The growing plant: scaling between levels of organisation
As an ecologist I wish to learn more about the rules and patterns that underlie the relationship between plants and their environment. Specifically I want to know if we can explain this relationship from the perspective of Darwinian fitness; do plants possess traits that enable them to maximise their performance within the constraints imposed by the environment?
My interest in plants and their environment also stems from a more humanist point of view. How can plants be used
efficiently and in a sustainable way to meet human needs? Humans use a large number of plant species for a variety of purposes. Ways of exploitation range from intensive agriculture to the harvesting of products from wild plants. But whatever way plants are used; they play crucial roles in human life.
Both perspectives introduce the problem of scaling. First, physiological and structural traits generally define the functioning of plant parts (e.g., leaves, stems, roots, etc.) while fitness consequences of any suite of traits should be addressed at the population level. Second, harvesting or management practices will have direct effects on the functioning of individual organs or individual plants. Yet, productivity or sustainability of a given harvesting procedure should be assessed at the population level. Scaling between different levels of organisation is therefore an important aspect in my work. Below is a list of my primary research themes (by clicking on the underlined titles you can find more information about each theme).
THE NEED TO BE STRONG: MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF PLANT GROWTH: Here I apply rules of engineering to provide a scaling protocol for growth of individual plants. Plants are built in a way that should meet the requirements of stability and those of growth and reproduction. But unlike buildings and bridges this design changes continuously as plants grow.
OPTIMAL USE OF NITROGEN FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF LEAVES, PLANTS AND WHOLE
VEGETATIONS: Optimisation theory is used as a framework to scale from leaves to the canopy of individual plants and then from plants to the structure of a vegetation.
SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION OF PALM LEAVES, A NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCT: We analyse the effects of palm leaf removal on individual plant growth and population dynamics to determine sustainable levels of leaf harvesting.
EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CO2 ON RICE PRODUCTION: The work on optimal N use for photosynthesis is used to predict the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on rice production in order to help determine management practices by which rice yields in a high CO2 world can be maximized.
Master thesis projects
2005-2006
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
2009
ANTEN, NPR,
Schieving F (2009) The role of wood mass
density and mechanical constraints in the economy of tree crown
architecture. American Naturalist (provisionally accepted).
Selaya, NG,
ANTEN, NPR (200x)
Leaf productivity versus longevity in young
secondary tropical forest and consequences for lifetime carbon gain.
Ecology (in press).
ANTEN, NPR,
Poorter H (2009) The C-balance of the
oldest most shaded in a vegetation stand: a litmus test for canopy models.
New
Phytologist 138:1-3 {Pdf
129kb}
ANTEN, NPR, Pawlowski M, von Wettberg E, Huber H (2009) Interactive effects
of spectral shading and mechanical stress on the expression and costs of
shade avoidance. American Naturalist 173: 241-255. {Pdf
373kb}
Martinez-Ramos, M, ANTEN, NPR, Ackerly DD (2009) Defoliation and ENSO effects
on vital rates of an understory rain forest palm. Journal of Ecology
(in
press).
Niinemets, U and ANTEN, NPR (2009) Packing the photosynthetic machinery: from
leaf to canopy. In: Photosynthesis In silico understanding complexity from
leaves to ecosystems (eds A Laisk, L Nedbal and Govindjee) Springer Verlag.
Dordrecht, The Netherlands 363-399.
Van Kuijk, M, ANTEN, NPR (2009) Whole-canopy nitrogen-use efficiency of
pioneer species in early secondary forest succession in Vietnam. Ecological
Research
24: 811-820.
{Pdf 463kb}
Vermeulen, PJ, Stuefer J, During HJ, ANTEN, NPR (2009) Carbon gain in the
competition for light between genotypes of the clonal species Potentilla
reptans in a five year old competition experiment. Journal of Ecology
97:1-10. {Pdf
521kb}
Stuefer JF, ANTEN, NPR, DeKroon H, Peters, JL, Smit-Tiekstra A, Vermeulen PJ,
During HJ (2009) Genotypic selection shapes patterns of within species
diversity in experimental plant populations. Journal of Ecology (in
press).
