Comparative development of young, mature and declining trees.
| Character | Young | Mature | Declining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relative size and complexity of organism | Low | High | High |
| Annual net productivity of carbohydrate | Moderate | High | Low |
| Ratio of PSN* to non-PSN tissue | High | Low | Low |
| Relative maintenance demand | Low | High | High |
| Mass:energy** | 1:100 | 1:1 | 1:0.5 |
| Ability to respond to environmental change | High | Moderate | Low |