Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

How is light interception efficiency related to shoot structure in tall canopy species?

  • Physiological ecology - original research
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coexistence of multiple species is a fundamental aspect of plant and forest ecology. Although spatial arrangement of leaves within crowns is an important determinant of light interception and productivity, shoot structure varies considerably among coexisting canopy species. We investigated the relative importance of structural traits in determining the light availability of leaves (I) and light interception efficiency at the current-year shoot level (LIECS; the total light interception of leaves divided by shoot biomass) at the top of crowns of 11 canopy species in a cool-temperate forest in Japan. In accordance with Corner’s rules, the total mass, stem mass, total mass of leaf laminae, individual leaf area, and stem cross-sectional area of current-year shoot were positively correlated with each other, and branching intensity (the number of current-year shoots per branch unit of 1-m length) was inversely correlated with these traits across species. In contrast, I was correlated not with these traits, but with leaf elevation angle (a L). Moreover, variation in LIECS across species was caused by variation in I (thus in a L). Thus, a L is a key parameter for the leaf light interception of canopy shoots in this cool-temperate forest. Differences in a L across species might be related to different physiological strategies that developed in the high light and water-limited environment of forest canopies. Small variation in the length of current-year shoots among species implies that variations in I and LIECS would be important for the coexistence of these canopy species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerly DD (1996) Canopy structure and dynamics: integration of growth processes in tropical pioneer trees. In: Mulkey SS, Chazdon RL, Smith AP (eds) Tropical forest plant ecophysiology. Chapman & Hall, New York, pp 619–658

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerly DD, Bazzaz FA (1995) Seedling crown orientation and interception of diffuse radiation in tropical forest gaps. Ecology 76:1134–1146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerly DD, Donoghue MJ (1998) Leaf size, sapling allometry, and Corner’s rules: phylogeny and correlated evolution in maples (Acer). Am Nat 152:767–791

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anten NPR, Hirose T (1998) Biomass allocation and light partitioning among dominant and subordinate individuals in Xanthium canadense stands. Ann Bot 82:665–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anten NPR, Hirose T (1999) Interspecific differences in above-ground growth patterns result in spatial and temporal partitioning of light among species in a tall-grass meadow. J Ecol 87:583–597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anten NP, Schieving F (2010) The role of wood mass density and mechanical constraints in the economy of tree architecture. Am Nat 175:250–260

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ashton PS (1978) Crown characteristics of tropical trees. In: Tomlinson PB, Zimmermann MH (eds) Tropical trees as living systems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 591–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthelemy D, Caraglio Y (2007) Plant architecture: a dynamic, multilevel and comprehensive approach to plant form, structure and ontogeny. Ann Bot 99:375–407

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bartoń K (2013) MuMIn: multi-model inference. R package version 1

  • Benjamini Y, Hochberg Y (1995) Controlling the false discovery rate: a practical and powerful approach to multiple testing. J R Stat Soc Ser B (Methodol) 57:289–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Brouat C, Givernau M, Amsellem L, McKey D (1998) Corner’s rules revisited: ontogenetic and interspecific patterns in leaf-stem allometry. New Phytol 139:459–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chazdon RL (1985) Leaf display, canopy structure, and light interception of two understory palm species. Am J Bot 72:1493–1502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corner EJH (1949) The durian theory or the origin of the modern tree. Ann Bot 13:367–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawley MJ (2007) The R book. John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Delagrange S, Montpied P, Dreyer E, Messier C, Sinoquet H (2006) Does shade improve light interception efficiency? A comparison among seedlings from shade-tolerant and -intolerant temperate deciduous tree species. New Phytol 172:293–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duursma RA, Falster DS, Valladares F, Sterck F, Pearcy R, Lusk CH, Sendall K, Nordenstahl M, Houter N, Atwell B (2012) Light interception efficiency explained by two simple variables: a test using a diversity of small-to medium-sized woody plants. New Phytol 193:397–408

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ehleringer JR, Werk KS (1986) Modifications of solar-radiation absorption patterns and implications for carbon gain at the leaf level. In: Givnish TJ (ed) On the economy of plant form and function. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 57–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Falster DS, Westoby M (2003) Leaf size and angle vary widely across species: what consequences for light interception? New Phytol 158:509–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallé F, Oldeman RAA, Tomlinson PB (1978) Tropical trees and forests. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hikosaka K, Sudoh S, Hirose T (1999) Light acquisition and use by individuals competing in a dense stand of an annual herb, Xanthium canadense. Oecologia 118:388–396

