BIO120H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Sonoran Desert, Evaporative Cooler, Guanacaste Province
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Physiological ecology is different for (typical, terrestrial) plants because they are: Autotrophic, with few options for insulating the organism from harsh conditions. They need to harvest light, which depends on the surface area. However, more surface area = vulnerability= harder to regulate. Plant ecophysiology of carbon balance: tradeoffs and constraints abound. Autotrophs: depend on net photosynthesis (= gross ps minus respiration); conversion of co2 to fixed carbon: Co2 + h2o---photosynthesis respiration carbohydrate + o2. Must bring together light, gases, & water in functioning leaves(photosynthetic tissue) Functioning requires ok temperature, osmotic balance, enzymes, dissolved nutrients from soil, etc. Because synthetic pathways controlled by enzyme, which requires an adequate temperature. Any of these components can limit fitness. Photosynthetic (green) structures are usually leaves (but can be stems) Leaf size and shape : sa/v ratios important again, as for animals. E. g. leaves in ontario flat: high sa/v ratio - great exchangers. Benefits of large leaf surface area: good.
