Ram Oren (1, 2), Kalevi Kull (3) and Asko Noormets (4)
1. Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0328, USA / 2. Corresponding author () / 3. Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu, 50410 Tartu, Estonia / 4. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University and Southern Global Change Program, USDA
Forest Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7260, USA / Received September 16, 2007; accepted October 27, 2007; published online February 1, 2008
Summary
In this article dedicated to Olevi Kull (June 22, 1955–January 31, 2007), we draw on his writings (in English and translated)
to outline his thoughts on the relationship between scientists and science. We provide a brief synthesis of his most important
work, give a short account of his career and, to bring the man into focus, share some personal stories of interactions with
him. Kull considered that for a personal understanding to become scientific knowledge it must be explained convincingly based
on theory and empirical support, and then taught to others in both spoken and written words. He saw the last step as the main
distinction between learning and science. Olevi Kull’s approach to science relied on two principles: first, linking theory
and experiments in challenging settings, e.g., to test the generality of his ideas he often challenged them in multi-layered,
mixed-species canopies. Second, he insisted on setting experiments to test assumptions used in quantitative analyses or in
explaining an observed outcome; this, at times, led to falsification of commonly held ideas, thus enhancing ecophysiological
understanding. After describing Kull’s application of these principles, we give a brief synthesis of his most important work,
in which he demonstrated through experimentation and modeling how the vertical distribution of leaves in canopies is consistent
with the acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus. We also review some of his findings on the interactive effects of carbon
dioxide and ozone on canopy photosynthesis.
Keywords:
chlorophyll:nitrogen ratio, light, O3 × CO2 interaction, photosynthetic modeling.
