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How the hydraulic and mechanical properties of wood influence branch form in Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.)
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Text
TitleInfo
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Title
How the hydraulic and mechanical properties of wood influence branch form in Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.)
Identifier
ETD_1581
Identifier
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http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.000051193
Language
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eng
Genre
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theses
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(ID = SBJ-1);
(authority = RUETD)
Topic
Ecology and Evolution
Subject
(ID = SBJ-1);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Trees--Growth
Subject
(ID = SBJ-1);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Maple
Abstract
An in-depth understanding of the functions of branches (hydraulics and mechanics) and how they influence canopy form is needed in order to assess the impacts of cultural practices such as pruning in the future. This dissertation is comprised of three studies that investigate how anatomical and material properties of wood vary along Acer platanoides L. (Aceraceae) branches and whether the variation influences branch form.
The hydraulic study found that vessel radii size decreased and density increased in the distal direction, consistent with the hydraulic flow found in previous studies. Vessel density was highest 5 cm proximal to the most recent terminal bud scale scar, suggesting that the increase in vessels may be due to hydraulic constrictions and partitioning through the branch attachment zones for the paired lateral branches.
The mechanics study observed that modulus of elasticity (E) was 75% lower at the branch tips than in the proximal (structural) locations. Density-specific stiffness (E/ρ) was not found to vary between the three structural locations, suggesting that the elastic similarity modeled cannot be rejected due to variation in E/ρ. Variation in E was negatively correlated with the percent area of vessels and positively correlated with mean fiber cell wall size, suggesting a balance between hydraulics and mechanics.
The allometric study found branches transitioned from a log-log curvilinear relationship converging to a linear relationship after 3 m in length. The linear relationship was best modeled with the elastic similarity model. The shift in allometry corresponds to a shift from increasing slenderness ratio (length / radius) with increasing branch length to a decreasing ratio as flexible sun branches transition to stiffer structural branches. The number of subordinate branches was found to increase after the primary branch length passed 3 m, suggesting that branches transition to a structural role as size increases.
The differences in anatomical and material properties, the increase in the number of lateral branches and the shift in allometry are probably related to wood development type. Torsional balance of bending moments were found to be relatively evenly distributed along the left and right side of the branches.
The hydraulic study found that vessel radii size decreased and density increased in the distal direction, consistent with the hydraulic flow found in previous studies. Vessel density was highest 5 cm proximal to the most recent terminal bud scale scar, suggesting that the increase in vessels may be due to hydraulic constrictions and partitioning through the branch attachment zones for the paired lateral branches.
The mechanics study observed that modulus of elasticity (E) was 75% lower at the branch tips than in the proximal (structural) locations. Density-specific stiffness (E/ρ) was not found to vary between the three structural locations, suggesting that the elastic similarity modeled cannot be rejected due to variation in E/ρ. Variation in E was negatively correlated with the percent area of vessels and positively correlated with mean fiber cell wall size, suggesting a balance between hydraulics and mechanics.
The allometric study found branches transitioned from a log-log curvilinear relationship converging to a linear relationship after 3 m in length. The linear relationship was best modeled with the elastic similarity model. The shift in allometry corresponds to a shift from increasing slenderness ratio (length / radius) with increasing branch length to a decreasing ratio as flexible sun branches transition to stiffer structural branches. The number of subordinate branches was found to increase after the primary branch length passed 3 m, suggesting that branches transition to a structural role as size increases.
The differences in anatomical and material properties, the increase in the number of lateral branches and the shift in allometry are probably related to wood development type. Torsional balance of bending moments were found to be relatively evenly distributed along the left and right side of the branches.
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electronic resource
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xiv, 156 p. : ill.
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Ph.D.
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Includes bibliographical references
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by Gregory Ames Dahle
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Dahle
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Gregory Ames
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1965
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Gregory Ames Dahle
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Grabosky
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Jason
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chair
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Advisory Committee
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Jason C Grabosky
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Smouse
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Peter
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internal member
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Advisory Committee
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Peter E Smouse
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Xu
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Ming
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Ming Xu
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Zimmermann
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George
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Advisory Committee
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George L Zimmermann
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Rutgers University
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Graduate School - New Brunswick
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2009
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2009-05
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xx
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Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore19991600001
Identifier
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doi:10.7282/T32B8Z7X
Genre
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ETD doctoral
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
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Open
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Non-exclusive ETD license
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Author Agreement License
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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