Adaptations of Desert Organisms

Transcription

1 Adaptations of Desert Organisms Edited by J.L. Cloudsley-Thompson Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH

2 Volumes already published Ecophysiology of the Camelidae and Desert Ruminants By R.T. Wilson (1989) Ecophysiology of Desert Arthropods and Reptiles By J.1. Cloudsley-Thompson (1991) Plant Nutrients in Desert Environments By A. Day and K. Ludeke (1993) Seed Germination in Desert Plants By Y. Gutterman (1993) Behavioural Adaptations of Desert Animals By G. Costa (1995) Invertebrates in Hot and Cold Arid Environments By 1. S0mme (1995) Energetics of Desert Invertebrates By H. Heatwole (1996) Ecophysiology of Desert Birds By G.1. Maclean (1996) Plants of Desert Dunes By A. Danin (1996) Biotic Interactions in Arid Lands By J.1. Cloudsley-Thompson (1996) Structure-Function Relations of Warm Desert Plants By A.C. Gibson (1996) Physiological Ecology of North American Desert Plants By S.D. Smith, R.K. Monson, and J.E. Anderson (1997) Ecophysiology of Small Desert Mammals By A.A. Degen (1997) In preparation Ecophysiology of Amphibians Inhabiting Xeric Environments By M.R. Warburg (1997) Homeostasis in Desert Reptiles By S.D. Bradshaw (1997)

3 S.D. Smith R.K. Monson J.E. Anderson Physiological Ecology of North American Desert Plants With 86 Figures and 21 Tables Springer

4 Prof. Dr. STANLEY D. SMITH Department of Biological Sciences University of Nevada 4505 Maryland Parkway Box Las Vegas, NV , USA Prof. Dr. RUSSELL K. MONSON Department of Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology, Ramaley Building N122 University of Colorado, Campus Box 334 Boulder, CO , USA Prof. Dr. JAY E. ANDERSON Department of Biological Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Idaho State University Campus Box 8007 Building 65, Memorial Drive Pocatello, ID , USA Front cover illustration: Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree). Photograph taken by S.D. Smith ISBN Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. Smith, Stanley D., Physiological ecology ofnorth American desert plants/stanley D. Smith, Russell K. Monson, Jay E. Anderson. p. cm. - (Adaptations of desert organisms) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN ~ ISBN (ebook) DOI / Desert plants - Ecophysiology - West (U.S.) 2. Desert plants - Ecophysiology - Mexico. 3. Desert plants - Adaptation - West (U.S.) 4. Desert plants - Adaptation - Mexico. 1. Monson, Russell K., 1954-,II. Anderson, Jay Ennis, III. Title. IV. Series. QK133.S '2652' dc This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concemed, specificaliy the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permissions for use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag. Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1997 Originally published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York in 1997 Softcover reprint of the hardcover Ist edition 1997 The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover design: Design & Production GmbH, Heidelberg Typesetting: Thomson Press (India) Ltd., Madras SPIN: /3137/SPS Printed on acid-free paper

5 Contents Prologue 1 1 North American Deserts: Environments and Vegetation The Deserts of North America 1.2 Abiotic Features of North American Deserts Climate Geomorphology and Soils 1.3 North American Desert Vegetation Communities of the Major Deserts Historical Biogeography of North American Deserts Spatial Pattern in Desert Vegetation Community Dynamics: Succession, Fire and Desertification Structure and Function of North American Desert Ecosystems Primary Production Biogeochemistry and Nutrient Cycling Plant Processes and Responses to Stress 2.1 Photosynthesis in Desert Plants Photosynthetic Pathways Among Desert Plants Photosynthetic Responses to the Environment Diffusional and Metabolic Limitations to Photosynthesis Rate Diffusive Limitations of CO 2 Assimilation: Trading Water for Carbon

6 VI Metabolic Limitations of CO 2 Assimilation: Investing in Nitrogen Acquisition for a Profit in Carbon Acquisition Desert Plant Water Relations Adaptations to Drought The Roles of Osmotic Adjustment and Cell Wall Elasticity in Maintaining Turgor in Desert Plants Desert Plant Growth The Nature ofinternal and External Constraints to the Growth Rate of Desert Plants Plant Phenological Controls over Growth Root/Shoot Allocation and Its Influence on Growth.... Source-Sink Relationships and CO 2 Assimilation Rate as They Influence Growth Reproduction in Desert Plants.... Controls over the Amount and Timing of Reproduction Vegetative Versus Sexual Reproduction. Defense of Desert Plants.... Contents Evergreen Shrubs Introduction... Case Study: Artemisia tridentata Case Study: Larrea tridentata Drought-Deciduous Shrubs Introduction Case Study: Encelia farinosa Stem Photosynthetic Shrubs and Trees CAM Succulents. Introduction... Case Study: Carnegiea gigantea

7 Contents VII Case Study: Agave deserti Perennial Grasses Introduction... Architecture of Perennial Grasses. Hypotheses to Account for Selection for Bunchgrass Architecture Case Study: Leymus cinereus Phreatophytes. Introduction.. Case Study: Prosopis glandulosa Desert Annuals... General Distribution of Desert Annuals Phenological Controls over Growth of Desert Annuals Plant Carbon and Water Balance of Desert Annuals Case Study: Machaeranthera gracilis Case Study: Solar Trackers Poikilohydric Plants. Introduction..... Case Study: Selaginella lepidophylla

8 VIII Contents 10 Exotic Plants Introduction Case Study: Bromus tectorum Breeding System, Life History, Phenology, and Phenotypic Plasticity Competitive Interactions: Physiological and Developmental Mechanisms Fire Ecology Water-Use Efficiency and Gas Exchange Characteristics Case Study: Tamarix ramosissima. 217 loa Epilogue Desert Adaptation: A Growth Form Perspective. 229 Global Climate Change: Potential Responses of Desert Ecosystems 233 Concluding Remarks Acknowledgements References Species Index Subject Index