Leaf and wood physiology and biomass allocation as drivers of plant growth. This project will build new understanding of how physiological and morphological traits of plants drive growth rates and ref

Description

Leaf and wood physiology and biomass allocation as drivers of plant growth. This project will build new understanding of how physiological and morphological traits of plants drive growth rates and reflect evolutionary adaptation to different environments. This is significant because growth rates are pivotal in vegetation ecology and a core element of plant ecological strategies. Expected outcomes include new cost-benefit theory for plant form and function considered at whole-canopy scale, with empirical tests from Australian and Chinese ecosystems and via global trait datasets. Benefits include new approaches for predicting plant physiological properties and growth rates, and new knowledge crucial for understanding links between species traits, plant strategies and, ultimately, ecosystem productivity.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 0602 - Ecology. Lead: Prof Ian Wright