World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Plant Science and Agronomy

D-Index
84
Citations
21755
World Ranking
363
National Ranking
123

Overview

What is he best known for?

The fields of study he is best known for:

  • Ecology
  • Botany
  • Photosynthesis

His primary scientific interests are in Botany, Photosynthesis, Abies lasiocarpa, Ecotone and Picea engelmannii. His research brings together the fields of Agronomy and Botany. His Photosynthesis research is multidisciplinary, relying on both Palisade cell and Horticulture.

His Ecotone study combines topics in areas such as Microsite and Seedling. He usually deals with Picea engelmannii and limits it to topics linked to Germination and Field experiment and Abies mariesii. His Ecology research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Snow and Water content.

His most cited work include:

  • Conifer seedling distribution and survival in an alpine-treeline ecotone (290 citations)
  • Leaf Form and Photosynthesis (280 citations)
  • Relation between Mesophyll Surface Area, Photosynthetic Rate, and Illumination Level during Development for Leaves of Plectranthus parviflorus Henckel (271 citations)

What are the main themes of his work throughout his whole career to date?

William K. Smith mostly deals with Botany, Photosynthesis, Horticulture, Ecology and Transpiration. In his research, William K. Smith performs multidisciplinary study on Botany and Sunlight. His study in Photosynthesis is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from both Chlorophyll, Palisade cell and Agronomy.

His Leaf size study in the realm of Horticulture connects with subjects such as Shading. In his research, Altitude, Abundance and Plant ecology is intimately related to Seedling, which falls under the overarching field of Ecology. His study explores the link between Transpiration and topics such as Stomatal conductance that cross with problems in Xylem, Vapour Pressure Deficit and Herbaceous plant.

He most often published in these fields:

  • Botany (70.95%)
  • Photosynthesis (50.68%)
  • Horticulture (27.03%)

What were the highlights of his more recent work (between 2013-2021)?

  • Botany (70.95%)
  • Wetland (4.73%)
  • Photosynthesis (50.68%)

In recent papers he was focusing on the following fields of study:

William K. Smith spends much of his time researching Botany, Wetland, Photosynthesis, Hydrology and Transpiration. His research in Botany is mostly concerned with Ecophysiology. His work deals with themes such as Atmospheric sciences and Bouteloua gracilis, which intersect with Photosynthesis.

The Hydrology study combines topics in areas such as Methane, Vegetation and Greenhouse gas. His research integrates issues of Microclimate, Growing season and Ecosystem in his study of Transpiration. His work carried out in the field of Microclimate brings together such families of science as Photosynthetically active radiation, Evapotranspiration, Animal science and Abies lasiocarpa.

Between 2013 and 2021, his most popular works were:

  • The role of vegetation in methane flux to the atmosphere: should vegetation be included as a distinct category in the global methane budget? (80 citations)
  • Photosynthetic costs and benefits of abaxial versus adaxial anthocyanins in Colocasia esculenta 'Mojito'. (31 citations)
  • Experimental cloud immersion and foliar water uptake in saplings of Abies fraseri and Picea rubens (30 citations)

In his most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

  • Ecology
  • Botany
  • Ecosystem

William K. Smith mainly focuses on Botany, Wetland, Greenhouse gas, Methane and Vegetation. His Botany study integrates concerns from other disciplines, such as National park and Tundra. His research in Wetland intersects with topics in Atmosphere, Carbon dioxide and Carbon cycle.

William K. Smith has included themes like Biogeochemical cycle and Biogeochemistry in his Greenhouse gas study. The study of Biogeochemical cycle is intertwined with the study of Atmospheric sciences in a number of ways.

Best Publications

  • Increased atmospheric vapor pressure deficit reduces global vegetation growth

    Wenping Yuan;Yi Zheng;Shilong Piao;Philippe Ciais

  • Recent global decline of CO2 fertilization effects on vegetation photosynthesis

    Songhan Wang;Songhan Wang;Yongguang Zhang;Yongguang Zhang;Yongguang Zhang;Weimin Ju;Weimin Ju;Jing M. Chen;Jing M. Chen

  • Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO2

    Anthony P. Walker;Martin G. De Kauwe;Ana Bastos;Soumaya Belmecheri

  • Observed increasing water constraint on vegetation growth over the last three decades.

