Shapes of river networks and leaves: Are they statistically similar?

Jon D. Pelletier; Donald L. Turcotte

doi:10.1098/rstb.2000.0566

Shapes of river networks and leaves: Are they statistically similar?

Jon D. Pelletier, Donald L. Turcotte

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

The structure of river networks is compared with the vein structure of leaves. The two structures are visually similar at the smaller scales. The statistics of branching and side branching are nearly identical. The branching structure of diffusion-limited aggregation clusters is also similar and can provide an explanation for the structure of river networks. The origin of the self-similar branching and side branching of the vein structure in leaves is not clear but it appears to be an optimal network in terms of transporting nutrients to all parts of the leaf with the least total resistance.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	307-311
Number of pages	5
Journal	Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume	355
Issue number	1394
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2000.0566
State	Published - Feb 29 2000

Keywords

Fractal
Leaf veins
Network
Optimal
Rivers
Tokunaga

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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10.1098/rstb.2000.0566

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N2 - The structure of river networks is compared with the vein structure of leaves. The two structures are visually similar at the smaller scales. The statistics of branching and side branching are nearly identical. The branching structure of diffusion-limited aggregation clusters is also similar and can provide an explanation for the structure of river networks. The origin of the self-similar branching and side branching of the vein structure in leaves is not clear but it appears to be an optimal network in terms of transporting nutrients to all parts of the leaf with the least total resistance.

AB - The structure of river networks is compared with the vein structure of leaves. The two structures are visually similar at the smaller scales. The statistics of branching and side branching are nearly identical. The branching structure of diffusion-limited aggregation clusters is also similar and can provide an explanation for the structure of river networks. The origin of the self-similar branching and side branching of the vein structure in leaves is not clear but it appears to be an optimal network in terms of transporting nutrients to all parts of the leaf with the least total resistance.

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KW - Network

KW - Optimal

KW - Rivers

KW - Tokunaga

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JF - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

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Shapes of river networks and leaves: Are they statistically similar?

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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