Plant Physiological Ecology

The growth, reproduction, and geographical distribution of plants are profoundly influenced by their physiological ecology: the interaction with the surrounding physical, chemical, and biological environments. This textbook describes mechanisms that underlie plant physiological ecology at the levels of physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology. At the same time, the integrative power of physiological ecology is well suited to assess the costs, benefits, and consequences of modifying plants for human needs and to evaluate the role of plants in ecosystems. __Plant Physiological Ecology, Second Edition__ is significantly updated, with full color illustrations and begins with the primary processes of carbon metabolism and transport, plant water relations, and energy balance. After considering individual leaves and whole plants, these physiological processes are then scaled up to the level of the canopy. Subsequent chapters discuss mineral nutrition and the ways in which plants cope with nutrient-deficient or toxic soils. The book then looks at patterns of growth and allocation, life-history traits, and interactions between plants and other organisms. Later chapters deal with traits that affect decomposition of plant material and with the consequences of plant physiological ecology at ecosystem and global levels. __Plant Physiological Ecology, Second Edition__ features numerous boxed entries that extend the discussions of selected issues, a glossary, and numerous references to the primary and review literature. This significant new text is suitable for use in plant ecology courses, as well as classes ranging from plant physiology to plant molecular biology. __From reviews of the first edition:__ __"__. . . the authors cover a wide range of plant physiological aspects which up to now could not be found in one book. . . . The book can be recommended not only to students but also to scientists working in general plant physiology and ecology as well as in applied agriculture and forestry." - __Journal of Plant Physiology__ "This is a remarkable book, which should do much to consolidate the importance of plant physiological ecology as a strongly emerging discipline. The range and depth of the book should also persuade any remaining skeptics that plant physiological ecology can offer much in helping us to understand how plants function in a changing and complex environment." - __Forestry__ "This book must be regarded as the most integrated, informative and accessible account of the complexities of plant physiological ecology. It can be highly recommended to graduate students and researchers working in all fields of plant ecology." - __Plant Science__ ". . . there is a wealth of information and new ideas here, and I strongly recommend that this book be on every plant ecophysiologist's shelf. It certainly represents scholarship of the highest level, and many of us will find it a useful source of new ideas for future research." - __Ecology__ Box 9E. 1 Continued FIGURE 2. The C–S–R triangle model (Grime 1979). The strategies at the three corners are C, competiti- winning species; S, stress-tolerating s- cies; R,ruderalspecies. Particular species can engage in any mixture of these three primary strategies, and the m- ture is described by their position within the triangle. comment briefly on some other dimensions that Grime's (1977) triangle (Fig. 2) (see also Sects. 6. 1 are not yet so well understood. and 6. 3 of Chapter 7 on growth and allocation) is a two-dimensional scheme. A C—S axis (Com- tition-winning species to Stress-tolerating spe- Leaf Economics Spectrum cies) reflects adaptation to favorable vs. unfavorable sites for plant growth, and an R- Five traits that are coordinated across species are axis (Ruderal species) reflects adaptation to leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf life-span, leaf N disturbance. concentration, and potential photosynthesis and dark respiration on a mass basis. In the five-trait Trait-Dimensions space,79%ofallvariation worldwideliesalonga single main axis (Fig. 33 of Chapter 2A on photo- A recent trend in plant strategy thinking has synthesis; Wright et al. 2004). Species with low been trait-dimensions, that is, spectra of varia- LMA tend to have short leaf life-spans, high leaf tion with respect to measurable traits. Compared nutrient concentrations, and high potential rates of mass-based photosynthesis. These species with category schemes, such as Raunkiaer's, trait occur at the ‘‘quick-return''end of the leaf e- dimensions have the merit of capturing cont- nomics spectrum. Front Matter....Pages i-xxix Introduction—History, Assumptions, and Approaches....Pages 1-9 Photosynthesis....Pages 11-99 Respiration....Pages 101-150 Long-Distance Transport of Assimilates....Pages 151-162 Plant Water Relations....Pages 163-223 The Plant’s Energy Balance....Pages 225-236 Effects of Radiation and Temperature....Pages 237-246 Scaling-Up Gas Exchange and Energy Balance from the Leaf to the Canopy Level....Pages 247-254 Mineral Nutrition....Pages 255-320 Growth and Allocation....Pages 321-374 Life Cycles: Environmental Influences and Adaptations....Pages 375-402 Symbiotic Associations....Pages 403-443 Ecological Biochemistry: Allelopathy and Defense Against Herbivores....Pages 445-477 Effects of Microbial Pathogens....Pages 479-489 Parasitic Associations....Pages 491-503 Interactions Among Plants....Pages 505-531 Carnivory....Pages 533-544 Decomposition....Pages 545-554 Ecosystem and Global Processes: Ecophysiological Controls....Pages 555-571 Back Matter....Pages 573-604 The growth, reproduction and geographical distribution of plants are profoundly influenced by their physiological ecology: the interaction with the surrounding physical, chemical, and biological environments. This renowned textbook is notable in emphasizing that the mechanisms underlying plant physiological ecology can be found at the levels of biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, and whole-plant physiology. At the same time, the integrative power of physiological ecology is well-suited to assess the costs, benefits, and consequences of modifying plants for human needs, and to evaluate the role of plants in ecosystems. This new edition of Plant Physiological Ecology features updated material, as well as full color images throughout. Boxed entries provide extended discussions of selected issues, and a glossary and numerous references to the primary and review literature are included.