Elaboration of a Novel Theory for the Scaling of Plant Form, Function, and Diversity

阐述植物形态、功能和多样性的新理论

• 批准号: 0129144
• 负责人: Brian Enquist
• 金额: $ 3.5万
• 依托单位: University of Arizona
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-09-01 至 2002-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0129144&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Elaboration; Novel; Theory; Scaling; Plant

0129144Brian EnquistThis award will support field research to obtain data for assessing assumptions and predictions of a new theoretical model for scaling plant anatomical and physiological attributes from within individuals to populations, and even ecosystems. The ultimate goal of this research is to expand and elaborate a general theoretical and mechanistic framework for scaling in biology. This framework is based on evolutionary and physical first principles, integrating how specific attributes of organismal form and function change with organismal size (allometry) and how such changes influence ecological and evolutionary phenomena. Field and laboratory assessments are necessary to (i) advance future efforts to scale anatomical and physiological attributes of individuals and (ii) to link how attributes of organisms at the level of the individual ramifies (scales) across plant populations, communities, and ecosystems. This project focuses on understanding plant vascular form and function. It will provide the base-line allometric data for woody plant species necessary to assess numerous predictions of theoretical models. Specifically, the research will focus on intensive anatomical and physiological measurements of four tree species which span a range of environmental gradients and are functionally diverse (including the three major classes of vascular structure; ring-, diffuse-, and non-porous vascular plants). Standardized measurements of anatomical and hydrodynamic attributes of individuals will be used to evaluate the model. For example, specific measurements will be made to determine how total leaf area, the number of branches, length of branches, total water flux/photosynthetic rate, stem conductivity, leaf specific conductivity, tracheid/vessel radius, the proportion of conductive and non conductive tissue, and water content scale with changes in plant mass and with branch diameter. Such information will be critical for (1) future elaboration of new theoretical models; (2) understanding scaling of physiological attributes of plants; and (3) investigating the evolutionary and ecological implications of allometry in biology. These three research directions will form the core of Dr. Enquist's research program as a new faculty member at the University of Arizona, and this award will support the building of a graduate program in biological scaling.

[00:29 . 44]布赖恩·恩奎斯特该奖项将支持实地研究，以获取数据，以评估从个体到种群甚至生态系统的植物解剖和生理属性的新理论模型的假设和预测。本研究的最终目标是扩展和阐述生物学中缩放的一般理论和机制框架。该框架基于进化和物理第一原理，整合了生物体形态和功能的特定属性如何随生物体大小（异速生长）而变化，以及这些变化如何影响生态和进化现象。现场和实验室评估是必要的，以：(i)推进未来对个体解剖和生理属性的规模化研究；（ii）将个体水平上的生物属性如何在植物种群、群落和生态系统中分支（尺度）联系起来。本项目主要研究植物维管的形态和功能。它将为木本植物物种提供必要的基线异速数据，以评估许多理论模型的预测。具体来说，研究将集中在四种树种的解剖学和生理学测量上，这些树种跨越了一系列环境梯度和功能多样性（包括维管结构的三大类：环状、弥漫状和无孔维管植物）。个体解剖和水动力属性的标准化测量将用于评估模型。例如，将进行具体测量，以确定总叶面积、分枝数、分枝长度、总水通量/光合速率、茎电导率、叶比电导率、管胞/导管半径、导电组织和非导电组织的比例、含水量如何随植物质量和分枝直径的变化而变化。这些信息对于(1)未来阐述新的理论模型至关重要；(2)了解植物生理属性的尺度；(3)研究异速生长在生物学中的进化和生态意义。这三个研究方向将构成恩奎斯特博士作为亚利桑那大学新教员的研究项目的核心，该奖项将支持生物缩放研究生项目的建设。