Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):348-354 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0045-0

Differential photosynthetic performance of three Mediterranean shrubs under grazing by domestic goats

S. Redondo-Gómez1,*, J. M. Mancilla-Leytón1, E. Mateos-Naranjo1, J. Cambrollé1, A. Martín-Vicente1
1 Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain

The impact of grazing by domestic goats, Capra hircus, on the photochemical apparatus of three co-ocurring Mediterranean shrubs, Erica scoparia, Halimium halimifolium, and Myrtus communis was evaluated. Seasonal course of gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigment concentrations were measured in the field in grazed and ungrazed plants. Net photosynthetic rate was higher in grazed plants of E. scoparia and H. halimifolium in May, while there were not significant differences in M. communis. Photosynthetic enhancement in grazed plants of E. scoparia could be explained largely by higher stomatal conductance. On the other hand, the lack of differences in stomatal conductance between grazed and ungrazed plants of H. halimifolium could indicate that carboxylation efficiency, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration may have been enhanced by grazing. Overall grazing has little effect on the photochemical (PSII) apparatus, however grazed plants of M. communis showed chronic photoinhibition in the short term. Finally, seasonal variations recorded on photosynthesis, photochemical efficiency and pigment concentrations may be a physiological consequence of environmental factors, such as summer drought and competition for light, rather than an adaptation to grazing.

Additional key words: chlorophyll fluorescence; gas exchange; photosynthetic pigments; stomatal conductance

