The Leaves of a Tree
"How much do the leaves on a tree weigh?" How might one estimate the actual
weight of the leaves (or for that matter any other parts of the tree)? How might one
classify leaves? Build a mathematical model to describe and classify leaves. Consider
and answer the following:
? Why do leaves have the various shapes that they have?
? Do the shapes “minimize ” overlapping individual shadows that are cast, so as to
maximize exposure? Does the distribution of leaves within the “volume ” of the tree
and its branches effect the shape?
? Speaking of profiles, is leaf shape (general characteristics) related to tree
profile/branching structure?
? How would you estimate the leaf mass of a tree? Is there a correlation between the
leaf mass and the size characteristics of the tree (height, mass, volume defined by the
profile)?
In addition to your one page summary sheet prepare a one page letter to an editor of a
scientific journal outlining your key findings.
Now that all our deciduous trees are in leaf, and roadside ditches and forest
floors in the Georgia Piedmont are green with life, it is a marvelous time to take a
walk and see how many different leaf shapes you can find. Many shapes are
particular to a certain kind of tree, shrub, or vine; some, like that of the maple, have
even been celebrated on a country's flag. There are the three jagged leaflets of poison
ivy, and five of Virginia creeper; the many lobes (rounded or jagged) of the oaks; the
tulip-shaped leaves of the tulip tree tree; the five-pointed star of the sweet gum; and
the heart-shaped leaves of the wild yam. Some plants cannot settle upon one leaf
shape, but instead have several. Leaves of the sassafras tree can be simple ovals,
shaped like mittens, or have three broad, blunt lobes. As it is known to us, different
countries and districts have different criterions for mercury toxicity. In our case, we
adopt LD50 as the toxic criterions(LD50 is the dosage at which 50% of the humans
exposed to a particular chemical will die. The LD50 for methylmercury is 50 mg/kg.).
We speculate mercury toxicity has effect on the ability of eliminating mercury,
therefore, we set up variable-elimination model at the basis of the first model.
According to the first model, the amount of methylmercury in human body is 50
ug/kg, far less than 50 mg/kg, so we reach the conclusion that the fish consumption
restrictions put forward by the reservoir advisories can protect the average adult. If the
amount of methylmercury ingested increases, the amount of bioaccumulation will go
up correspondingly. If 50 mg/kg is the maximum amount of methylmercury in human
body, we can obtain the maximum number of fish that people consume safely per