The goal of the meeting is to examine how structural complexity of forest canopies affects ecosystem function and response to global change. Structural complexity in forest canopies changes with forest age for even-aged forests and with species diversity and mean age for other forests.
Structural complexity can alter canopy physiology and defines habitat for canopy-dwelling species.
Through invited syntheses and offered presentations, we aim to further understanding of the linkages between canopy structure and function and provide a relaxed forum for the exchange of ideas, and for building and strengthening professional relationships. The meeting will be a traveling workshop with scientific presentations interspersed with visits to the Wind River Canopy Crane near the Colombia River Gorge in Washington, Mount St. Helens, and the Metolious Ameriflux ecosystem monitoring sites in Central Oregon. Selected papers from the meeting will be published as a special issue of Tree Physiology.