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A simple formulation of interaction between individuals competing for light in a monospecific stand

  1. K. Hikosaka†,
  2. H. Nagashima‡,
  3. Y. Harada,
  4. T. Hirose

Article first published online: 20 DEC 2001

DOI: 10.1046/j.0269-8463.2001.00557.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 15, Issue 5, pages 642–646, October 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hikosaka, K., Nagashima, H., Harada, Y. and Hirose, T. (2001), A simple formulation of interaction between individuals competing for light in a monospecific stand. Functional Ecology, 15: 642–646. doi: 10.1046/j.0269-8463.2001.00557.x

Author Information

  1. Biological Institute, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan

    Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: *Current address: Nikko Botanical Garden, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1435, Japan

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 DEC 2001
  2. Article first published online: 20 DEC 2001

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Keywords:

  • Evolutionarily stable strategy;
  • light absorption;
  • neighbour effect;
  • plant competition

Summary

  • 1
     A new method to evaluate the interaction between individuals competing for light in a monospecific stand is presented.
  • 2
     Light intercepted by a leaf of a target individual is influenced by its own leaves and those of neighbours higher in the canopy. We assume that light intercepted by the leaf is the sum of the light that penetrates the foliage of the target and the foliage of neighbours. We define the degree of the interaction as the fraction of the intercepted light that penetrated the foliage of neighbours.
  • 3
     To determine the degree of interaction, we established experimental stands of an annual, Xanthium canadense Mill., and measured light interception directly with light-sensitive films attached to leaves. We calculated the interaction using light absorption of individuals within the stand and of those isolated from the stand. Light interception of an individual was influenced more by its neighbours’ leaves than by its own. The degree of interaction was greater in the stand of higher density.
  • 4
     The method presented here may be useful in studying the role of architectural characteristics in light competition in relation to evolutionarily stable strategies of individuals in monospecific stands.
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