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirose T, Werger MJA (1995) Canopy structure and photon flux partitioning among species in a herbaceous plant community. Ecology 76:466–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiura T, Fujito E, Ishii T, Naniwa A, Sugata S, Ishida K, Murakami M, Kato E, Maeno H, Fukushima Y, Sakai T (1998) Stand structure of a deciduous broad-leaved forest in Tomakomai Experimental Forest, based on a large-plot data. Bull Hokkaido Univ For 55:1–10 (In Japanese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hollinger DY (1989) Canopy organization and foliage photosynthetic capacity in a broad-leaved evergreen montane forest. Funct Ecol 1:53–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishida A, Toma T, Marjenah M (1999) Leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in relation to leaf ange, azimuth, and canopy position in the tropical pioneer tree, Macaranga conifera. Tree Physiol 19:117–124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ishii HT, S-i Tanabe, Hiura T (2004) Exploring the relationships among canopy structure, stand productivity, and biodiversity of temperate forest ecosystems. For Sci 50:342–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamiyama C, Oikawa S, Kubo T, Hikosaka K (2010) Light interception in species with different functional groups coexisting in moorland plant communities. Oecologia 164:591–599

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King DA, Davies SJ, Tan S, Noor NSM (2006) The role of wood density and stem support costs in the growth and mortality of tropical trees. J Ecol 94:670–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleiman D, Aarssen LW (2007) The leaf size/number trade-off in trees. J Ecol 95:376–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koike T (1988) Leaf structure and photosynthetic performance as related to the forest succession of deciduous broad-leaved trees. Plant Species Biol 3:77–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koike T (1990) Autumun coloring, photosynthetic performance and leaf development of deciduous broad-leaved trees in relation to forest succession. Tree Physiol 7:21–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larjavaara M, Muller-Landau HC (2010) Rethinking the value of high wood density. Funct Ecol 24:701–705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milla R, Reich PB (2011) Multi-trait interactions, not phylogeny, fine-tune leaf size reduction with increasing altitude. Ann Bot 107:455–465

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Muraoka H, Koizumi H (2005) Photosynthetic and structural characteristics of canopy and shrub trees in a cool-temperate deciduous broadleaved forest: implication to the ecosystem carbon gain. Agric For Meteorol 134:39–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murtaugh PA (2009) Performance of several variable-selection methods applied to real ecological data. Ecol Lett 12:1061–1068

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü (2010) A review of light interception in plant stands from leaf to canopy in different plant functional types and in species with varying shade tolerance. Ecol Res 25:693–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü (2016) Leaf age dependent changes in within-canopy variation in leaf functional traits: a meta-analysis. J Plant Res 129:313–338

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü, Valladares F (2006) Tolerance to shade, drought, and waterlogging of temperate northern hemisphere trees and shrubs. Ecol Monogr 76:521–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü, Cescatti A, Christian R (2004) Constraints on light interception efficiency due to shoot architecture in broad-leaved Nothofagus species. Tree Physiol 24:617–630

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü, Sparrow A, Cescatti A (2005) Light capture efficiency decreases with increasing tree age and size in the southern hemisphere gymnosperm Agathis australis. Trees 19:177–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü, Keenan TF, Hallik L (2015) A worldwide analysis of within-canopy variations in leaf structural, chemical and physiological traits across plant functional types. New Phytol 205:973–993

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Onoda Y, Saluñga JB, Akutsu K, Si Aiba, Yahara T, Anten NP (2014) Trade-off between light interception efficiency and light use efficiency: implications for species coexistence in one-sided light competition. J Ecol 102:167–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N (2005) Branching, biomass distribution, and light capture efficiency in a pioneer tree, Rhus trichocarpa, in a secondary forest. Can J Bot 83:1590–1598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N (2006) Crown development in a pioneer tree, Rhus trichocarpa, in relation to the structure and growth of individual branches. New Phytol 172:667–678

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N (2011) Height-dependent changes in shoot structure and tree allometry in relation to maximum height in four deciduous tree species. Funct Ecol 25:777–786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N, Takeda H, Furukawa A, Awang M (2001) Leaf dynamics and maintenance of tree crowns in a Malaysian rain forest stand. J Ecol 89:774–782

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N, Tateno R, Mori A, Takeda H (2004) Changes in crown development patterns and current-year shoot structure with light environment and tree height in Fagus crenata (Fagaceae). Am J Bot 91:1981–1989

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N, Okabe Y, Hayashi D, Katsuyama T, Tokuchi N (2014a) Differences between height- and light-dependent changes in shoot traits in five deciduous tree species. Oecologa 174:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N, Yasumura Y, Ishida A (2014b) Leaf nitrogen distribution in relation to crown architecture in the tall canopy species, Fagus crenata. Oecologa 175:1093–1106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osada N, Nabeshima E, Hiura T (2015) Geographic variation in shoot traits and branching intensity in relation to leaf size in Fagus crenata: a common garden experiment. Am J Bot 102:878–887

