High temperature limits of leaf function

In arid and semi-arid central Australia, Acacia spp. dominate the over-storey, but this shifts to Eucalyptus and Corymbia spp. in more mesic coastal regions. Areas of central Australia are extremely hot, dry and sunny, and it is this combination of stresses that likely excludes Eucalyptus spp. from many landforms. There has been little research on high temperature tolerance of Acacia and Eucalyptus, despite the putative importance of this stress, in combination with other stresses, in limiting species’ distributions.

This program of collaborative research is examining the tolerance of Acacia and Eucalyptus to a combination of high temperatures, drought and high light. Parallel measurements are being made in France on a range of Quercus species.

Funding: ARC linkage international award and ARC Discovery

Partner investigators: Mark Adams (UNSW), Michael Tausz (Karl-Franzens Universität Graz & University of Melbourne), Erwin Dreyer (INRA), Daniel Epron (Universite Henri Poincare - Nancy)

Location: Field and glasshouse studies in Australia; glasshouse experiments at Nancy (France); laboratory analyses at Graz (Austria)

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