Transcript soerens stephen sol 2014 sm

What Trees Could Learn
from Alan Greenspan
Stephen Soerens
Advisor: Adam Wolf
Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI)
Why do we care about trees?
 Forests are essential to the climate system – how will
forests react to climate change?
 Competition – Must outgrow and outlast neighbors to
survive
 Risk Management – Photosynthesis vs. Cavitation
 Mechanisms of reaction and adaptation
Driving Questions
 Why is this plant and not another plant in this location?
 When does a plant no longer act in its best interest? when does it lose to its competitors?
 What plant will be here in _____ years?
Methods
 How much water is the leaf pulling and how much is it
evaporating?
 Evaporative Flow Meter (Pressure Differential)
 LI-COR Portable Photosynthesis System (gas exchange
differential of CO2 and H2O)