2008
Selaya NG, ANTEN, NPR (2008) Differences in biomass allocation, light
interception and mechanical stability between lianas and trees in early
secondary tropical forest. Functional Ecology 22:30-39. {pdf
357 kb}
Vermeulen PJ, ANTEN, NPR, Schieving F, Werger MJA, During HJ (2008) Height
convergence in response to neighbor growth in the stoloniferous plant
Potentilla reptans. New Phytologist 177: 688-697 {pdf
387 kb}.
Huber H, de Brouwer J, de Caluwe H, Weijschedé J, ANTEN, NPR (2008) Shade
induced changes in biomechanical petiole propertiesin the stoloniferous herb
Trifolium repens. Evolutionary Ecology 22:399-416. {pdf
353 kb}
Onoda Y, Schieving F, ANTEN, NPR (2008) Effect of light and nutrient
availabilities on leaf mechanical properties. Annals of Botany 101: 727-736.
{pdf 527 kb}
Van Kuijk M, ANTEN, NPR, Oomen RJ, van Bentum DW, Werger MJA (2008) The
limited importance of size-asymmetric light competition and growth of
pioneer species in early secondary forest succession in Vietnam. Oecologia
157: 1-12. {pdf 418 kb}
Selaya, NG, Oomen, RJ Netten JC, Werger MJA, ANTEN, NPR (2008) Biomass
allocation and leaf life span in relation to light interception by tropical
forest plants during the first years of secondary succession. Journal of
Ecology 96: 1211-1221. {pdf 499 kb}
Vermeulen, P.J. Stuefer JF, During HJ, ANTEN, NPR (2008) Leaf investment and
light partitioning among leaves of different genotypes of the clonal plant
Potentilla reptans in dense stands after five years of competition. Annals
of Botany 102: 935-943. {pdf 243 kb}
2007
Lopez-Hofmann L, Ackerly DD, ANTEN, NPR, De Noyer JL, Martinez-Ramos M
(2007) Gap dependence in mangrove life history strategies: a consideration
of the entire life cycle and patch dynamics. Journal of Ecology 95:
1222-1233. {pdf 530 kb}
Liu Y Schieving F Stuefer JF, ANTEN NPR. (2007) The effects of mechanical
stress and spectral shading on the growth and allocation of ten genotypes of
a stoloniferous plant. Annals of Botany 99: 121-130. {pdf
226 kb}
Selaya NG, ANTEN, NPR, Mathies, M, Oomen, RJ, Werger, MJA (2007) Aboveground
biomass investments and light interception of tropical forest trees early in
succession. Annals of Botany 99: 141-151. {pdf
294 kb}
Lopez-Hofmann L, ANTEN NPR, Martinez-Ramos M, Ackerly DD (2007) Interactive
effects of salinity and light on mangrove seedlings: scaling from leaf
carbon gain to whole-plant performance. Oecologia 150: 545-556. {pdf
352 kb}
Pronk TE, Schieving F, ANTEN NPR, Werger MJA (2007) Plants that differ in
height investment can coexist if they are distributed non-uniformly within
an area. Ecological complexity 4: 182-191. {pdf
538 kb}
2006
Boonman A, ANTEN NPR, Dueck TA, Groenwold J, Jordi WJRM Werf A van der, Voesenek LACJ and Pons TL. (2006) Functional significance of shade-induced
leaf senescence in dense canopies: an experimental test using transgenic
tobacco. American Naturalist 168: 597-607. {pdf
222kb}
ANTEN NPR, Casado-Garcia R, Pierik R, Pons T.L (2006) Ethylene sensitivity
affects changes in growth patterns, but not stem properties, in response to
mechanical stress in tobacco. Physiologia Plantarum 128: 274-282. {pdf
98 kb}
Lopez-Hofmann L, DeNoyer, JL, Monroe IE, ANTEN NPR, Martinez-Ramos M,
Ackerly DD (2006) Effects of salinity and light on the carbon gain and
growth of Rhizophora mangle mangrove seedlings. Biotropica 38: 606-616. {pdf
