Terrestrial Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment A Molecular, Physiological, and Ecological Approach

About this book

Understanding how photosynthesis responds to the environment is crucial for improving plant production and maintaining biodiversity in the context of global change. Covering all aspects of photosynthesis, from basic concepts to methodologies, from the organelle to whole ecosystem levels, this is an integrated guide to photosynthesis in an environmentally dynamic context. Focusing on the ecophysiology of photosynthesis – how photosynthesis varies in time and space, responds and adapts to environmental conditions and differs among species within an evolutionary context – Terrestrial Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment features contributions from leaders in the field. The approach is interdisciplinary and the topics covered have applications for ecology, environmental sciences, agronomy, forestry and meteorology. It also addresses applied fields such as climate change, biomass and biofuel production and genetic engineering, making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the impacts of climate change on the primary productivity of the globe and on ecosystem stability.

Please note that the publisher has cancelled plans for a paperback version.

Contents

List of abbreviations
List of contributors
Preface
Acknowledgements

Part I. Photosynthesis: The Process
1. Terrestrial photosynthesis in a changing environment
2. A synopsis about the biochemistry and photochemistry of terrestrial photosynthesis
3. Photosynthetic regulation
4. Interactions between photosynthesis and day respiration
5. The ecophysiology and global biology of C4 photosynthesis
6. Ecophysiology of CAM photosynthesis
7. Special photosynthetic adaptations
8. Models of photosynthesis

Part II. Measuring Photosynthesis
9. Gas exchange analysis: basics and problems
10. Optical methods for investigation of leaf photosynthesis
11. Stable isotopic compositions related to photosynthesis, photorespiration and respiration
12. Mesophyll conductance to CO₂
13. Biochemical and molecular techniques for the study of photosynthetic processes
14. Measuring CO₂ exchange at canopy scale: the eddy covariance technique
15. Remote sensing of photosynthesis

Part III. Photosynthesis Response to Single Environmental Factors
16. Photosynthetic responses to radiation
17. Photosynthetic responses to increased CO₂ and air pollutants
18. Response of photosynthesis to low temperature
19. Photosynthetic responses to high temperature
20. Photosynthesis under water deficits, flooding and salinity
21. Photosynthetic responses to nutrient deprivation and toxicities
22. Photosynthesis responses to biotic stress

Part IV. Photosynthesis in Time
23. Photosynthesis during leaf development and ageing
24. Evolution of photosynthesis - basic leaf morphological traits and diffusion and photosynthetic structures
25. Evolution of photosynthesis - evolution and expansion of CAM and C4 photosynthetic types

Part V. Photosynthesis in Space
26. Whole plant photosynthesis: potentials, limitations and physiological and structural controls
27. Ecophysiology of photosynthesis in the tropics
28. Ecophysiology of photosynthesis in desert ecosystems
29. Ecophysiology of photosynthesis in semi-arid environments
30. Ecophysiology of photosynthesis in temperate forests
31. Ecophysiology of photosynthesis in boreal, arctic and alpine ecosystems
32. Crop photosynthesis

Part VI. Photosynthesis in a Global Context
33. Photosynthetic water use efficiency
34. Global change and photosynthesis

References
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Jaume Flexas is Associate Professor of Plant Physiology and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. His research focuses on plant ecophysiology and photosynthesis. He received the Young Scientist Award (plant physiology) from the Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology in 2006.

Francesco Loreto is Research Director at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante, Firenze, Italy. He studies the interaction between biosphere and atmosphere with emphasis on biosynthesis and emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds and on primary and secondary metabolism of plants under environmental constraints.

Hipólito Medrano is Professor of Plant Physiology and Director of the Biology Department at Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Over the past ten years he and his research group, 'Plant Ecophysiology under Mediterranean Conditions', have focused on achieving continued progress in the fields of photosynthesis, carbon and water flow and water use efficiency.