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Differential photosynthetic performance of three Mediterranean shrubs under grazing by domestic goats

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The impact of grazing by domestic goats, Capra hircus, on the photochemical apparatus of three co-ocurring Mediterranean shrubs, Erica scoparia, Halimium halimifolium, and Myrtus communis was evaluated. Seasonal course of gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigment concentrations were measured in the field in grazed and ungrazed plants. Net photosynthetic rate was higher in grazed plants of E. scoparia and H. halimifolium in May, while there were not significant differences in M. communis. Photosynthetic enhancement in grazed plants of E. scoparia could be explained largely by higher stomatal conductance. On the other hand, the lack of differences in stomatal conductance between grazed and ungrazed plants of H. halimifolium could indicate that carboxylation efficiency, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration may have been enhanced by grazing. Overall grazing has little effect on the photochemical (PSII) apparatus, however grazed plants of M. communis showed chronic photoinhibition in the short term. Finally, seasonal variations recorded on photosynthesis, photochemical efficiency and pigment concentrations may be a physiological consequence of environmental factors, such as summer drought and competition for light, rather than an adaptation to grazing.

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Abbreviations

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

Chl a :

chlorophyll a

Chl b :

chlorophyll b

Cx+c :

carotenoids

F0 :

minimal fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state

Fv/Fm :

maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry

g m :

mesophyll conductance

g s :

stomatal conductance

NPQ:

non-photochemical quenching

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PSII:

photosystem II

RuBP:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

WUE:

water-use efficiency

ΦPSII :

quantum efficiency of PSII.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Fernandez-Ales for the manuscript revision. We also thank the Ministry of the Environment of the Junta of Andalusia for its support (project no 2007/665). Special thanks to Staff of Doñana National park and Dehesa Gato S.L. for their help and assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes, 41012, Sevilla, Spain

    S. Redondo-Gómez, J. M. Mancilla-Leytón, E. Mateos-Naranjo, J. Cambrollé & A. Martín-Vicente

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  1. S. Redondo-Gómez
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  2. J. M. Mancilla-Leytón
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  3. E. Mateos-Naranjo
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  4. J. Cambrollé
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  5. A. Martín-Vicente
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Correspondence to S. Redondo-Gómez.

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Redondo-Gómez, S., Mancilla-Leytón, J.M., Mateos-Naranjo, E. et al. Differential photosynthetic performance of three Mediterranean shrubs under grazing by domestic goats. Photosynthetica 48, 348–354 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-010-0045-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-010-0045-0

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