Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2098-1882

Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Geology and Geography

Committee Chair

Brenden McNeil

Committee Co-Chair

Andrew Elmore

Committee Member

Andrew Elmore

Committee Member

Aaron Maxwell

Committee Member

Loren Albert

Committee Member

Rick Landenberger

Abstract

Tree crown architecture, a critical determinant of forest ecosystem processes such as photosynthesis, evapotranspiration, and spectral reflectance, is shaped by adaptive trade-offs in resource use and environmental responses. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of how these traits vary across species, environmental gradients, and temporal scales. This dissertation addresses these gaps by employing remote sensing data across three interconnected studies. Together, these studies advance tree crown economic theory, highlighting how crown traits mediate trade-offs between light capture and water-use efficiency and how these traits influence forest responses to global change. Collectively, this dissertation offer insights for improving models that can predict forest ecosystem responses to global change, monitoring forest health, and informing sustainable forest management strategies. This research underscores the critical role of crown architecture in shaping the resilience and functionality of forests in a rapidly changing world.

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