Relationships among leaf traits of Australian arid zone plants: alternative modes of thermal protection
Ellen M. Curtis A C , Andrea Leigh A and Scott Rayburg B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
B Water Resources Engineering Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Vic. 3122, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: ellen.curtis@uts.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 60(6) 471-483 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT11284
Submitted: 21 October 2011 Accepted: 25 May 2012 Published: 31 August 2012
Abstract
Despite the importance of leaf traits that protect against critically high leaf temperatures, relationships among such traits have not been investigated. Further, while some leaf trait relationships are well documented across biomes, little is known about such associations within a biome. This study investigated relationships between nine leaf traits that protect leaves against excessively high temperatures in 95 Australian arid zone species. Seven morphological traits were measured: leaf area, length, width, thickness, leaf mass per area, water content, and an inverse measure of pendulousness. Two spectral properties were measured: reflectance of visible and near-infrared radiation. Three key findings emerged: (1) leaf pendulousness increased with leaf size and leaf mass per area, the former relationship suggesting that pendulousness affords thermal protection when leaves are large; (2) leaf mass per area increased with thickness and decreased with water content, indicating alternative means for protection through increasing thermal mass; (3) spectral reflectance increased with leaf mass per area and thickness and decreased with water content. The consistent co-variation of thermal protective traits with leaf mass per area, a trait not usually associated with thermal protection, suggests that these traits fall along the leaf economics spectrum, with leaf longevity increasing through protection not only against structural damage but also against heat stress.
References
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (2011) Climate statistics for Australian locations. Commonwealth of Australia. Available at http://www.bom.gov.au/ climate/averages/tables/cw_046037.shtml [Verified 15 August 2011]Ball MC (1988) Ecophysiology of mangroves. Trees – Structure and Function 2, 129–142.
Barchuk AH, Valiente-Banuet A (2006) Comparative analysis of leaf angle and sclerophylly of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco on a water deficit gradient. Austral Ecology 31, 882–891.
| Comparative analysis of leaf angle and sclerophylly of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco on a water deficit gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barradas VL, Jones HG, Clark JA (1994) Stomatal responses to changing irradiance in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Journal of Experimental Botany 45, 931–936.
| Stomatal responses to changing irradiance in Phaseolus vulgaris L.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXmtVWju78%3D&md5=0d16893979bbd730907ee2554e0384bfCAS |
Beadle NCW (1954) Soil phosphate and the delimitation of plant communities in eastern Australia. Ecology 35, 370–375.
Brown JH, Maurer BA (1987) Evolution of species assemblages: effects of energetic constraints and species dynamics on the diversification of the North American avifauna. American Naturalist 130, 1–17.
Castro-Diez P, Puyravaud JP, Cornelissen JHC (2000) Leaf structure and anatomy as related to leaf mass per area variation in seedlings of a wide range of woody plant species and types. Oecologia 124, 476–486.
| Leaf structure and anatomy as related to leaf mass per area variation in seedlings of a wide range of woody plant species and types.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ehleringer JR (1981) Leaf absorptances of Mohave and Sonoran desert plants. Oecologia 49, 366–370.
| Leaf absorptances of Mohave and Sonoran desert plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ehleringer JR, Björkman O (1978) Pubescence and leaf spectral characteristics in a desert shrub, Encelia farinosa. Oecologia 36, 151–162.
| Pubescence and leaf spectral characteristics in a desert shrub, Encelia farinosa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Falster DS, Westoby M (2003) Leaf size and angle vary widely across species: what consequences for light interception? New Phytologist 158, 509–525.
| Leaf size and angle vary widely across species: what consequences for light interception?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Forbes JC, Watson RD (1992) ‘Plants in agriculture.’ (Cambridge University Press: New York)
Gates DM (1980) ‘Biophysical ecology.’ (Springer-Verlag: New York)
Gibson AC (1998) Photosynthetic organs of desert plants. Bioscience 48, 911–920.
| Photosynthetic organs of desert plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gutschick VP (1999) Biotic and abiotic consequences of differences in leaf structure: a research review. New Phytologist 143, 3–18.
| Biotic and abiotic consequences of differences in leaf structure: a research review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hamerlynck EP, Huxman TE, Loik ME, Smith SD (2000) Effects of extreme high temperature, drought and elevated CO2 on photosynthesis of the Mojave Desert evergreen shrub, Larrea tridentata. Plant Ecology 148, 183–193.
| Effects of extreme high temperature, drought and elevated CO2 on photosynthesis of the Mojave Desert evergreen shrub, Larrea tridentata.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heckathorn SA, Downs CA, Sharkey TD, Coleman JS (1998) The small, methionine-rich chloroplast heat-shock protein protects photosystem II electron transport during heat stress. Plant Physiology 116, 439–444.
