Physiological (Ecology of North American Plant Communities EDITED BY BRIAN F. CHABOT Section of Ecology and Systematics Cornell University AND HAROLD A. MOONEY Department of Biological Sciences Stanford University UNIVERSITATS- BIBLIOTHEK NEW YORK LONDON CHAPMAN AND HALL
Contents Preface List of contributors 1 The historical development of physiological plant ecology W.D. BILLINGS 1.1 The beginnings 1.2 The 19th Century 1.3 The spread of physiological ecology to North America 1.4 The middle decades 1.5 The post-war revival of physiological ecology 1.6 Some thoughts about the future of physiological ecology References 2 Arctic F. STUART CHAPIN III AND GAIUS R. SHAVER 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Environment 2.3 Vegetation and growth forms 2.4 Phenology and growth 2.5 Photosynthesis and respiration 2.6 Water relations 2.7 Mobile carbon pools 2.8 Nutrient absorption, storage, and loss 2.9 Allocation 2.10 Reproduction 2.11 Summary References
vi Contents 3 Alpine 41 L.C. BLISS 3.1 Introduction 41 3.2 Environment 41 3.3 Floristics 45 3.4 Plant communities and environmental gradients 45 3.5 Seed germination and seedling establishment 47 3.6 Growth forms and plant growth 48 3.7 Plant phenology and growth 52 3.8 Physiological responses 54 3.9 Timberline 57 3.10 The role of snow 59 3.11 Summary 60 References 60 4 Taiga 66 WALTER C. OECHEL AND WILLIAM T. LAWRENCE 4.1 Introduction 66 4.2 Vegetation zones of the taiga 67 4.3 Environment 69 4.4 Growth forms and phenology 72 4.5 Controls on carbon balance 73 4.6 Temperature response 75 4.7 Light response 76 4.8 Water stress 78 4.9 Nutrient relations 80 4.10 Production 80 4.11 Causes of timberline 82 4.12 Fire ecology > 83 4.13 Establishment and reproduction 83 4.14 Succession 88 4.15 Summary and research needs 90 References 91 5 Western montane forests 95 W.K. SMITH 5.1 Introduction 95 5.2 Environment 98 5.3 Ecophysiology 101 5.4 Summary and perspectives 114 References 120
Contents vii 6 Coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest 127 JAMES P. LASSOIE, THOMAS M. HINCKLEY AND CHARLES C. GRIER 6.1 Introduction 127 6.2 Community structure 128 6.3 Physiological characteristics and responses 135 6.4 Tree structure 149 6.5 Conclusion 153 References 154 7 Annuals and perennials of warm deserts 162 JAMES EHLERINGER 7.1 Introduction 162 7.2 The physical environment 162 7.3 Phenology and life cycle adaptations 164 7.4 Leaf and canopy adaptations 167 7.5 Photosynthetic and water relations adaptations 170 7.6 Summary 177 References 177 8 Desert succulents 181 PARK S. NOBEL \ 8.1 Introduction 181 8.2 Water relations 182 8.3 CO 2 uptake and acidity changes 185 8.4 Thermal relations 190 8.5 Conclusions 193 References 195 9 Cold desert 198 M. CALDWELL 9.1 Introduction 198 9.2 Photosynthesis in the cold desert environment 200 9.3 The moisture constraint 203 9.4 The salinity constraint 206 9.5 Carbon balance of cold desert shrubs 207 9.6 Nitrogen 208 9.7 Summary: stress in the cold desert 210 References 211 10 Chaparral 213 H.A. MOONEY AND P.C. MILLER 10.1 Extent and general character 213 10.2 Early ecological studies 213
viii Contents 10.3 Environmental rhythms 216 10.4 Growth forms and vegetation rhythms 219 10.5 Water balance 220 10.6 Carbon balance 222 10.7 Nutrient balance 224 10.8 Fire ecology 225 10.9 Summary 227 References 228 11 Grasslands 232 PAUL G. RISSER 11.1 Introduction 232 11.2 Plant response to environmental conditions 233 11.3 Summary 245 References 247 12 Deciduous forest 257 DAVID J. HICKS AND BRIAN F. CHABOT 12.1 Introduction 257 12.2 Geography and vegetation 258 12.3 Forest structure \ 260 12.4 Plant response to seasonal environments 260 12.5 Other periodic stresses 269 12.6 Summary 273 References 273 13 Tropical and subtropical forests 278 ROBERT W. PEARCY AND ROBERT H. ROBICHAUX 13.1 Introduction 278 13.2 Distribution of tropical and subtropical forests 278 13.3 Physiological ecology of tropical and subtropical forest species 279 13.4 Physiological ecology of Hawaiian forest species 281 13.5 Summary. 292 References 293 14 Marine beach and dune plant communities 296 MICHAEL G. BARBOUR, THEODORE M. DE JONG AND BRUCE M.PAVLIK 14.1 Introduction 296 14.2 Light and temperature 299 14.3 Water relations 304 14.4 Salt spray 306 14.5 Soil salinity 307 14.6 Soil nutrients 308
Contents ix 14.7 Sand movement 312 14.8 Deductions from floristic analyses 314 14.9 Summary 316 References 318 15 Coastal marshes 323 B.L. HAINES AND E.L. DUNN 15.1 Introduction 323 15.2 Environmental stress 325 15.3 Plant responses and adaptations 326 15.4 Ecosystem properties affected by plant ecophysiology 335 15.5 Management implications 337 15.6 Conclusions and future research needs 339 References 341 Index 348