Stanley D. Smith, Russell Monson, Jay E. Anderson

Physiological Ecology of North American Desert Plants (eBook, PDF)

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Following a description of the physical and biological characterization of the four North American deserts together with the primary adaptations of plants to environmental stress, the authors go on to present case studies of key species. They provide an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the major patterns of adaptation in desert plants, with one chapter devoted to several important exotic plants that have invaded these deserts. The whole is rounded off with a synthesis of the resource requirements of desert plants and how they may respond to global climate change.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 6. Dezember 2012
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9783642592126
• Artikelnr.: 53393132

Autorenporträt

Desert environments are among the harshest on earth. Nevertheless many organisms live there. The book describes the adaptations of plants to the extreme conditions in North American deserts.

Inhaltsangabe

Prologue.- 1 North American Deserts: Environments and Vegetation.- 1.1 The Deserts of North America.- 1.2 Abiotic Features of North American Deserts.- 1.3 North American Desert Vegetation.- 1.4 Structure and Function of North American Desert Ecosystems.- 2 Plant Processes and Responses to Stress.- 2.1 Photosynthesis in Desert Plants.- 2.2 Desert Plant Water Relations.- 2.3 Desert Plant Growth.- 2.4 Reproduction in Desert Plants.- 2.5 Defense of Desert Plants.- 3 Evergreen Shrubs.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Case Study: Artemisia tridentata.- 3.3 Case Study: Larrea tridentata.- 3.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 4 Drought-Deciduous Shrubs.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Case Study: Encelia farinosa.- 4.3 Stem Photosynthetic Shrubs and Trees.- 4.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 5 CAM Succulents.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Case Study: Carnegiea gigantea.- 5.3 Case Study: Agave deserti.- 5.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 6 Perennial Grasses.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Architecture of Perennial Grasses.- 6.3 Hypotheses to Account for Selection for Bunchgrass Architecture.- 6.4 Case Study: Leymus cinereus.- 6.5 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 7 Phreatophytes.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Case Study: Prosopis glandulosa.- 7.3 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 8 Desert Annuals.- 8.1 General Distribution of Desert Annuals.- 8.2 Phenological Controls over Growth of Desert Annuals.- 8.3 Plant Carbon and Water Balance of Desert Annuals.- 8.4 Case Study: Machaeranthera gracilis.- 8.5 Case Study: Solar Trackers.- 8.6 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 9 Poikilohydric Plants.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Case Study: Selaginella lepidophylla.- 9.3 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 10 Exotic Plants.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Case Study: Bromus tectorum.- 10.3 Case Study: Tamarix ramosissima.- 10.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- Epilogue.- Desert Adaptation: A Growth Form Perspective.- Global Climate Change: Potential Responses of Desert Ecosystems.- Concluding Remarks.- Acknowledgements.- References.- Species Index.