Physiological, morphological and allocation plasticityof a semi-deciduous shrub

摘要

The main objective of this study was to look into the phenotypic plasticity of the semi-deciduousMediterranean shrub, Halimium halimifolium. We studied morphological, allocation and physiologicaltraits to determine which characters were more plastic and contribute in a greater extent to the accli-mation ability of the species. We present a phenotypic plasticity index for morphological, physiological and allocation traits, which wehave applied in the most contrasted plant communities where the species grows naturally. Data pub-lished by Diaz Barradas, M.C., Garcia Novo, F. [1987. The vertical structure of Mediterranean scrub inDonana National Park (SW Spain). Folia Geobotanica Phytotaxonomica 22, 415-433; 1988. Modification yextincion de la luz a traves de la copa en cuatro especies de matorral en el Parque Nacional de Dofiana.Monografias Instituto Pirenaico de Ecologia 4, 503-516; 1990. Seasonal changes in canopy structure intwo mediterranean dune shrubs. Journal of Vegetation Science 1, 31-40.1, Diaz Barradas, M.C., Zunzu-negui, M., Garcia Novo, F. [1999a. Autoecological traits of Halimium halimifolium in contrasted habitatsunder Mediterranean type climate. Folia Geobotanica 34, 189-208.1 and Zunzunegui et al. [Zunzunegui,M., Diaz Barradas, M.C., Garcia Novo, F.1997. Autoecological notes of Halimium halimifolium. Lagascalia 19,725-736. Sevilla, Spain; Zunzunegui, M., Diaz Barradas, M.C., Fernandez Baco, L, Garcia Novo, F. 1999.Seasonal changes in photochemical efficiency in leaves of Halimium halimifolium a Mediterraneansemideciduous shrub. Photosynthetica 36, 17-31; Zunzunegui, M., Diaz Barradas, M.C., Garcia Novo, F.2000. Different phenotypic response of Halimium halimifolium in relation to groundwater availability.Plant Ecology 148, 165-174; Zunzunegui, M., Diaz Barradas, MC., Aguilar, F., Ain-Lhout, F., Clavijo, A.,Garcia Novo, F. 2002. Growth response of Halimium halimifolium at four sites with different soil wateravailability regimes in two contrasted hydrological cycles. Plant and Soil 247, 271,-28.1 have been re-appraised and combined with original data. Phenotypic plasticity index showed that the highest plasticity of the species was physiological, andespecially for the traits related with water control. This high physiological plasticity appears mainlybetween seasons (September-November) rather than between sites. Plasticity in allocation traits showedintermediate values between physiological and morphological traits.