Mathematical Models of Plant Water Loss and Plant Water Relations

Abstract

Quantitative descriptions of the functioning of individual organisms or plant communities in different environments are a major objective of physiological research. Mathematical models of plant water loss and plant water relations represent attempts to quantify these aspects of plant function. In addition, mathematical models can be objective and efficient systems for integrating and summarizing available information, and they are useful for expressing and testing hypotheses. However, the values and limitations of mathematical models of biological systems have been underestimated. The development and use of mathematical models should follow rational guidelines analogous to the conceptual constraints that are widely accepted as being appropriate in experimental studies. Unfortunately, guidelines for the development, evaluation, and use of mathematical models of ecological systems are only just beginning to emerge. Guidelines will be briefly discussed in the section on objectives and procedures of modeling to illustrate some of the limitations of mathematical models.