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Title: Modelling water fluxes in plants: from tissues to biosphere

Journal Article · · New Phytologist
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15681· OSTI ID:1493363

Summary Models of plant water fluxes have evolved from studies focussed on understanding the detailed structure and functioning of specific components of the soil–plant–atmosphere ( SPA ) continuum to architectures often incorporated inside eco‐hydrological and terrestrial biosphere ( TB ) model schemes. We review here the historical evolution of this field, examine the basic structure of a simplified individual‐based model of plant water transport, highlight selected applications for specific ecological problems and conclude by examining outstanding issues requiring further improvements in modelling vegetation water fluxes. We particularly emphasise issues related to the scaling from tissue‐level traits to individual‐based predictions of water transport, the representation of nonlinear and hysteretic behaviour in soil–xylem hydraulics and the need to incorporate knowledge of hydraulics within broader frameworks of plant ecological strategies and their consequences for predicting community demography and dynamics.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1493363
Journal Information:
New Phytologist, Journal Name: New Phytologist Vol. 222 Journal Issue: 3; ISSN 0028-646X
Publisher:
Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 92 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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