270 kb}
2005
ANTEN NPR, Casado-Garcia R, Nagashima H. (2005) Effects of mechanical stress
and plant density on mechanical characteristics, growth and life-time
reproduction of tobacco plants. American Naturalist 166: 650-660. {pdf
153 kb}
ANTEN NPR (2005) Optimal characteristics of individual plants in vegetation
stands and implications for species coexistence. Annals of Botany
95:495-506. {pdf 165 kb}
Hikosaka K, Onoda Y, Kinugasa T, Nagashima H, ANTEN NPR, Hirose T (2005)
Effects of availability and utilisation of nitrogen on plant responses to
elevated CO2 concentrations at different scales: leaves, whole plants,
canopies and populations. Ecological Research 20: 243-253. {pdf
402 kb}
Van Staalduiden M, ANTEN NPR (2005) Difference in the capacity for
compensatory growth of two co-occurring grass species in relation to water
availability. Oecologia 146: 190-199. {pdf 413
kb}
Zuidema PA, Leffelaar PA, Gerritsma W, Mommer L, ANTEN NPR (2005) The first
physiological production model for cocoa (Theobroma cacao): model
presentation, validation and application. Agricultural Systems 84: 195-225.
{pdf 541 kb}
Muller O, Hikosaka K, ANTEN NPR, Hirose T, Werger MJA (2005) Optimal leaf
nitrogen content of an evergreen understorey plant in a temperate climate.
In: van der Est A, Bruce D (eds) Photosynthesis: Fundamental Aspects to
Global Perspectives, Allen Press, Lawrence, KS, in press.
Hikosaka K, Onoda Y, Kinugasa T, Nagashima H, ANTEN NPR, Hirose T (2005)
Plant responses to elevated CO2 concentration at different scales: leaf,
whole plant, canopy, and population. In Kohyama, T.; Canadell, J.; Ojima,
D.S.; Pitelka, L.F (eds) Forest Ecosystems and Environments - Scaling Up
from Shoot Module to Watershed. Springer, Heidelberg, pp. 3-14.
Before 2005
ANTEN NPR, Hirose T, Onoda Y, Kinugasa T, Kim HY, Okada M, Kobayashi K,
(2004) Elevated CO2 and nitrogen availability have interactive effects on
canopy carbon gain in rice. New Phytologist 161: 459-472. {pdf
366kb}
Pons TL, ANTEN NPR (2004) Is plasticity in partitioning of photosynthetic
resources between and within leaves important for whole-plant carbon gain in
canopies? Functional Ecology 18: 802-811. {pdf
307 kb}
ANTEN NPR, Hirose T (2003) Interspecific differences in structural and
physiological characteristics in a tall-grass meadow and consequences for
carbon gain. Ecology 84: 955-968. {pdf 235
kb}
ANTEN NPR, Ackerly DD, Martínez-Ramos M, (2003) Compensatory growth in a
tropical understorey palm subjected to repeated partial defoliation. Ecology
84: 2905-2918. {pdf 226 kb}
ANTEN NPR (2002) Evolutionarily stable leaf area production in plant
populations. Journal of Theoretical Biology 217: 15-32. {pdf
321kb}
Werger, MJA, Hirose T, During HJ, Heil GW, Hikosaka K, Ito T, Nachin UG,
Nagamatsu D, Shibasaki K, Takatsuki S, van Rheenen JWA, ANTEN, NPR (2002)
Photon flux partitioning among species and succession in grassland after
cessation of grazing. Journal of Vegetation Science 13: 615-626. {pdf
169 kb}
ANTEN NPR, Ackerly DD (2001) Canopy level compensatory photosynthesis in
partially defoliated plants of a tropical understorey palm species.
Functional Ecology 15: 152-162. {pdf 1006 kb}
ANTEN NPR, Hirose T (2001) Limitations on photosynthesis of competing
individual plants and consequences for whole-stand canopy structure.
