Tree Heterogeneity

Plants are able to survive a variety of environmental conditions due in part to their ability to detect and respond to their environment. Although ultraviolet (UV) light has the potential to damage DNA and photosynthetic machinery, plants can minimize its negative effects by synthesizing UV-absorbing compounds, which protect plants by decreasing the transmittance of UV photons through tissue. As UV-absorbing compounds are energetically expensive to produce natural selection will favor individuals that optimally allocate these compounds to cells that shield valuable tissues from UV exposure. Many studies employ broad categories (i.e. “unshaded vs. shaded” or “upper vs. lower”) to examine the distribution of higher concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds with tree canopies. However, using categorical variables to quantify leaf position may not sufficiently capture the differences in microenvironments experienced by leaves throughout the entire three-dimensional space of a canopy. In collaboration with Dr. Lauren Ruane (CNU, Organismal & Environmental Biology) we use a 3-dimensional mapping technique to quantify leaf position in order to unravel how leaf properties vary throughout the canopy.