Latitudinal effects on crown shape evolution.

ABSTRACT: Large variations in crown shape are observed across the globe, from plants with wide and deep crowns to those with leaves clustered at the top. While there have been advances in the large-scale monitoring of forests, little is known about factors driving variations in crown shape with environmental conditions. Previous theoretical research suggests a gradient in crown shape with latitude, due to the effects of sun angle. Yet, it remains unclear whether such changes are also predicted under competition. Using a size-structured forest-growth model that incorporates self-shading from plants and competitive shading from their neighbors, we investigate how changes in site productivity and sun angle shape crown evolution. We consider evolution in two traits describing the top-heaviness and width

SUBMITTER: Lindh M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6144995 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature