| Abstract Detail
Developmental and Structural Section Jacobsen, Anna L. [1], Pratt, R. Brandon [2], Davis, Stephen D. [3], Ewers, Frank W. [1]. Water stress tolerance among shrubs in three arid plant communities of southern California. WATER stress tolerance (estimated by the water potential at 50% loss in hydraulic conductivity; P50) was estimated in the dominant shrub species of three arid plant communities of southern California: chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and cool desert (Mojave). All three of these regions receive primarily winter rainfall (November-March). Other xylem and water stress characteristics, including monthly water status, xylem density, xylem anatomy, and specific leaf area (SLA), were also determined for species in these three regions. Shrubs of the coastal sage shrub and Mojave Desert communities contained a greater percentage of species with low water stress tolerance compared to species in the chaparral community. Species in all three communities displayed a broad range in xylem density, but the communities differed in the relationship between xylem density and P50. Species occurring in the coastal sage scrub community displayed the broadest range in SLA, but this was not linked to a greater range in water stress tolerance. Specific leaf area was not related to water stress tolerance among shrubs of these arid plant communities (P > 0.05). Xylem characteristics associated with water stress tolerance may vary among different arid plant communities perhaps illustrating different functional and anatomical adaptations to the mutual problem of seasonal water stress.
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1 - Michigan State University, Department of Plant Biology, 166 Plant Biology Building, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1312, USA
2 - California State University Bakersfield, Department of Biology, 9001 Stockdale Hwy., Bakersfield, California, 93311-1099, USA
3 - Pepperdine University, Natural Sciences Division, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California, 90263-4321, USA
Keywords:
water stress
water potential
xylem structure and function
California
arid shrublands.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 39-3
Location: 312/Bell Memorial Union
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 9:00 AM
Abstract ID:532 |