    Wenzhe Jiao;Lixin Wang;William K. Smith;Qing Chang

  • Estimating near-infrared leaf reflectance from leaf structural characteristics

    Michèle R. Slaton;E. Raymond Hunt;William K. Smith

  • Leaf Form and Photosynthesis

    William K. Smith;Thomas C. Vogelmann;Evan H. DeLucia;David T. Bell

  • Conifer seedling distribution and survival in an alpine-treeline ecotone

    Matthew J. Germino;William K. Smith;A. Catherine Resor

  • Increasing impact of warm droughts on northern ecosystem productivity over recent decades

    David Gampe;David Gampe;Jakob Zscheischler;Jakob Zscheischler;Jakob Zscheischler;Markus Reichstein;Michael O’Sullivan

  • COMPARATIVE WATER RELATIONS AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF MYCORRHIZAL AND NON-MYCORRHIZAL BOUTELOUA GRACILIS H.B.K. LAG EX STEUD.

    Michael F. Allen;William K. Smith;Thomas S. Jr Moore;Martha Christensen

  • Relation between Mesophyll Surface Area, Photosynthetic Rate, and Illumination Level during Development for Leaves of Plectranthus parviflorus Henckel

    Park S. Nobel;Lawrence J. Zaragoza;William K. Smith

  • Widespread seasonal compensation effects of spring warming on northern plant productivity

    Wolfgang Buermann;Wolfgang Buermann;Matthias Forkel;Michael O’Sullivan;Stephen Sitch

  • Another perspective on altitudinal limits of alpine timberlines

    William K. Smith;Matthew J. Germino;Thomas E. Hancock;Daniel M. Johnson

  • Remote sensing of dryland ecosystem structure and function: Progress, challenges, and opportunities

    William K. Smith;Matthew P. Dannenberg;Matthew P. Dannenberg;Dong Yan;Stephanie Herrmann

  • Functional interaction between leaf trichomes, leaf wettability and the optical properties of water droplets

    C. A. Brewer;W. K. Smith;T. C. Vogelmann

  • Leaves and light capture: Light propagation and gradients of carbon fixation within leaves

    Thomas C. Vogelman;John N. Nishio;William K. Smith

  • Wind Effects on Needles of Timberline Conifers: Seasonal Influence on Mortality

    Julian L. Hadley;William K. Smith

  • Chlorophyll and light gradients in sun and shade leaves of Spinacia oleracea

    M. Cui;T. C. Vogelmann;W. K. Smith

  • Sky exposure, crown architecture, and low‐temperature photoinhibition in conifer seedlings at alpine treeline

    M. J. Germino;W. K. Smith;W. K. Smith

  • The altitude of alpine treeline: a bellwether of climate change effects

    William K. Smith;Matthew J. Germino;Daniel M. Johnson;Keith Reinhardt

  • Increasing importance of precipitation variability on global livestock grazing lands

    Lindsey L. Sloat;James S. Gerber;Leah H. Samberg;William K. Smith;William K. Smith

  • SAP FLUX OF CO-OCCURRING SPECIES IN A WESTERN SUBALPINE FOREST DURING SEASONAL SOIL DROUGHT

    Diane E. Pataki;Ram Oren;William K. Smith

  • Patterns of leaf surface wetness for montane and subalpine plants

    C. A. Brewer;W. K. Smith

  • Relation between Mesophyll Surface Area, Photosynthetic Rate, and Illumination Level during Development for Leaves of

    Park S. Nobel;Lawrence J. Zaragoza;William K. Smith

Frequent Co-Authors

Daniel M. Johnson
Daniel M. Johnson University of Georgia
Alan K. Knapp
Alan K. Knapp Colorado State University
Donald R. Young
Donald R. Young Virginia Commonwealth University
Evan H. DeLucia
Evan H. DeLucia University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
E. Raymond Hunt
E. Raymond Hunt Agricultural Research Service
William A. Reiners
William A. Reiners University of Wyoming
Matthew J. Germino
Matthew J. Germino United States Geological Survey
Craig R. Brodersen
Craig R. Brodersen Yale University
Martha Christensen
Martha Christensen University of Wyoming
Park S. Nobel
Park S. Nobel University of California, Los Angeles

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