Oecologia 129: 186-196. {pdf 215kb} {pdf
erratum}
ANTEN NPR, Ackerly DD (2001) A new method of growth analysis for plants that
experience periodic losses of leaf mass. Functional Ecology 15: 804-811. {pdf
225 kb}
Ackerly, DD, ANTEN NPR, Martinez-Ramos M. (2001) Fisiologia, ecologia y la
cosecha sostenible de productos no maderables. Memorias de XV Congreso
Mexicano de Botanica, Queretaro, pp. 214-220.
ANTEN NPR, Hikosaka, K., Hirose T (2000) Nitrogen utilization and the
photosynthetic system. In: (B Marshal, J Roberts, eds) Leaf development and
canopy growth. Sheffield Academic Press pp. 171-203.
ANTEN NPR, Hirose T (1999) Interspecific differences in aboveground growth
patterns result in spatial and temporal partitioning of light among species
in a tall-grass meadow. Journal of Ecology 87: 583-597.{pdf
779kb}
ANTEN NPR, Miyazawa K, Hikosaka K, Nagashima H, Hirose T (1998) Leaf
nitrogen distribution in relation to leaf age and photon flux density in
dominant and subordinate plants in dense stands of a dicotyledonous herb.
Oecologia 113: 314-324. {pdf 753 kb}
ANTEN NPR, Hirose T (1998) Biomass allocation and light partitioning among
dominant and subordinate individuals in Xanthium canadense stands. Annals of
Botany 82: 665-674. {pdf 480 kb}
ANTEN NPR, Werger MJA, Medina E (1998) Nitrogen distribution and leaf area
indices in relation to photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency in savanna
grasses. Plant Ecology 138: 63-75. {pdf 176kb}
ANTEN NPR (1997) Modeling canopy photosynthesis using parameters determined
from simple non-destructive measurements. Ecological Research 12:77-88. {pdf
924 kb}
ANTEN NPR, Werger MJA (1996) Canopy structure and nitrogen distribution in
dominant and subordinate plants in a dense stand of Amaranthus dubius L.
with a size hierarchy of individuals. Oecologia 105:30-37 {pdf
810kb}
ANTEN NPR, Hernandez R, Medina E (1996) The photosynthetic capacity and leaf
nitrogen concentration as related to light regime in shade leaves of a
montane tropical forest Tetrorchidium rubrivenium. Functional Ecology
10:491-500.
ANTEN NPR, Schieving F, Werger MJA (1995) Patterns of light and nitrogen
distribution in relation to whole canopy carbon gain in C3 and C4 mono- and
dicotyledonous species. Oecologia 101:504-513
ANTEN NPR, Schieving F, Medina E, Werger MJA, Schuffelen P (1995) Optimal
leaf area indices in C3 and C4 mono- and dicotyledonous species at low and
high nitrogen availability. Physiologia Plantarum 95:541-550. {pdf
858 kb}
ANTEN NPR (1995) Canopy structure and patterns of nitrogen distribution in
relation to carbon gain. Ph.D. thesis, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The
Netherlands.
ANTEN NPR, Gerritsma W, Wessel W (1994) A framework for the dry matter
production and partitioning in cocoa (Theobroma cacao). Proceedings of the
11 International Cocoa Research Conference, 18-24 July 1993, Yamoussoukro,
Cote d'Ivoire, pp. 709-714.
Submitted
Selaya, N.G. ANTEN NPR (200X) Leaf productivity versus longevity in young
secondary tropical forest and consequences for lifetime carbon gain. Ecology
(in review)
ANTEN, NPR, Schieving F (200x) The role of wood mass density and mechanical
constraints in the economy of tree crown architecture. American Naturalist
(in review).
Onoda Y, Yasumura Y, ANTEN, NPR (200x) Trade-off between leaf photosynthesis
and durability: its physiological mechanisms and impact on resorption and
litter quality. New Phytologist (in review)
Van Kuijk M, ANTEN, NPR, Oomen, RJ, Schieving F, (200x) Improving species
site matching for enrichment planting: a model approach. Forest Ecology and
Management (in review).
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