Applying the economic concept of profitability to leaves

Rafael Villar; Manuel Olmo; Pedro Atienza; Antonio J. Garzón; Ian J. Wright; Hendrik Poorter; Luis A. Hierro

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79709-w

Applying the economic concept of profitability to leaves

Rafael Villar, Manuel Olmo, Pedro Atienza, Antonio J. Garzón, Ian J. Wright, Hendrik Poorter, Luis A. Hierro

Western Sydney University

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

Abstract

Economic principles can be extended to biological organisms as they optimize the use of resources, but their use in biology has been limited. We applied concepts from traditional economics to the main production unit of plants, the leaf. We quantified the profitability (profit/cost of investment) of leaves from seven biomes worldwide and compared those to the profitability of companies. Here we demonstrate for the first time key similarities and differences between leaf and human economics. First, there was a weak, but positive relationship between profitability and size, both for leaves and companies. Second, environment has a strong effect on profitability, with high values in leaves from biomes with short growth periods and, for companies associated with innovation. Third, shorter longevity of productive units was related to higher profitability. In summary, by comparing economic behaviours of plants and humans there is potential to develop new perspectives on plant ecological strategies and plant evolution.

Original language	English
Article number	49
Number of pages	10
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	11
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79709-w
Publication status	Published - 2021

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title = "Applying the economic concept of profitability to leaves",

abstract = "Economic principles can be extended to biological organisms as they optimize the use of resources, but their use in biology has been limited. We applied concepts from traditional economics to the main production unit of plants, the leaf. We quantified the profitability (profit/cost of investment) of leaves from seven biomes worldwide and compared those to the profitability of companies. Here we demonstrate for the first time key similarities and differences between leaf and human economics. First, there was a weak, but positive relationship between profitability and size, both for leaves and companies. Second, environment has a strong effect on profitability, with high values in leaves from biomes with short growth periods and, for companies associated with innovation. Third, shorter longevity of productive units was related to higher profitability. In summary, by comparing economic behaviours of plants and humans there is potential to develop new perspectives on plant ecological strategies and plant evolution.",

author = "Rafael Villar and Manuel Olmo and Pedro Atienza and Garz{\'o}n, {Antonio J.} and Wright, {Ian J.} and Hendrik Poorter and Hierro, {Luis A.}",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1038/s41598-020-79709-w",

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AU - Villar, Rafael

AU - Olmo, Manuel

AU - Atienza, Pedro

AU - Garzón, Antonio J.

AU - Wright, Ian J.

AU - Poorter, Hendrik

AU - Hierro, Luis A.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Economic principles can be extended to biological organisms as they optimize the use of resources, but their use in biology has been limited. We applied concepts from traditional economics to the main production unit of plants, the leaf. We quantified the profitability (profit/cost of investment) of leaves from seven biomes worldwide and compared those to the profitability of companies. Here we demonstrate for the first time key similarities and differences between leaf and human economics. First, there was a weak, but positive relationship between profitability and size, both for leaves and companies. Second, environment has a strong effect on profitability, with high values in leaves from biomes with short growth periods and, for companies associated with innovation. Third, shorter longevity of productive units was related to higher profitability. In summary, by comparing economic behaviours of plants and humans there is potential to develop new perspectives on plant ecological strategies and plant evolution.

AB - Economic principles can be extended to biological organisms as they optimize the use of resources, but their use in biology has been limited. We applied concepts from traditional economics to the main production unit of plants, the leaf. We quantified the profitability (profit/cost of investment) of leaves from seven biomes worldwide and compared those to the profitability of companies. Here we demonstrate for the first time key similarities and differences between leaf and human economics. First, there was a weak, but positive relationship between profitability and size, both for leaves and companies. Second, environment has a strong effect on profitability, with high values in leaves from biomes with short growth periods and, for companies associated with innovation. Third, shorter longevity of productive units was related to higher profitability. In summary, by comparing economic behaviours of plants and humans there is potential to develop new perspectives on plant ecological strategies and plant evolution.

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VL - 11

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Applying the economic concept of profitability to leaves

Abstract

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