Read more
Our knowledge of the functional characteristics of the plants of mediterranean-cl imate regions has increased greatly in the past decade. In recent times the possibility of large-scale util ization of biomass for energy from these regions has been proposed. In order to assess the feasibil ity of these proposals we must consider the productive structure of these plant communities and how they vary through time and space. This symposium was an attempt to examine our recently acquired basic knowledge of the environmental I imitations on the productivity of Mediterranean plant communities in relation to the consequences of the possible util ization of these communities for energy and chemicals. Specifically in this book we examine the mechanisms by which plants of mediterranean-cl imate regions maintain their productive capacity under the prevail ing conditions of summer draught and winter cold. We consider the characteristics of leaves, their history, morphology and plasticity. Evergreen sclerophyll leaves are common to the dominant plants of all mediterranean-cl imate regions and thus they have significance in terms of enhancing carbon gain and water-use efficiency as well as ensuring survival under the prevail ing cl imatic conditions.
List of contents
One: Leaf Morphology.- 1. An overview.- 2. Morphological and physiological responses of the Mediterranean evergreen sclerophyll, Ceratonia siliqua, to different light intensities.- 3. Leaf longevity in Mediterranean evergreen sclerophylls.- 4. Leaf structural diversity in Mediterranean evergreen sclerophylls.- 5. Ultrastructural aspects of secretory trichomes in Cistus monspeliensis.- Two: Photosynthesis and Allocation.- 6. An overview.- 7. Leaf age effects on the carbon gain of individual leaves in relation to microsite.- 8. Nutrient and environmental controls on carbon flux in Mediterranean shrubs from California.- 9. Midday stomatal closure in Arbutus unedo leaves.- 10. Annual variation of photosynthesis of the olive tree under different watering conditions.- 11. Adaptive responses of leaf water potential, C02-gas exchange and water use efficiency of Olea europaea during drying and rewatering.- 12. Some adaptive photosynthetic characteristics of a sun plant (Ceratonia siliqua) and a shade plant (Coffea arabica).- 13. The effect of S02 on photosynthesis and stomatal behavior of Mediterranean-climate shrubs and trees.- 14. Photosynthetic characteristics and environmental control in some grapevine cultivars.- 15. Carbon allocation to root systems in Mediterranean evergreen sclerophylls.- 16. Changes of storage lipids, fatty acids and carbohydrates in vegetative parts of Mediterranean evergreen sclerophylls during one year.- Three: Stand Productivity.- 17. An overview.- 18. Biomass and productivity of a Pinus pinea L. stand.- 19. Biomass structure and utilization of the natural vegetation in the winter rainfall region of South Africa.- 20. The effects of fire intensity, aspect and substrate on postfire growth of Californian coastal sage scrub.- 21. Producers and the firecycle in a phryganic ecosystem.- 22. Productivity and nutritional responses of Chamaebatia foliolosa (Rosaceae) to seasonal burning.- 23. Biomass, productivity and succession in the scrub of the Donana biological reserve in southwest Spain.- 24. Species structure and productivity in grasslands of northern Greece.- Four: Biomass Utilization.- 25. An overview.- 26. Biomass and net primary productivity of Portuguese forests.- 27. Utilizations of Mediterranean forest biomass for making energy and organics.- 28. Biomass yield of short-rotation Platanus species in Greece.- 29. Maquis biomass for energy; costs and benefits.- 30. Conversion of biomass into energy and chemicals by thermolytic methods.- Five: Plant and Stand Environment.- 31. An overview.- 32. Low temperature effects on Mediterranean sclerophylls: An unconventional viewpoint.- 33. Light and energy environments of chaparral and matorral in southern California and central Chile.- 34. Temperature germination responses in three Mediterranean evergreen sclerophylls.
