Comparisons among species composition, leaf area, and water relations in three shrub-steppe plant communities

Technical Report · Sat Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6906439

Link, S O; Kirkham, R R; Thiede, M E; Downs, J L; Gee, G W

Observations were made on plant communities dominated by Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass site), Artemisia tridentata (sagebrush site), and Grayia spinosa (hopsage site). Leaf area on a ground area basis of sagebrush was nor significantly different between the sagebrush and hopsage sites; however, the leaf area of hopsage was one-quarter that of sagebrush at the hopsage site. Pre-dawn xylem water potential of sagebrush was -2.91 MPa, while that of hopsage was -4.79 MPa. Stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of sagebrush and hopsage were nearly the same. 11 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6906439
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-14776; ON: DE88013118
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARID LANDS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
DISTURBANCES
ECOSYSTEMS
GROUND COVER
LEAVES
MOISTURE
OPENINGS
PLANTS
SHRUBS
SOILS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STOMATA
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WATER REQUIREMENTS