Settling aerodynamics is a driver of symmetry in deciduous tree leaves

Matthew D. Biviano, Kaare H. Jensen
{"title":"Settling aerodynamics is a driver of symmetry in deciduous tree leaves","authors":"Matthew D. Biviano, Kaare H. Jensen","doi":"arxiv-2409.05514","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Leaves shed by deciduous trees contain 40\\% of the annually sequestered\ncarbon, and include nutrients vital to the expansion and health of forest\necosystems. To achieve this, leaves must fall quickly to land near the parent\ntree -- otherwise, they are lost to the wind, like pollen or gliding seeds.\nHowever, the link between leaf shape and sedimentation speed remains unclear.\nTo gauge the relative performance of extant leaves, we developed an automated\nsedimentation apparatus (ASAP) capable of performing $\\sim100$ free fall\nexperiments per day on biomimetic paper leaves. The majority of 25\nrepresentative leaves settle at rates similar to our control (a circular disc).\nStrikingly, the Arabidopsid mutant asymmetric leaves1 (as1) fell 15\\% slower\nthan the wild type. Applying the as1-digital mutation to deciduous tree leaves\nrevealed a similar speed reduction. Data correlating shape and settling across\na broad range of natural, mutated, and artificial leaves support\nthefast-leaf-hypothesis: Deciduous leaves are symmetric and relatively unlobed\nin part because this maximizes their settling speed and concomitant nutrient\nretention.","PeriodicalId":501040,"journal":{"name":"arXiv - PHYS - Biological Physics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"arXiv - PHYS - Biological Physics","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/arxiv-2409.05514","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Leaves shed by deciduous trees contain 40\% of the annually sequestered carbon, and include nutrients vital to the expansion and health of forest ecosystems. To achieve this, leaves must fall quickly to land near the parent tree -- otherwise, they are lost to the wind, like pollen or gliding seeds. However, the link between leaf shape and sedimentation speed remains unclear. To gauge the relative performance of extant leaves, we developed an automated sedimentation apparatus (ASAP) capable of performing $\sim100$ free fall experiments per day on biomimetic paper leaves. The majority of 25 representative leaves settle at rates similar to our control (a circular disc). Strikingly, the Arabidopsid mutant asymmetric leaves1 (as1) fell 15\% slower than the wild type. Applying the as1-digital mutation to deciduous tree leaves revealed a similar speed reduction. Data correlating shape and settling across a broad range of natural, mutated, and artificial leaves support thefast-leaf-hypothesis: Deciduous leaves are symmetric and relatively unlobed in part because this maximizes their settling speed and concomitant nutrient retention.
沉降空气动力学是落叶树叶片对称性的驱动因素
落叶树落下的树叶含有每年固碳量的 40%,并含有对森林生态系统的扩展和健康至关重要的营养物质。为了实现这一目标,树叶必须快速落下,落到母树附近--否则,它们就会像花粉或滑翔种子一样随风而逝。然而,树叶形状与沉降速度之间的联系仍不清楚。为了衡量现存树叶的相对性能,我们开发了一种自动沉降装置(ASAP),每天能够在仿生纸树叶上进行100美元的自由落叶实验。25片具有代表性的叶片中,大多数叶片的沉降速度与我们的对照组(一个圆形圆盘)相似。将as1-数字突变应用于落叶乔木叶片,也发现了类似的速度降低。在广泛的天然叶片、变异叶片和人工叶片中,形状与沉降相关的数据支持了快叶假说:落叶之所以对称且相对无叶片,部分原因是这样可以最大限度地提高沉降速度,同时保留养分。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信