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Light Interception Efficiency Explained By Two Simple Variables: A Test Using A Diversity Of Small- To Medium-Sized Woody Plants, R A. Duursma, D S. Falster, F Valladares, F J. Sterck, R W. Pearcy, C H. Lusk, Kerrie M. Sendall, M Nordenstahl, N C. Houter, B J. Atwell, N Kelly, J.W. G. Kelly, M Liberloo, D T. Tissue, B E. Medlyn, D S. Ellsworth
Light Interception Efficiency Explained By Two Simple Variables: A Test Using A Diversity Of Small- To Medium-Sized Woody Plants, R A. Duursma, D S. Falster, F Valladares, F J. Sterck, R W. Pearcy, C H. Lusk, Kerrie M. Sendall, M Nordenstahl, N C. Houter, B J. Atwell, N Kelly, J.W. G. Kelly, M Liberloo, D T. Tissue, B E. Medlyn, D S. Ellsworth
Kerrie M Sendall
• Plant light interception efficiency is a crucial determinant of carbon uptake by individual plants and by vegetation. Our aim was to identify whole-plant variables that summarize complex crown architecture, which can be used to predict light interception efficiency. • We gathered the largest database of digitized plants to date (1831 plants of 124 species), and estimated a measure of light interception efficiency with a detailed three-dimensional model. Light interception efficiency was defined as the ratio of the hemispherically averaged displayed to total leaf area. A simple model was developed that uses only two variables, crown density (the ratio of …