Leaf Economics

Australia's flora is dominated by plants with sclerophyllous foliage, that is hard leaves that are tolerant of nutrient and/or water stress. Either nutrient and/or water stress are suggested as driving the evolution of sclerophylly and distribution of extant species. Mechanisms of tolerance to drought and nutrient stress differ, and these differences are reflected in patterns of nitrogen and carbon allocation and economics of nitrogen and water use in photosynthesis. A range of studies are using these differences in economics to distinguish between water- and nutrient-driven adaptations in a range of Acacia and Eucalyptus species from mesic to arid environments. So as to distinguish adaptation from acclimation we are making extensive use of glasshouse experiments with seedlings and multi-species "common garden" plantations.

Funding: ARC Discovery grant

Partner Investigators: Erwin Dreyer (INRA), Mark Adams (UNSW)

Location: Field and glasshouse studies in Australia; glasshouse experiments at Nancy (France)

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