| The small, methionine-rich chloroplast heat-shock protein protects photosystem II electron transport during heat stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXkslGiug%3D%3D&md5=b07455907fd9fc53777641145529df58CAS |
Knight CA, Ackerly DD (2001) Correlated evolution of chloroplast heat shock protein expression in closely related plant species. American Journal of Botany 88, 411–418.
| Correlated evolution of chloroplast heat shock protein expression in closely related plant species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXis1Cjs74%3D&md5=a1db68ec170362cec10ca9b9542dadd3CAS |
Leigh A, Sevanto S, Ball MC, Close JD, Ellsworth DS, Knight CA, Nicotra AB, Vogel S (2012) Do thick leaves avoid thermal damage in critically low wind speeds? New Phytologist 194, 477–487.
| Do thick leaves avoid thermal damage in critically low wind speeds?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC38vhslagtQ%3D%3D&md5=002056d7a62adf06e27596ee0b8b39f8CAS |
Mooney HA, Ehleringer J, Bjorkman O (1977) The energy balance of leaves of the evergreen desert shrub Atriplex hymenelytra. Oecologia 29, 301–310.
| The energy balance of leaves of the evergreen desert shrub Atriplex hymenelytra.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Niinemets Ü, Kull O (1999) Biomass investment in leaf lamina versus lamina support in relation to growth irradiance and leaf size in temperate deciduous trees. Tree Physiology 19, 349–358.
| Biomass investment in leaf lamina versus lamina support in relation to growth irradiance and leaf size in temperate deciduous trees.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Niinemets Ü, Portsmuth A, Tena D, Tobias M, Matesanz S, Valladares F (2007) Do we underestimate the importance of leaf size in plant economics? Disproportionate scaling of support costs within the spectrum of leaf physiognomy. Annals of Botany 100, 283–303.
| Do we underestimate the importance of leaf size in plant economics? Disproportionate scaling of support costs within the spectrum of leaf physiognomy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhtVKgtrvN&md5=86ebde3cb97eec06bc4a029ccb673db4CAS |
Niklas KJ (1992) Petiole mechanics, light interception by lamina, and ‘Economy in Design’. Oecologia 90, 518–526.
| Petiole mechanics, light interception by lamina, and ‘Economy in Design’.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Niklas KJ (1999) A mechanical perspective on foliage leaf form and function. New Phytologist 143, 19–31.
| A mechanical perspective on foliage leaf form and function.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Niklas KJ (1991) Flexural stiffness allometries of angiosperms and fern petioles and rachises: evidence for biomechanical convergence. Evolution 45, 734–750.
| Flexural stiffness allometries of angiosperms and fern petioles and rachises: evidence for biomechanical convergence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nobel PS (2005) ‘Physiochemical and environmental plant physiology.’ 3rd edn. (Elsevier Academic Press, Waltham, MA)
P’yankov VI, Ivanov LA, Lambers H (2001) Plant construction cost in the boreal species differing in their ecological strategies. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology: a Comprehensive Russian Journal on Modern Phytophysiology 48, 67–73.
| Plant construction cost in the boreal species differing in their ecological strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhtVGlu7w%3D&md5=d705827917064444efd7b7550a714360CAS |
Parkhurst DF, Loucks OL (1972) Optimal leaf size in relation to environment. Journal of Ecology 60, 505–537.
| Optimal leaf size in relation to environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poorter H, Niinemets U, Poorter L, Wright IJ, Villar R (2009) Causes and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA): a meta-analysis. New Phytologist 182, 565–588.
| Causes and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA): a meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS (1997) From tropics to tundra: global convergence in plant functioning. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 94, 13 730–13 734.
| From tropics to tundra: global convergence in plant functioning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXotValtb8%3D&md5=16414529db186654c472a09592f1a691CAS |
Roden JS, Pearcy RW (1993) The effect of flutter on the temperature of poplar leaves and its implications for carbon gain. Plant, Cell & Environment 16, 571–577.
| The effect of flutter on the temperature of poplar leaves and its implications for carbon gain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Royer DL, Sack L, Wilf P, Lusk CH, Jordan GJ, Niinemets U, Wright IJ, Westoby M, Cariglino B, Coley PD, Cutter AD, Johnson KR, Labandeira CC, Moles AT, Palmer MB, Valladares F (2007) Fossil leaf economics quantified: calibration, Eocene case study, and implications. Paleobiology 33, 574–589.
