Physiological Processes in Plant Ecology

1. Physiological Processes in Plant Ecology: the Structure for a Synthesis.- 1.1 The Space-Time Scale.- 1.2 Utility of the Space-Time Scale.- 1.3 The Quest for Adaptive Significance Among Physiological Processes.- 1.4 Structure for a Synthesis.- 2. Systematic and Geographical State of Atriplex.- 2.1 The Habit and Morphology of Atriplex.- 2.1.1 The Fruiting Bracts.- 2.1.2 Seed Morphology.- 2.1.3 Epidermal Trichomes.- 2.1.4 Leaf Morphology and Anatomy.- 2.2 A Species List for Atriplex.- 2.3 Geographical Distribution of Species.- 2.3.1 Diversification of Species in Relation to Aridity.- 2.3.2 The Tropics as Barriers to Migration.- 2.3.3 Origins of the Genus.- 2.4 Perspectives from the Systematic and Geographical States.- 3. Genecological Differentiation.- 3.1 Intra-Specific Variation and Ecotypic Differentiation.- 3.2 Morphological Aspects of Genecological Differentiation.- 3.3 Genetic Coherence Between Functional and Morphological Characteristics.- 3.4 Physiological Aspects of Genecological Differentiation.- 3.4.1 Light Intensity.- 3.4.2 Temperature.- 3.4.3 Drought.- 3.4.4 Edaphic Factors.- 3.5 Concluding Remarks.- 4. Genetic and Evolutionary Relationships in Atriplex.- 4.1 Chromosome Numbers in Atriplex.- 4.2 Genetic Structures and Evolutionary Trends in the Atriplex triangularis Group.- 4.2.1 Prezygotic Hybridization Barriers.- 4.2.2 Zygotic Hybridization Barriers.- 4.2.3 Polymorphism.- 4.2.4 Evolutionary Trends.- 4.3 Interspecific Relationships and Distribution of C4 Photosynthesis in Atriplex.- 4.3.1 C4 Photosynthesis.- 4.3.2 A Phylogenetic Scheme for Atriplex.- 4.3.3 Inter-Specific Crossing Experiments in Atriplex.- 4.3.4 Inter-Specific Hybridization in Natural Populations.- 4.3.5 DNA Sequence Comparisons in Atriplex.- 4.3.6 Intraspecific C3/C4 Differentiation?.- 4.4 Inheritance of C4 Photosynthesis in Atriplex.- 5. Atriplex Communities: Regional Environments and Their Ecological Analysis.- 5.1 Communities of Arid Continental Interiors.- 5.1.1 Arid Shrub Steppe.- 5.1.2 Arid Halophytic Communities.- 5.2 Coastal Communities.- 5.2.1 Sand Dune Communities.- 5.2.2 Salt Marsh Communities.- 5.3 Weed and Ruderal Communities.- 5.4 The Major Atriplex Habitats - a Resume.- 5.5 Regional Variation in Atriplex Shrublands.- 5.5.1 Ordination of Large-Scale Variation in Plant Communities.- 5.5.2 Ordination of the Australian Arid Shrublands.- 5.6 Local Variation and Pattern in Atriplex Shrublands.- 5.6.1 Pattern Analysis.- 5.6.2 Pattern Analysis in Arid Atriplex Shrublands.- 5.7 Regularity in Arid Vegetation.- 5.8 Patterns of Biomass and Nutrient Distribution.- 5.8.1 Biomass Distribution in Arid Shrublands.- 5.8.2 Nutrient and Salt Distribution.- 5.8.3 Distribution of Microbiological Activity.- 5.9 Ecological States in Perspective.- 6. Germination and Seedling Establishment.- 6.1 Germination Processes.- 6.1.1 Water Relations of Germinating Seeds.- 6.1.2 Fruit Morphology and the Soil to Seed Water Potential Gradient.- 6.1.3 Seed Dimorphism and the Conductance of the Water Transport Pathway.- 6.1.4 Temperature Responses of Germination.- 6.1.5 Germination and Light.- 6.1.6 Gas Exchange and Seed Germination.- 6.1.7 Other Factors Regulating Germination.- 6.2 Establishment Processes.- 6.2.1 Water Relations During Establishment.- 6.2.2 Nutrition During Establishment.- 6.2.3 Metabolic and Morphological Changes During Establishment.- 6.3 Physiological Processes of Germination and Establishment in the Context of Ecological Processes.- 6.3.1 Germination Processes and Reproductive Strategy.- 6.3.2 Dispersal Factors in Germination and Establishment.- 6.3.3 Herbivory in Germination and Establishment.- 6.3.4 Evaluation of Germination and Establishment Processes.- 6.3.5 Establishment Processes and Population Dynamics in Natural Conditions.- 6.4 Conclusions.