Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment
Luzula confusa is both morphologically and physiologically adapted to the polar semi-desert environment of the western Queen Elizabeth Islands. This species combines the more efficient graminoid photosynthetic system and a less drought-resistant mechanism with some of the cushion plant energy-trappi...
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1984
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ftunivcalgaryojs:oai:journalhosting.ucalgary.ca:article/65229 2023-05-15T14:19:15+02:00 Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment Addison, P.A. Bliss, L.C. 1984-01-01 application/pdf https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65229 eng eng The Arctic Institute of North America https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65229/49143 https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65229 ARCTIC; Vol. 37 No. 2 (1984): June: 91–194; 121-132 1923-1245 0004-0843 Adaptation (Biology) Photosynthesis Plant ecology Plant-water relationships Polar semi-deserts Plant cover Queen Elizabeth Islands N.W.T./Nunavut info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion research-article 1984 ftunivcalgaryojs 2022-03-22T21:22:19Z Luzula confusa is both morphologically and physiologically adapted to the polar semi-desert environment of the western Queen Elizabeth Islands. This species combines the more efficient graminoid photosynthetic system and a less drought-resistant mechanism with some of the cushion plant energy-trapping characteristics such as tufted growth form and persistence of dead leaves, with consequent thicker boundary layer. In this manner, the plant is able to assimilate carbon throughout the 24-hr arctic day. The species utilizes the most favorable part of the growing season by rapid initiation of growth via relatively high photosynthetic rates, especially at low temperatures. This species is very responsive (net assimilation rates) to small changes in leaf temperature and leaf water potential. This permits the species to take advantage of small rises in leaf temperature (leaves normally 5 to 8 degrees C) and to adjust to high VPD and low leaf water potential during the occasional drought. The slow-growing, long-living conservative strategy of this species appears ideally suited to areas that are limited in their vascular plant cover because of rigorous environments. Within the range of habitats available, Luzula confusa predominates in sites of intermediate moisture with abundant cryptogams. It does not occur in the polar deserts with their drier surface soils except in snowflush communities.Key words: Luzula confusa, High Arctic, plant/water relations, net photosynthesis, plant phenology, polar semi-deserts Mots clés: Luzula confusa, nord de l'Arctique, relations plantes-eau, photosynthèse nette, phénologie des plantes, semi-déserts polaires Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Luzula confusa Nunavut Queen Elizabeth Islands University of Calgary Journal Hosting Arctic Nunavut ARCTIC 37 2 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Calgary Journal Hosting |
op_collection_id |
ftunivcalgaryojs |
language |
English |
topic |
Adaptation (Biology) Photosynthesis Plant ecology Plant-water relationships Polar semi-deserts Plant cover Queen Elizabeth Islands N.W.T./Nunavut |
spellingShingle |
Adaptation (Biology) Photosynthesis Plant ecology Plant-water relationships Polar semi-deserts Plant cover Queen Elizabeth Islands N.W.T./Nunavut Addison, P.A. Bliss, L.C. Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment |
topic_facet |
Adaptation (Biology) Photosynthesis Plant ecology Plant-water relationships Polar semi-deserts Plant cover Queen Elizabeth Islands N.W.T./Nunavut |
description |
Luzula confusa is both morphologically and physiologically adapted to the polar semi-desert environment of the western Queen Elizabeth Islands. This species combines the more efficient graminoid photosynthetic system and a less drought-resistant mechanism with some of the cushion plant energy-trapping characteristics such as tufted growth form and persistence of dead leaves, with consequent thicker boundary layer. In this manner, the plant is able to assimilate carbon throughout the 24-hr arctic day. The species utilizes the most favorable part of the growing season by rapid initiation of growth via relatively high photosynthetic rates, especially at low temperatures. This species is very responsive (net assimilation rates) to small changes in leaf temperature and leaf water potential. This permits the species to take advantage of small rises in leaf temperature (leaves normally 5 to 8 degrees C) and to adjust to high VPD and low leaf water potential during the occasional drought. The slow-growing, long-living conservative strategy of this species appears ideally suited to areas that are limited in their vascular plant cover because of rigorous environments. Within the range of habitats available, Luzula confusa predominates in sites of intermediate moisture with abundant cryptogams. It does not occur in the polar deserts with their drier surface soils except in snowflush communities.Key words: Luzula confusa, High Arctic, plant/water relations, net photosynthesis, plant phenology, polar semi-deserts Mots clés: Luzula confusa, nord de l'Arctique, relations plantes-eau, photosynthèse nette, phénologie des plantes, semi-déserts polaires |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Addison, P.A. Bliss, L.C. |
author_facet |
Addison, P.A. Bliss, L.C. |
author_sort |
Addison, P.A. |
title |
Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment |
title_short |
Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment |
title_full |
Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment |
title_fullStr |
Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment |
title_full_unstemmed |
Adaptations of Luzula confusa to the Polar Semi-Desert Environment |
title_sort |
adaptations of luzula confusa to the polar semi-desert environment |
publisher |
The Arctic Institute of North America |
publishDate |
1984 |
url |
https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65229 |
geographic |
Arctic Nunavut |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Nunavut |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Luzula confusa Nunavut Queen Elizabeth Islands |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Luzula confusa Nunavut Queen Elizabeth Islands |
op_source |
ARCTIC; Vol. 37 No. 2 (1984): June: 91–194; 121-132 1923-1245 0004-0843 |
op_relation |
https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65229/49143 https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65229 |
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ARCTIC |
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