Plant Physiological Ecology

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxvii

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2. Assumptions and Approaches

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 1-9

3. Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Long-Distance Transport

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 10-153

4. Plant Water Relations

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 154-209

5. Leaf Energy Budgets: Effects of Radiation and Temperature

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 210-229

6. Scaling-Up Gas Exchange and Energy Balance from the Leaf to the Canopy Level

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 230-238

7. Mineral Nutrition

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 239-298

8. Growth and Allocation

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 299-351

9. Life Cycles: Environmental Influences and Adaptations

   • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

   Pages 352-377

10. Biotic Influences

    • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

    Pages 378-494

11. Role in Ecosystem and Global Processes

    • Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons

    Pages 495-517

12. Back Matter

    Pages 518-540

    PDF

The individual is engaged in a struggle for existence (Darwin). That struggle may be of two kinds:The acquisition of the resources needed for establishment and growth from a sometimes hostile and meager environment and the struggle with competingneighbors of the same or different species. In some ways, we can define physiology and ecology in terms of these two kinds of struggles. Plant ecology, or plant sociology, is centered on the relationships and interactions of species within communities and the way in which populations of a species are adapted to a characteristic range of environments. Plant physiology is mostly concerned with the individual and its struggle with its environment. At the outset of this book, the authors give their definition of ecophysiology, arriving at the conclusion that it is a point of view about physiology. A point of view that is informed, perhaps, by knowledge of the real world outside the laboratory win­ dow. A world in which, shall we say, the light intensity is much greater than the 2s 1 200 to 500llmoi photons m- - used in too many environment chambers, and one in which a constant 20°C day and night is a great rarity. The standard conditions used in the laboratory are usually regarded as treatments. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this in principle; one always needs a baseline when making comparisons. The idea, however, that the laboratory control is the norm is false and can lead to misunderstanding and poor predictions of behavior.

• Plant nutrition
• Plant physiology
• decomposition
• ecology
• ecosystem
• energy balance
• environment
• metabolism
• mineral nutrition
• photosynthesis
• physiology
• plant growth
• respiration
• temperature
• transport

"This book must be regarded as the most integrated, informative and accessible account of the complexities of plant physiological ecology." -- Plant Science

From the reviews of the second edition:

"Plant ecophysiology ... explain the physiological mechanisms underlying ecological observations. … wherever you look in this book, important topics are examined with thoroughness and clarity. … this is a very fine book indeed, and one that should be read by all plant ecologists … ." (Ken Thompson, Annals of Botany, Vol. 103 (1), January, 2009)

"The book covers classical topics in plant physiological ecology, including water and carbon relations, energy balance, and mineral nutrition. … This book would make an excellent resource for undergraduate or graduate courses in plant physiological ecology, and it is an essential reference for professional ecologists and plant physiologists. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All undergraduates, graduate students, researchers, faculty, and professionals." (R. B. Pratt, Choice, Vol. 46 (8), April, 2009)

• Department of Plant Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

  Hans Lambers, Thijs L. Pons

• Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia

  Hans Lambers

• Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA

  F. Stuart Chapin

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