Comparison of four performance models in quantifying the inequality of leaf and fruit size distribution

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. e11072 - n/a
• Main Authors: Wang, Lin, He, Ke, Hui, Cang, Ratkowsky, David A., Yao, Weihao, Lian, Meng, Wang, Jinfeng, Shi, Peijian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2024; Wiley
• Subjects: Akaike information criterion; Bamboo; close‐to‐linear behavior; Comparative analysis; Empirical equations; Family income; Fruits; Gini index; goodness of fit; Households; Income distribution; Income inequality; Leaf area; Leaves; Lorenz curve; Mathematical models; parameter‐effects curvature; Performance evaluation; Plant sciences; Plants; Root-mean-square errors; Size distribution; United States > US; China; close‐to‐linear behavior; Lorenz curve; Akaike information criterion; Gini index; parameter‐effects curvature; goodness of fit
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11072

The inequality in leaf and fruit size distribution per plant can be quantified using the Gini index, which is linked to the Lorenz curve depicting the cumulative proportion of leaf (or fruit) size against the cumulative proportion of the number of leaves (or fruits). Prior researches have predominantly employed empirical models—specifically the original performance equation (PE‐1) and its generalized counterpart (GPE‐1)—to fit rotated and right‐shifted Lorenz curves. Notably, another potential performance equation (PE‐2), capable of generating similar curves to PE‐1, has been overlooked and not systematically compared with PE‐1 and GPE‐1. Furthermore, PE‐2 has been extended into a generalized version (GPE‐2). In the present study, we conducted a comparative analysis of these four performance equations, evaluating their applicability in describing Lorenz curves related to plant organ (leaf and fruit) size. Leaf area was measured on 240 culms of dwarf bamboo (Shibataea chinensis Nakai), and fruit volume was measured on 31 field muskmelon plants (Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis Naud.). Across both datasets, the root‐mean‐square errors of all four performance models were consistently smaller than 0.05. Paired t‐tests indicated that GPE‐1 exhibited the lowest root‐mean‐square error and Akaike information criterion value among the four performance equations. However, PE‐2 gave the best close‐to‐linear behavior based on relative curvature measures. This study presents a valuable tool for assessing the inequality of plant organ size distribution. Gini index can gauge the inequality of the size distribution of biological features. Lorenz curve calculating Gini index can be well described by performance equations. Four performance equations were compared using Lorenz curves of leaf and fruit size.