Soil salinity is one of the main factors affecting plant growth. Dissection of plant response to salinity into physiological traits may result a simple approximation than the overall response that may influence many aspects of the plant. In the present study two factors were considered to evaluate...

Endemism and rarity have long intrigued scientists. We focused on a rare endemic and critically-endangered species in a global biodiversity hotspot, Grevillea thelemanniana (Proteaceae). We carried out plant and soil analyses of four Proteaceae, including G. thelemanniana, and combined these with...

Aims: Success in establishing upland forests on landforms constructed from overburden is determined by the characteristics of the reclamation soil covers and depth. We explored whether an ecosystem model that uses water potential gradients to simulate soil-plant-atmosphere water transfers can be...

The genus Pinus has wide geographical range and includes species that are the most economically valued among forest trees worldwide. Pine needle length varies greatly among species, but the effects of needle length on anatomy, function, and coordination and trade-offs among traits are poorly...

The increase in nitrogen (N) deposition is expected to have strong influences on forest ecosystems through its direct and indirect effects on tree performance. One way that N deposition can greatly affect tree performance is by altering plant hydraulic architecture and water relations especially in ...

Seasonal drought occurs frequently and restricts plant growth in karst area. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important biological components in karst ecosystem, which have positive effects on plants' water absorption and growth and could enhance the ability of plants to resist karst drought. ...

Background and Aims: By the year 2100, atmospheric CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]_a) could reach 800 ppm, having risen from ∼200 ppm since the Neogene, beginning ∼24 Myr ago. Changing [CO₂]_a affects plant carbon-water balance, with implications for growth, drought tolerance and vegetation shifts. The...

Relatively mesic environments within arid regions may be important conservation targets as 'climate change refugia' for species persistence in the face of worsening drought conditions. Semi-arid southern California and the relatively mesic environments of California's Channel Islands provide a...

Premise of research: Epiphytic bromeliads endure intense seasonal environmental changes in the canopy of dry tropical deciduous forests. The analysis of the physiological responses of these epiphytes to environmental changes can be useful in assessing their plasticity, vulnerability, and...

Microclimate in the tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) is variable on both spatial and temporal scales and can lead to large fluctuations in both leaf-level transpiration and whole plant water use. While variation in transpiration has been found in TMCFs, the influence of different microclimatic...