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Gas Exchange and Water Relations

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Ecology of Mediterranean Evergreen Oak Forests

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 137))

Abstract

Mediterranean environments are often characterized by a double stress: summer drought and winter cold (Mitrakos 1980; Miller 1981; Terradas and Savé 1992). Summer drought results from the coincidence of low summer precipitation with high temperature, high irradiance, and high water vapour pressure deficit (Di Castri and Mooney 1973); it has been traditionally recognized as the main climate constraint characterizing Mediterranean-type ecosystems. However, some degree of stress can be also due to winter cold, which may be determinant in montane and/or continental sites. This is reflected in the seasonal patterns of plant activity. Photosynthetic activity is typically relatively high in spring, decreases strongly in summer due to drought (Oechel et al. 1981, Tenhunen et al. 1990), increases again after the first autumn rains, and decreases or ceases during the winter months. Plant growth and leaf transpiration may follow similar patterns.

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Authors
  1. Robert Savé
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  2. Carles Castell
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  3. Jaume Terradas
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Ferran Rodà , Javier Retana  & Carlos A. Gracia ,  & 

  2. Department of Ecology Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain

    Juan Bellot

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Savé, R., Castell, C., Terradas, J. (1999). Gas Exchange and Water Relations. In: Rodà, F., Retana, J., Gracia, C.A., Bellot, J. (eds) Ecology of Mediterranean Evergreen Oak Forests. Ecological Studies, vol 137. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-58618-7_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-58618-7_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-63668-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-58618-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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