These trait dynamics reflect shifts in whole-plant physiology occurring before leaf senescence.
- Incorporating phenology is crucial for accurate trait-based ecological studies and large-scale phenotyping.