Tree Morphologic Plasticity Explains Deviation from Metabolic Scaling Theory in Semi-Arid Conifer Forests, Southwestern USA
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Final Published Version
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Sch Nat Resources & EnvironmUniv Arizona, Tree Ring Res Lab
Issue Date
2016-07-08
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Public Library of ScienceCitation
Tree Morphologic Plasticity Explains Deviation from Metabolic Scaling Theory in Semi-Arid Conifer Forests, Southwestern USA 2016, 11 (7):e0157582 PLOS ONEJournal
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This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
A significant concern about Metabolic Scaling Theory (MST) in real forests relates to consistent differences between the values of power law scaling exponents of tree primary size measures used to estimate mass and those predicted by MST. Here we consider why observed scaling exponents for diameter and height relationships deviate from MST predictions across three semi-arid conifer forests in relation to: (1) tree condition and physical form, (2) the level of inter-tree competition (e.g. open vs closed stand structure), (3) increasing tree age, and (4) differences in site productivity. Scaling exponent values derived from non-linear least-squares regression for trees in excellent condition (n = 381) were above the MST prediction at the 95% confidence level, while the exponent for trees in good condition were no different than MST (n = 926). Trees that were in fair or poor condition, characterized as diseased, leaning, or sparsely crowned had exponent values below MST predictions (n = 2,058), as did recently dead standing trees (n = 375). Exponent value of the mean-tree model that disregarded tree condition (n = 3,740) was consistent with other studies that reject MST scaling. Ostensibly, as stand density and competition increase trees exhibited greater morphological plasticity whereby the majority had characteristically fair or poor growth forms. Fitting by least-squares regression biases the mean-tree model scaling exponent toward values that are below MST idealized predictions. For 368 trees from Arizona with known establishment dates, increasing age had no significant impact on expected scaling. We further suggest height to diameter ratios below MST relate to vertical truncation caused by limitation in plant water availability. Even with environmentally imposed height limitation, proportionality between height and diameter scaling exponents were consistent with the predictions of MST.Note
Open Access JournalISSN
1932-6203Version
Final published versionSponsors
USFS Region 3 Office; Coronado National Forest; Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service through Research Joint Venture Agreement [07-JV-11221615-317]; University of Arizona; Nature Conservancy; Critical Zone Observatory (NSF Award) [0724958]; USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station [07-JV-11221615-317]; U.S. Forest Service; United States National Park Service, Valles Caldera National PreserveAdditional Links
http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157582ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1371/journal.pone.0157582