Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
04:41
A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs
Published on: January 26, 2018
5.5K
Why trees and shrubs but rarely trubs?
Marten Scheffer1, Remi Vergnon2, J Hans C Cornelissen3
1Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, NL-6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|June 22, 2014
Summary
Intermediate plant sizes are rare globally. This phenomenon may stem from inherent biological limitations or ecosystem dynamics favoring either low-growing shrubs or excessively tall trees.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Botany
- Global Ecology
Background:
- Plant size distribution is a key ecological factor.
- Understanding factors limiting plant height is crucial for ecosystem dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the global distribution of maximum woody plant heights.
- To investigate the rarity of intermediate plant sizes.
Main Methods:
- Global analysis of maximum woody plant species heights.
- Ecological modeling to explore size limiting factors.
Main Results:
- A significant rarity of intermediate woody plant sizes was observed globally.
- Shrub dominance in open landscapes and extreme tree tallness in closed canopies were noted.
Conclusions:
- The absence of intermediate sizes suggests intrinsic suboptimality or ecosystem bistability.
- Ecosystems may be structured to favor either shrubland or forest states, excluding intermediate forms.
Related Concept Videos
02:38Asexual Reproduction
28.7K
Asexual reproduction allows plants to reproduce without growing flowers, attracting pollinators, or dispersing seeds. Offspring are genetically identical to the parent and produced without the fusion of male and female gametes.
28.7K
01:57Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
24.2K
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.
24.2K
02:36Meristems and Plant Growth
36.2K
Plants grow throughout their lives; this is called indeterminate growth, and it distinguishes plants from most animals. Although certain parts of plants stop growing (e.g., leaves and flowers), others grow continuously—like roots and stems.
36.2K
02:16Light Acquisition
8.0K
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.
8.0K
02:26Non-vascular Seedless Plants
58.0K
The diverse plant life on Earth—consisting of nearly 400,000 species—can be divided into three broad categories based on biological characteristics: nonvascular, seedless vascular, and seed plants.
58.0K
01:23The Bronchial Tree
7.9K
The human bronchi and bronchial tree play a crucial role in the respiratory system, facilitating the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Let's delve into the intricate structure and functions of these respiratory components.
The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a tube that connects the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi. At a point called the carina, it bifurcates into two primary bronchi. The right primary bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left primary...
The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a tube that connects the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi. At a point called the carina, it bifurcates into two primary bronchi. The right primary bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left primary...
7.9K