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Wind and gravity mechanical effects on leaf inclination angles
Loïc Tadrist1, Marc Saudreau2, Emmanuel de Langre3
1École Polytechnique, Laboratoire d'hydrodynamique, 91128 Palaiseau, France; INRA, Physique et Physiologie intégratives de l'arbre fruitier et forestier, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Journal of Theoretical Biology
|October 1, 2013
Summary
Leaf inclination angle distribution is crucial for tree photosynthesis and water interception. Mechanical leaf deformations significantly influence this distribution, impacting light interception.
Area of Science:
- Plant biophysics
- Ecological modeling
Background:
- Leaf inclination angle distribution is vital for canopy function, affecting photosynthesis and water interception.
- Mechanical forces like wind and gravity can alter leaf orientation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of mechanical leaf deformations on leaf inclination angle distribution.
- To quantify the influence of tree geometry and leaf mechanics on this distribution.
Main Methods:
- Utilized statistical mechanics models for idealized trees.
- Experimentally quantified individual leaf deformation under gravity and wind.
- Developed new dimensionless parameters to model leaf deformation.
Main Results:
- Tree geometry has a minor effect on leaf inclination angle distribution.
- Mechanical parameters significantly influence leaf inclination angle distributions.
- Leaf deformation models, combined with tree geometry, accurately predict distribution.
Conclusions:
- Mechanical leaf deformations are a key factor in determining leaf inclination angle distributions.
- Understanding these distributions is essential for modeling light interception in trees.
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