© 1990 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Influence of crown structural properties on PAR absorption, photosynthesis, and transpiration in Sitka spruce: application
of a model (MAESTRO)
Y. P. Wang and P. G. Jarvis
Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh, Darwin Building, The King’s Buildings, Mayfield Road,
Edinburgh, EH9 3JU, U.K. /
Summary
The structure of a tree crown can be described by the spatial distribution, inclination, and orientation of all the phytoelements
(leaves, twigs, branches, trunk, etc.), and their geometric properties. The following four structural properties have been
studied in relation to radiation absorption, photosynthesis, and
transpiration using a simulation model named MAESTRO: crown shape, total area of leaves and their spatial distribution within
the tree crown, and the leaf inclination angle distribution. It was found that the total area of leaves and their spatial
distribution within the tree crown are far more important than the other two properties for radiation absorption, photosynthesis,
and transpiration.