Received: February 11, 2010; Accepted: June 11, 2010; Published: September 1, 2010  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Redondo-Gómez, S., Mancilla-Leytón, J.M., Mateos-Naranjo, E., Cambrollé, J., & Martín-Vicente, A. (2010). Differential photosynthetic performance of three Mediterranean shrubs under grazing by domestic goats. Photosynthetica, 48(3), 348-354. doi: 10.1007/s11099-010-0045-0
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Alonso, C., Herrera, C.M.: Seasonal variation in leaf characteristics and food selection by larval noctuids on an evergreen Mediterranean shrub. - Acta Oecol. 21: 257-265, 2000. Go to original source...
    2. Anten, N.P.R., Ackerly, D.C.: Canopy-level photosynthetic compensation after defoliation in a tropical understorey palm. - Funct. Ecol. 15: 252-262, 2001. Go to original source...
    3. Belski, A.J.: Does herbivory benefit plants? A review of the evidence. - Amer. Nat. 127: 870-892, 1986. Go to original source...
    4. Björkman, O., Demmig, B.: Photon yield of O2 evolution and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics at 77K among vascular plants of diverse origins. - Planta 170: 489-504, 1987. Go to original source...
    5. Castro, H., Nabais, C., Alados, C.L., Freitas, H.: Effects of cessation of grazing on leaf-level photosynthesis of Periploca laevigata. - Appl. Veg. Sci. 6: 255-260, 2003. Go to original source...
    6. Gratani, L., Varone, L., Catoni, R.: Relationship between net photosynthesis and leaf respiration in Mediterranean evergreen species. - Photosynthetica 46: 567-573, 2008. Go to original source...
    7. Hayashi, M., Fujita, N., Yamauchi, A.: Theory of grazing optimization in which herbivory improves photosynthetic ability. - J. Theor. Biol. 248: 367-376, 2007. Go to original source...
    8. Karban, R., Baldwin, I.T.: Induced Responses to Herbivory. - Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago 1997. Go to original source...
    9. Kotanen, P.M., Rosenthal, J.P.: Tolerating herbivory: does the plant care if the herbivore has a backbone? - Evol. Ecol. 14: 537-549, 2001. Go to original source...
    10. Krivosheeva, A., Tao, D.L., Ottander, C., Wingsle, G., Dube, S.L., Öquist, G.: Cold acclimated and photoinhibition in Scots pine. - Planta 200: 296-305, 1996. Go to original source...
    11. Larson, K.C.: The impact of two gall-forming arthropods on the photosynthetic rates of their hosts. - Oecologia 115: 161-166, 1998. Go to original source...
    12. Layne, D.R., Flore, J.A.: Photosynthetic compensation to partial leaf area reduction in sour cherry. - J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 117: 279-286, 1992. Go to original source...
    13. Layne, D.R., Flore, J.A.: End-product inhibition of photosynthesis in Prunus cerasus L. in response to whole-plant source-sink manipulation. - J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 120: 583-599, 1995. Go to original source...
    14. Lichtenthaler, H.K.: Chlorophylls and carotenoids - pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes. - Methods Enzymol. 148: 350-382, 1987. Go to original source...
    15. Macedo, T.B., Peterson, R.K.D., Dausz, C.L., Weaver, D.K.: Photosynthetic responses of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., to defoliation patterns on individual leaves. - Environ. Entomol. 36: 602-608, 2007. Go to original source...
    16. Mancilla-Leytón, J.M., R., Martín Vicente, A.: [Análisis de la apetencia del ganado caprino por las especies de matorral en el Espacio Natural de Doñana.] - Sociedad Española para el estudio de los pastos 48: 643-648, 2009. [In Spanish.]
    17. Maschinski, J., Whitham, T.G.: The continuum of plant responses to herbivory: the influence of plant association, nutrient availability and timing. - Amer. Nat. 134: 1-19, 1989. Go to original source...
    18. Midoko-Iponga, D., Krug, C.B., Milton, S.J.: Competition and herbivory influence growth and survival of shrubs on old fields: implications for restoration of renosterveld shrubland. - J. Veg. Sci. 16: 685-692, 2005. Go to original source...
    19. Monnet, F., Vaillant, N., Vernay, P., Coudret, A., Sallanon, H., Hitmi, A.: Relationship between PSII activity, CO2 fixation, and Zn, Mn and Mg contents of Lolium perenne under zinc stress. - J. Plant Physiol. 158: 1137-1144, 2001. Go to original source...
    20. Ni, X., Quisenberry, S.S., Heng-Moss, T., Markwell, J., Higley, L., Baxendale, F., Sarath, G., Klucas, R.: Dynamic change in photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll degradation elicited by cereal aphid feeding. - Entomol. Exp. Appl. 105: 43-53, 2002. Go to original source...
    21. Redondo-Gómez, S., Wharmby, C., Castillo, J.M., Mateos-Naranjo, E., Luque, C.J., de Cires, A., Luque, T., Davy, A.J., Figueroa, M.E.: Growth and photosynthetic responses to salinity in an extreme halophyte, Sarcocornia fruticosa. - Physiol. Plant 128: 116-124, 2006. Go to original source...
    22. Redondo-Gómez, S., Mateos-Naranjo, E., Davy, A.J., Fernández-Muñoz, F., Castellanos, E.M., Luque, T., Figueroa, M.E.: Growth and photosynthetic responses to salinity of the salt-marsh shrub Atriplex portulacoides. - Ann. Bot. 100: 555-563, 2007. Go to original source...
    23. Retuerto, R., Fernández-Lema, B., Obeso, J.R.: Changes in photochemical efficiency in response to herbivory and experimental defoliation in the dioecious tree Ilex aquifolium. - Int. J. Plant Sci. 167: 279-289, 2006. Go to original source...
    24. Riba, M.: Effects of intensity and frequency of crown damage on resprouting of Erica arborea L. (Ericaceae). - Acta Oecol. 19: 9-16, 1998. Go to original source...
    25. Ronel, M., Malkiel, H., Lev-Yadun, S.: Quantitative characterization of the thorn system of the common shrubs Sarcopoterium spinosum and Calicotome villosa. - Isr. J. Plant Sci. 55: 63-72, 2007. Go to original source...
    26. Strauss, S.Y., Agrawal, A.A.: The ecology and evolution of plant tolerante to herbivory. - Trends Ecol. Evol. 14: 179-185, 1999. Go to original source...
    27. Thomson, V.P., Cunningham, S.A., Ball, M.C., Nicotra, A.B.: Compensation for herbivory by Cucumis sativus through increased photosynthetic capacity and efficiency. - Oecologia 134: 167-175, 2003. Go to original source...
    28. Tschaplinski, T.J., Blake, T.J.: Photosynthetic reinvigoration of leaves following shoot decapitation and accelerated growth of coppice shoots. - Physiol. Plant. 75: 157-165, 1989. Go to original source...
    29. Van Staalduinen, M.A., Anten, N.P.R.: Differences in the compensatory growth of two co-occurring grass species in relation to water availability. - Oecologia 146: 190-199, 2005. Go to original source...
    30. Vila, M., Lloret, F.: Herbivory and neighbour effects on the sprout demography of the Mediterranean shrub Erica multiflora (Ericaceae). - Acta Oecol. 17: 127-138, 1996.
    31. Von Caemmerer, S., Farquhar, G.D.: Some relationships between the biochemistry of photosynthesis and the gas exchange of leaves. - Planta 153: 376-387, 1981. Go to original source...
    32. Welter, S.C.: Arthropod impact on plant gas exchange. - In: Bernays, E.A. (ed.): Insect-Plant Interactions, Vol. 1. Pp.135-150. CRC, Boca Raton 1989. Go to original source...
    33. Werner, C., Correia, O., Beyschlag, W.: Characteristic patterns of chronic and dynamic photoinhibition of different functional groups in a Mediterranean ecosystem. - Funct. Plant Biol. 29: 999-1011, 2002. Go to original source...

    Return to the content