Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026

LeafJ: An ImageJ Plugin for Semi-automated Leaf Shape Measurement
Published on: January 21, 2013
Size structure of populations within populations: leaf number and size in crowded and uncrowded Impatiens pallida
Glenn M Berntson1, Jacob Weiner1
1Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, 19081, Swarthmore, PA, USA.
Abstract:
We compared the size distributions of leaves on naturally-occurring crowded and experimentally thinned "uncrowded" individuals of Impatiens pallida in southeastern Pennsylvania. Crowding decreased the number of leaves on individual plants and altered the distribution of leaf size. Crowded individuals had smaller leaves, but the size (length) inequality of the leaf population did not change. The relationships between the height of a plant and the mean and maximum length of its leaves were significantly different for crowded and uncrowded plants. There were weak positive relationships between height and total leaf area, and height and total number of leaves for uncrowded plants, whereas crowded plants showed tighter but curvilinear relationships between these variables. Our results point out the strengths and the limitations of viewing canopies as populations of modules.
More Related Videos
08:56Automatic Image Processing to Determine the Community Size Structure of Riverine Macroinvertebrates
Published on: January 13, 2023
06:09An Easy and Flexible Inoculation Method for Accurately Assessing Powdery Mildew-Infection Phenotypes of Arabidopsis and Other Plants
Published on: March 9, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Light Acquisition
What are Populations and Communities?
Cell Size
Surface Area
Cells can take in nutrients and water via diffusion through the plasma membrane itself or through specific channels in the membrane. The area of the membrane surrounding...
Population Growth
Distribution and Dispersion
Introduction to Seed Plants