Abstract Detail
Ecophysiology Vick, Jaclyn K. [1], Young, Donald R [1]. Corticular photosynthetic dynamics for a coastal, evergreen, nitrogen-fixing shrub: Myrica cerifera. MYRICA cerifera is the dominant woody species on many barrier islands along the southeastern coast of the United States. It is an actinorhizal nitrogen fixer with rapid growth forming dense thickets. Myrica has evergreen leaves and all branch orders have chlorophyll containing tissues and bark with numerous lenticels. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether corticular photosynthesis is important to shrub carbon gain. Photosynthetic characteristics and spatial variation in light were determined through field studies using a portable IRGA. Preliminary data indicate that significant internal CO2 refixation occurs for all stem orders and that chlorophyll content in tissues is a function of the stem light environment. Light was attenuated by more than 80% from primary to 5th order branches. Corticular photosynthesis may increase productivity up to stand level by increasing carbon-use efficiency and may be a mechanism for rapid shrub expansion into grassy swales. -DU
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1 - Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 842012, Richmond, Virginia, 23284, USA
Keywords:
corticular photosynthesis
CO2 refixation
Myrica cerifera
shrub
evergreen
barrier island.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: 48-119
Location: Auditorium/Bell Memorial Union
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:42 | 