Wendy Feng L&S Math & Physical Sciences
Modelling Long-Term Forest Hydraulics and Canopy Structure Feedbacks
My research examines how initial forest thinning (a silvicultural practice) intensity dictates the long-term, coupled dynamics of canopy growth (leaf area) and canopy water use (transpiration).
Transpiration—the movement of soil water through plants and its evaporation into the atmosphere—accounts for 60–80% of forest hydrological cycling. This flux is regulated by internal plant hydraulic transport that meets growth demands, as well as by external factors, namely soil water availability and atmospheric evaporative conditions.
Canopy growth determines the leaf area available for transpiration. While thinning initially reduces leaf area, the resulting open canopy and reduced stand density increase light and water availability, thereby enhancing evaporative potential.
This study aims to develop a mathematical framework that explicitly couples canopy leaf area dynamics with evapotranspiration. The model incorporates soil moisture as a stochastic state variable, building on established ecohydrological frameworks to provide a practical and analytical representation of complex ecological dynamics over the long term and to improve understanding of trade-offs in forest management.
Message To Sponsor
I want to thank the donors for supporting my research in forest ecohydrology. To me, the movement of water through soil, trees, and the atmosphere is one of the most delicate natural processes. Understanding this cycle is increasingly important as we face water scarcity and the need for adaptive forest management. I am excited to describe these processes using mathematics, and I hope that, in the future, I can provide meaningful insights to help keep our forests healthy and the planet green.