- 7. Absorption of Ions and Nutrients.- 7.1 Ionic Concentration, Distribution, and Pathways in the Soil-Plant System.- 7.1.1 States of Ions and Nutrients in the Soil.- 7.1.2 Pathways and Compartments for Ions in Plants.- 7.1.3 States of Ions and Nutrients in Plants.- 7.2 Ion Absorption Processes in Plants.- 7.2.1 Ion Absorption and Concentration.- 7.2.2 Passive and Active Processes of Ion Absorption.- 7.3 Absorption of Nutrient Anions and Interactions with Cell Metabolism.- 7.3.1 Nitrogen Absorption and Incorporation.- 7.3.2 Metabolic Consequences of Nitrogen Incorporation.- 7.3.3 Interactions Between NO3? and Cl? During Absorption and Incorporation.- 7.3.4 Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization.- 7.3.5 Phosphate Absorption.- 7.3.6 Micronutrient Ions and Toxicity.- 7.4 Salinity Responses in Atriplex.- 7.4.1 Salt Exclusion, Salt Accumulation, and Salinity Tolerance.- 7.4.2 Salt Absorption by Atriplex Seedlings as a Function of External Concentration.- 7.4.3 NaCl Uptake and Transport.- 7.4.1 K+ and Na+ Selectivity in Halophytes.- 7.4.2 Ion Uptake and Excretion in Leaves.- 7.4.3 Salinity, Metabolism and Growth.- 7.5 Ion and Nutrient Absorption Processes in the Context of Ecological Processes.- 7.5.1 Mineral Cycling Within the Plant Community.- 7.5.2 Mineral Cycling and Stability of Arid Shrublands.- 7.5.3 Consequences of Plant Ion and Nutrient Absorption Processes at Higher Trophic Levels.- 7.2 Conclusions.- 8. Water Movement and Plant Response to Water Stress.- 8.1 Water Transport.- 8.1.1 The States of Water.- 8.1.2 Water Potentials in the Atmosphere, Plant, and Soil.- 8.1.3 Pathways for Water Movement.- 8.1.4 Dynamics of Water Movement Through the Plant.- 8.1.5 Water Movement in Relation to Energy Balance.- 8.1.6 Components of Water Potential.- 8.2 Response and Adaptation to Water Stress.- 8.2.1 Stomatal Regulation of Water Loss and Water Use Efficiency.- 8.2.2 Changes in Leaf Inclination and Reflectance.- 8.2.3 Root Extension and Water Uptake.- 8.2.4 Osmotic Adjustment in Response to Low Tissue Water Potential.- 8.2.5 Conclusions.- 9. Photosynthesis.- 9.1 The Photosynthetic Process.- 9.1.1 Photochemistry.- 9.1.2 C02 Fixation and Metabolism.- 9.2 Photosynthetic Responses to Light.- 9.2.1 Photosynthetic Light Acclimation in Atriplex triangularis.- 9.2.2 Photoinhibition.- 9.2.3 Light Utilization by C3 and C4Atriplex spp.- 9.3 Photosynthetic Responses to Temperature.- 9.3.1 Photosynthetic Characteristics of Cold-Adapted and Heat-Adapted C3 and C4 Plants.- 9.3.2 Environmentally Induced Acclimation to Temperature.- 9.3.3 Leaf Factors Determining Photosynthetic Capacity at Low Temperatures.- 9.3.4 High Temperature Stability of Photosynthesis.- 9.4 Photosynthesis in Relation to Water Use and Water Stress.- 9.4.1 Photosynthetic Water Use Efficiency.- 9.4.2 Photosynthesis in Relation to Water Stress.- 9.5 Photosynthesis in Relation to Salinity and Mineral Nutrition.- 9.5.1 Response to Salinity.- 9.5.2 Response to Mineral Nutrition.- 9.5.3 Photosynthesis and Micronutrients.- 9.3 Conclusions.- 10. Productivity and Environment.- 10.1 Photosynthesis and Photosynthate Partitioning in Relation to Primary Productivity.- 10.2 Productivity in Relation to Light.- 10.3 Productivity in Relation to Temperature.- 10.3.1 Performance in Thermally Contrasting Habitats.- 10.3.2 Response of Growth to Temperature Under Controlled Conditions.- 10.3.3 Effect of Temperature on Photosynthate Partitioning.- 10.4 Productivity in Relation to Mineral Nutrition and Salinity.- 10.5 Productivity in Relation to Water.- 10.6 Productivity in Plant Communities.- 10.6.1 Annual Patterns of Productivity in Cool-Desert Shrub Communities.- 10.6.2 Long-Term Productivity in Arid Ecosystems.- 10.7 Effect of Future Increase in CO2 Level on Water Use and Productivity.- Epilog.- References.- Taxonomic Index.