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker GG (1995) Structure and microclimate of forest canopies. In: Lowman MD, Nadkarni NM (eds) Forest canopies. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 73–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearcy RW, Yang W (1996) A three-dimensional crown architecture model for assessment of light capture and carbon gain by understory plants. Oecologia 108:1–12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pearcy RW, Valladares F, Wright SJ, dePaulis EL (2004) A functional analysis of the crown architecture of tropical forest Psychotria species: do species vary in light capture efficiency and consequently in carbon gain and growth? Oecologia 139:163–177

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pearcy RW, Muraoka H, Valladares F (2005) Crown architecture in sun and shade environments: assessing function and trade-offs with a three-dimensional simulation model. New Phytol 166:791–800

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poorter H, Niinemets U, Poorter L, Wright IJ, Villar R (2009) Causes and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA): a meta-analysis. New Phytol 182:565–588

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2016) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Version 3.3.1. In: The R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna

  • Selaya NG, Oomen RJ, Netten JJC, Werger MJA, Anten NPR (2008) Biomass allocation and leaf life span in relation to light interception by tropical forest plants during the first years of secondary succession. J Ecol 96:1211–1221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun S, Jin D, Shi P (2006) The leaf size-twig size spectrum of temperate woody species along an altitudinal gradient: an invariant allometric scaling relationship. Ann Bot 97:97–107

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F, Niinemets U (2007) The architecture of plant crowns: from design rules to light capture and performance. In: Pugnaire FI, Valladares F (eds) Handbook of functional plant ecology, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 101–149

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F, Pearcy RW (1998) The functional ecology of shoot architecture in sun and shade plants of Heteromeles arbutifolia M. Roem., a Californian chaparral shrub. Oecologia 114:1–10

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F, Skillman JB, Pearcy RW (2002) Convergence in light capture efficiencies among tropical forest understory plants with contrasting crown architectures: a case of morphological compensation. Am J Bot 89:1275–1284

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Kuijk M, Anten NP, Oomen RJ, van Bentum DW, Werger MJ (2008) The limited importance of size-asymmetric light competition and growth of pioneer species in early secondary forest succession in Vietnam. Oecologia 157:1–12

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Verhoeven KJF, Simonsen KL, McIntyre LM (2005) Implementing false discovery rate control: increasing your power. Oikos 108:643–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werk K, Ehleringer J (1984) Non-random leaf orientation in Lactuca serriola L. Plant, Cell Environ 7:81–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werner C, Correia O, Beyschlag W (1999) Two different strategies of Mediterranean macchia plants to avoid photoinhibitory damage by excessive radiation levels during summer drought. Acta Oecol 20:15–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westoby M, Wright IJ (2003) The leaf size-twig size spectrum and its relationship to other important spectra of variation among species. Oecologia 135:621–628

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westoby M, Falster DS, Moles AT, Vesk PA, Wright IJ (2002) Plant ecological strategies: some leading dimensions of variation between species. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 33:125–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White PS (1983) Corner’s rules in eastern deciduous trees: allometry and its implications for the adaptive architecture of trees. Bull Torrey Bot Club 110:203–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan E-R, Wang X-H, Chang SX, He F (2013) Scaling relationships among twig size, leaf size and leafing intensity in a successional series of subtropical forests. Tree Physiol 33:609–617

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang D, Li G, Sun S (2008) The generality of leaf size versus number trade-off in temperate woody species. Ann Bot 102:623–629

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yang D, Li G, Sun S (2009) The effects of leaf size, leaf habit, and leaf form on leaf/stem relationships in plant twigs of temperate woody species. J Veg Sci 20:359–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zanne AE, Westoby M, Falster DS, Ackerly DD, Loarie SR, Arnold SE, Coomes DA (2010) Angiosperm wood structure: global patterns in vessel anatomy and their relation to wood density and potential conductivity. Am J Bot 97:207–215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuur A, Ieno E, Walker N, Saveliev A, Smith G (2009) Mixed effects models and extensions in ecology with R. Gail M, Krickeberg K, Samet JM, Tsiatis A, Wong W, editors. New York, NY: Spring Science and Business Media

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Tatsuro Nakaji and the members of the Tomakomai Research Station, Hokkaido University, for their valuable suggestions. We also thank Dr. Ülo Niinemets and three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on the manuscript. This study was partly supported by JSPS (15K07465 to NO), the Ministry of Environments (S-9-3 to TH), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (GRENE-ei project to TH).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Conservation Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, 468-8502, Japan

    Noriyuki Osada

  2. Tomakomai Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Tomakomai, 053-0035, Japan

    Noriyuki Osada & Tsutom Hiura

Authors
  1. Noriyuki Osada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tsutom Hiura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

NO formulated the idea. NO conducted fieldwork and analyses. NO and TH wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noriyuki Osada.

Additional information

Communicated by Russell K. Monson.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 5851 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Osada, N., Hiura, T. How is light interception efficiency related to shoot structure in tall canopy species?. Oecologia 185, 29–41 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-017-3926-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-017-3926-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation