AOBPreview originally published online on December 7, 2004
Annals of Botany 2005 95(3):483-494; doi:10.1093/aob/mci047
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annals of Botany 95/3 © Annals of Botany Company 2004; all rights reserved
REVIEW |
Development of the Monsi–Saeki Theory on Canopy Structure and Function
Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
* E-mail hirose{at}mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
Received: 30 June 2003 Returned for revision: 7 October 2003 Accepted: 12 March 2004 Published electronically: 7 December 2004
• Background and Aims Monsi and Saeki (1953) published the first mathematical model of canopy photosynthesis that was based on the light attenuation within a canopy and a light response of leaf photosynthesis. This paper reviews the evolution and development of their theory.
• Scope Monsi and Saeki showed that under full light conditions, canopy photosynthesis is maximized at a high leaf area index (LAI, total leaf area per unit ground area) with vertically inclined leaves, while under low light conditions, it is at a low LAI with horizontal leaves. They suggested that actual plants develop a stand structure to maximize canopy photosynthesis. Combination of the Monsi–Saeki model with the cost–benefit hypothesis in resource use led to a new canopy photosynthesis model, where leaf nitrogen distribution and associated photosynthetic capacity were taken into account. The gradient of leaf nitrogen in a canopy was shown to be a direct response to the gradient of light. This response enables plants to use light and nitrogen efficiently, two resources whose supply is limited in the natural environment.
• Conclusion The canopy photosynthesis model stimulated studies to scale-up from chloroplast biochemistry to canopy carbon gain and to analyse the resource-use strategy of species and individuals growing at different light and nitrogen availabilities. Canopy photosynthesis models are useful to analyse the size structure of populations in plant communities and to predict the structure and function of future terrestrial ecosystems.
Key words: Monsi–Saeki theory, Boysen Jensen, canopy photosynthesis, light, nitrogen, resource use, cost–benefit analysis, competition, coexistence, size structure, model, plant community
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F. Baptist and P. Choler A Simulation of the Importance of Length of Growing Season and Canopy Functional Properties on the Seasonal Gross Primary Production of Temperate Alpine Meadows Ann. Bot., March 1, 2008; 101(4): 549 - 559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Boonman, E. Prinsen, F. Gilmer, U. Schurr, A. J.M. Peeters, L. A.C.J. Voesenek, and T. L. Pons Cytokinin Import Rate as a Signal for Photosynthetic Acclimation to Canopy Light Gradients Plant Physiology, April 1, 2007; 143(4): 1841 - 1852. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. G. Selaya, N. P. R. Anten, R. J. Oomen, M. Matthies, and M. J. A. Werger Above-ground Biomass Investments and Light Interception of Tropical Forest Trees and Lianas Early in Succession Ann. Bot., January 1, 2007; 99(1): 141 - 151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Sack, P. J. Melcher, W. H. Liu, E. Middleton, and T. Pardee How strong is intracanopy leaf plasticity in temperate deciduous trees? Am. J. Botany, June 1, 2006; 93(6): 829 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. KITAJIMA, S. S. MULKEY, and S. J. WRIGHT Variation in Crown Light Utilization Characteristics among Tropical Canopy Trees Ann. Bot., February 1, 2005; 95(3): 535 - 547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. HIKOSAKA Leaf Canopy as a Dynamic System: Ecophysiology and Optimality in Leaf Turnover Ann. Bot., February 1, 2005; 95(3): 521 - 533. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. P. R. ANTEN Optimal Photosynthetic Characteristics of Individual Plants in Vegetation Stands and Implications for Species Coexistence Ann. Bot., February 1, 2005; 95(3): 495 - 506. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. TERASHIMA, T. ARAYA, S.-I. MIYAZAWA, K. SONE, and S. YANO Construction and Maintenance of the Optimal Photosynthetic Systems of the Leaf, Herbaceous Plant and Tree: an Eco-developmental Treatise Ann. Bot., February 1, 2005; 95(3): 507 - 519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. HIROSE and I. TERASHIMA Preface: Structure and Function of Plant Canopies Ann. Bot., February 1, 2005; 95(3): 481 - 482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|