| Fossil leaf economics quantified: calibration, Eocene case study, and implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sharkey TD, Yeh S (2001) Isoprene emission from plants. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 52, 407–436.
| Isoprene emission from plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXkslWgsbw%3D&md5=0413b2f166f1f19369304a10346289a3CAS |
Sharkey TD, Chen X, Yeh S (2001) Isoprene increases thermotolerance of fosmidomycin-fed leaves. Plant Physiology 125, 2001–2006.
| Isoprene increases thermotolerance of fosmidomycin-fed leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjtFKqurs%3D&md5=df950f558ea83d0c694aad8216c991e6CAS |
Sharkey TD, Wiberley AE, Donohue AR (2008) Isoprene emission from plants: why and how. Annals of Botany 101, 5–18.
| Isoprene emission from plants: why and how.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitlansrg%3D&md5=8d5023f65d886893dc5fc047589b256eCAS |
Singsaas EL, Sharkey TD (1998) The regulation of isoprene emission responses to rapid leaf temperature fluctuations. Plant, Cell & Environment 21, 1181–1188.
| The regulation of isoprene emission responses to rapid leaf temperature fluctuations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXktFOgug%3D%3D&md5=470d5a9bba4f325f7e8421716bbb3708CAS |
Skelton RP, Midgley JJ, Nyaga JM, Johnson SD, Cramer MD (2012) Is leaf pubescence of Cape Proteaceae a xeromorphic or radiation-protective trait? Australian Journal of Botany 60, 104–113.
| Is leaf pubescence of Cape Proteaceae a xeromorphic or radiation-protective trait?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thuiller W, Lavorel S, Midgley G, Lavergne S, Rebelo T (2004) Relating plant traits and species distributions along bioclimatic gradients for 88 Leucadendron taxa. Ecology 85, 1688–1699.
| Relating plant traits and species distributions along bioclimatic gradients for 88 Leucadendron taxa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Valladares F, Pugnaire FI (1999) Tradeoffs between irradiance capture and avoidance in semi-arid environments assessed with a crown architecture model. Annals of Botany 83, 459–469.
| Tradeoffs between irradiance capture and avoidance in semi-arid environments assessed with a crown architecture model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vendramini F, Díaz S, Gurvich DE, Wilson PJ, Thompson K, Hodgson JG (2002) Leaf traits as indicators of resource-use strategy in floras with succulent species. New Phytologist 154, 147–157.
| Leaf traits as indicators of resource-use strategy in floras with succulent species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
von Willert DJ, Eller BM, Werger MJA, Brinkmann E, Ihlenfeldt H-D (1992) ‘Life strategies of succulents in deserts with special reference to the Namib Desert.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)
Woolley JT (1971) Reflectance and transmittance of light by leaves. Plant Physiology 47, 656–662.
| Reflectance and transmittance of light by leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cngvFylsA%3D%3D&md5=d9a31c75e609bed3214ee746c2c8302bCAS |
Wright IJ, Westoby M (2002) Leaves at low versus high rainfall: coordination of structure, lifespan and physiology. New Phytologist 155, 403–416.
| Leaves at low versus high rainfall: coordination of structure, lifespan and physiology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wright IJ, Westoby M, Reich PB (2002) Convergence towards higher leaf mass per area in dry and nutrient-poor habitats has different consequences for leaf life span. Journal of Ecology 90, 534–543.
| Convergence towards higher leaf mass per area in dry and nutrient-poor habitats has different consequences for leaf life span.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wright IJ, Reich PB, Westoby M, Ackerly DD, Baruch Z, Bongers F, Cavender-Bares J, Chapin T, Cornelissen JHC, Diemer M, Flexas J, Garnier E, Groom PK, Gulias J, Hikosaka K, Lamont BB, Lee T, Lee W, Lusk C, Midgley JJ, Navas M-L, Niinemets Ű, Oleksyn J, Osada N, Poorter H, Poot P, Prior L, Pyankov VI, Roumet C, Thomas SC, Tjoelker MG, Veneklaas EJ, Villar R (2004) The worldwide leaf economics spectrum. Nature 428, 821–827.
| The worldwide leaf economics spectrum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjt1Crt74%3D&md5=9132fa3148d3f2b6d93965a733af57efCAS |
Wright IJ, Reich PB, Cornelissen JHC, Falster DS, Groon PK, Hikosaka K, Lee W, Lusk CH, Niinemets Ã, Oleksyn J, Osada N, Poorter H, Warton DI, Westoby M (2005) Modulation of leaf economic traits and trait relationships by climate. Global Ecology and Biogeography 14, 411–421.
| Modulation of leaf economic traits and trait relationships by climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
