UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship - Research Library

Physiological and morphological variation in metrosideros polymorpha, a dominant Hawaiian tree species, along an altitudinal gradient: the role of phenotypic plasticity

Author:
Cordell, S., Goldstein, G., Mueller-Dombois, Dieter, Webb, D., Vitousek, Peter M.
Title:
Physiological and morphological variation in metrosideros polymorpha, a dominant Hawaiian tree species, along an altitudinal gradient: the role of phenotypic plasticity
Periodical:
Oecologia
Year:
1998
Volume:
113
Pages:
188-196
Subject:
Metrosideros polymorpha Ohia-lehua Phenotypic plasticity Photosynthesis Carbon isotope ratios Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency
Summary:
The Metrosideros Polymorpha is a dominant tree species that has long interested biologists and occupies a wide range of habitats in the Hawaiian ecosystems that are located on the island of Hawaii. As a result, ten populations of M. Polymorpha were studied in the field across a broad elevational range that is located on the wet east flanks of Mauna Loa, a shield volcano that is composed primarily of basaltic lavas, where surface flows have been extensively described, dated, and mapped. The purpose of this study was designed to understand the possible functional significance of some physiological traits of this tree species as well as to understand the morphological, foliar, and leaf anatomical characteristics of the plant populations that grows at different elevations and substrate age. This study was also done in an effort to determine if the observed differences, with regard to the form and function of the leaves, are related to the environmental conditions and to what extent they are genetically controlled.
Label:
Botany - Ohia
URL:
http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2074/10.1007/s004420050367
Date:
1998
Collection:
Periodicals