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Photosynthetic capacity in relation to leaf position in desert versus old-field annuals

Oecologia volume 50, pages 109–112 (1981)Cite this article

Summary

Desert annuals of Death Valley, California have higher average light-saturated photosynthetic capacities and leaf nitrogen contents than do early-successional annuals of Illinois. The leaves of annuals in the light-unlimited Death Valley environment change little in specific weight, nitrogen, or photosynthetic capacity with age. In contrast, these properties decrease markedly with age in the leaves of the Illinois annuals even in leaves not exposed to the usual shading that accompanies canopy development. These results are interpreted in a carbon-gained-per-nitrogen-invested context.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, California, USA

    H. A. Mooney, C. Field & S. L. Gulmon

  2. Department of Botany, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    F. A. Bazzaz

Authors
  1. H. A. Mooney
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  2. C. Field
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  3. S. L. Gulmon
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  4. F. A. Bazzaz
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Additional information

This study is dedicated to Professor M. Evenari for his continuing strong contributions to desert ecology

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Mooney, H.A., Field, C., Gulmon, S.L. et al. Photosynthetic capacity in relation to leaf position in desert versus old-field annuals. Oecologia 50, 109–112 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378802

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378802

Keywords

  • Nitrogen
  • Environment Change
  • Nitrogen Content
  • Photosynthetic Capacity
  • Specific Weight