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SUMMARY:Understanding the role of hydrophysiology in adaptive diversificat
 ion in the Bromeliaceae - Jamie Males
DTSTART:20140328T133000Z
DTEND:20140328T135500Z
UID:TALK51394@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Megan Cooper
DESCRIPTION:The Bromeliaceae is a family of Neotropical plants that displa
 ys enormous diversity in terms of morphology\, growth habit\, and ecology.
  Representatives can be found in a wide range of macro- and micro-habitats
 \, from coastal deserts to tree-crowns in montane cloud forests. The evolu
 tionary innovations that are hypothesised to have generated these rapid ad
 aptive radiations include specialised absorbent trichomes\, water- and nut
 rient-impounding 'tanks'\, the epiphytic habit\, crassulacean acid metabol
 ism (CAM)\, and ornithophilous pollination. In terms of environmental phys
 iology\, the photosynthetic properties of different ecological types of br
 omeliads have been investigated extensively\, but our understanding of the
  possible role of hydrophysiological adaptation in bromeliad diversificati
 on is more incomplete. By examining the hydrophysiological characteristics
  of bromeliad taxa sampled from across the family's phylogeny and linking 
 these to the distributions and habitat preferences of these taxa\, I aim t
 o develop a clearer picture of evolutionary trends in bromeliad water rela
 tions. The focus falls particularly on xylem and mesophyll hydraulic condu
 ctivity\, leaf water capacitance and turgor properties\, and stomatal resp
 onses to vapour pressure deficit. In parallel with this broad phylogenetic
  assessment\, an investigation into the physiological basis of niche diffe
 rentiation between two congeneric bromeliads in Trinidad is under way. The
  extent of the segregated distributions of these species is being recorded
  and related to climatic and topographical factors. Measurements of the an
 atomical architecture and physiological tolerances of each species will th
 en be made in an attempt to provide a mechanistic explanation for the obse
 rved distributions.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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