School of Botany and Zoology
Thesis title: Crown and canopy dynamics in subtropical eucalypt plantations
Growth and wood quality of trees are intimately linked to the development of the canopy. Growing trees with large crowns is desirable to facilitate rapid stem wood production but the enlarged branches to high leaf area is undesirable in the early growth phase until a sufficiently long branch-free section of the stem has formed. The aim of my PhD project is to investigate physiological and morphological response of two commercial timber plantation eucalypts ( Eucalyptus pilularis and E. cloeziana ) to artificial green crown pruning (a technique used to control branching and improve timber quality in young plantations). The outcomes of this project will aid the development of a timber stand management simulation model for the species in question.
Publications
P.J. Alcorn, D. Thomas, J. Bauhus, R. James, R.G.B. Smith and A. Nicotra (2005). Changes in whole-tree water use following green crown pruning in young plantation-grown Eucalyptus pilularis and E. cloeziana . Submitted Functional Plant Biology
