Summary
The distribution of native C3 and C4 grasses in a temperate arid region of Mendoza, Argentina, was studied in six areas at different altitudes. C4 species predominate at low elevations in both relative species abundance and plant cover. At high elevations C3 species are dominant in cover and composition. At medium altitudes (1100–1600 m) grass species composition is balanced but plant cover of C3 species is greater. Of 31 genera in the whole area, 19 were C4. Only the genera Stipa (C3) and Aristida (C4) were present in all the six areas surveyed. The pattern of grass distribution shows high correlation with evapotranspiration and temperature parameters, but low correlation with rainfall. The relation between grass distribution and different climatic parameters is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnes PW, Harrison AT (1982) Species distribution and community organization in a Nebraska sandhill mixed prairic as influenced by plant/soil-water relationships. Oecologia (Berlin) 52:192–201
Barnes PW, Tiezsen LL, Ode DJ (1983) Distribution, production and diversity of C3- and C4-dominated communities in a mixed prairie. Can J Bot 61:741–751
Baskin JM, Baskin CC (1978) A discussion of the growth and competitive ability of C3 and C4 plants. Castanea 43:71–76
Black CC (1973) Photosynthetic carbon fixation in relation to net CO2 uptake. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 24:253–286
Burgos JJ, Vidal AL (1951) Los climas de la Republica Argentina segun la nueva clasification de Thornthwaite. Meteoros 1:3–32
Cabrera A (1976) Regiones fitogeograficas Argentinas. Enciclopedia Arg. de Agric. y Jardineria, fasciculo I. Ed. ACME, Buenos Aires, 85 pp
Caldwell MM, White RS, Moore RT, Camp LB (1977) Carbon balance, productivity and water use of cold winter desert shrub communities dominated by C3 and C4 species. Oecologia (Berlin) 29:275–300
Downton WJS (1975) The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis among plants. Photosynthetica 9:96–105
Ehleringer JR (1978) Implications of quantum yield differences on the distribution of C3 and C4 grasses. Oecologia (Berlin) 31:255–267
Ehleringer JR, Björkman O (1977) Quantum yields for CO2 uptake in C3 and C4 plants: dependence on temperature, CO2 and O2 concentrations. Plant Physiol 59:86–90
Hattersley PW (1983) The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in Australia in relation to climate. Oecologia (Berlin) 57:113–128
Hattersley PW, Watson L (1975) Anatomical parameters for predicting photosynthetic pathways of grass leaves: The ‘maximum lateral cell count’ and the ‘maximum cell distance count’. Phytomorphology 25:325–333
Martinez Carretero E (1982) Carta fitosociologica de la hoja Mendoza 230-21 (C casa de Piedra-Rio San Isidro). Informe CONICET 1980–82, 70 pp
Martinez Carretero E (1985) La vegetacion de la reserva natural Divisadero Largo (Mendoza, Argentina). Doc Phytosociol 9:25–49
Morello J (1958) La provincia fitogeografica del Monte. Opera Lilloana 2:1–155
Passera CB, Dalmasso AD, Duffar E (1983) Ambiente fisico y vegetacion de las pampas de los Nangos y Seca, Mendoza, Argentina. Deserta 7:108–144
Pearcy RW, Troughton JH (1975) C4 photosynthesis in tree form Euphorbia species from Hawaiian rainforest sites. Plant Physiol 55:1055–1056
Pearcy RW, Ehleringer J (1984) Comparative ecophysiology of C3 and C4 plants. Plant. Cell Environ 7:1–13
Roig FA (1973) El cuadro fitosociologico en el estudio de la vegetacion. Descrta 4:45–67
Roig FA (1976) Las comunidades vegetales del piedemonte de la precordillera de Mendoza. Ecosur 3:1–45
Rundel PW (1980) The ecological distribution of C4 and C3 grasses in the Hawaiian islands. Oecologia (Berlin) 45:354–359
Smith BN, Brown WV (1973) The Kranz syndrome in the Gramineae as indicated by carbon isotopic ratios. Am J Bot 60:505–513
Smith BN, Epstein S (1971) Two categories of 13C/12C ratios for higher plants. Plant Physiol 47:380–384
Syvertsen JP, Nickell GL, Spellenberg RW, Cunningham GL (1976) Carbon reduction pathways and standing crop in three Chihuahuan desert plant communities. Southwest Nat 21:311–320
Teeri JA, Stowes LG (1976) Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America. Oecologia (Berlin) 23:1–12
Tiezsen LL, Senyimba MM, Imbamba SK, Troughton JH (1979) The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses and isotope discrimination along an altitudinal and moisture gradient in Kenya. Oecologia (Berlin) 37:337–350
Vich AIJ (1987) Estimacion del indice de erosividad R, en el area pedemontana del gran Mendoza (Argentina). Rev Geofis (in press)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cavagnaro, J.B. Distribution of C3 and C4 grasses at different altitudes in a temperate arid region of Argentina. Oecologia 76, 273–277 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379962
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379962