Spatial and temporal variation in carbon isotope discrimination in prairie graminoids

We present the results of a 5-year examination of variation in the stable carbon isotope composition (δ) of three C₃ graminoid species from a Sandhills prairie: Agropyron smithii, Carex heliophila and Stipa comata. Although consistent species-specific patterns for mean δ were seen, there was also si...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia 1994-04, Vol.97 (3), p.316-321
Main Authors: Mole, S, Joern, A, O'Leary, M.H, Madhavan, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
carbon
Carbon isotopes
carex heliophila
Climate models
discrimination
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Growing seasons
Hesperostipa comata
Isotopes
Pascopyrum smithii
photosynthesis
Plant water relations
Plants
Plants and fungi
Prairies
Seasons
Soil water
spatial variation
Species
temporal variation
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We present the results of a 5-year examination of variation in the stable carbon isotope composition (δ) of three C₃ graminoid species from a Sandhills prairie: Agropyron smithii, Carex heliophila and Stipa comata. Although consistent species-specific patterns for mean δ were seen, there was also significant and substantial among-year and within-season variation in δ. A smaller contribution to variation in δ came from topographic variation among sampling sites. Effects of species, year, season and topography contribute to variation in δ in an additive manner. An association between climate and δ exists that is consistent with previous work suggesting that δ reflects the interplay between photosynthetic gas exchange and plant water relations. Within the growing season, the time over which δ integrates plant response to the environment ranges from days to months.
ISSN:0029-8549
1432-1939
DOI:10.1007/BF00317320