Components of Productivity of Mediterranean-climate Regions Basic and Applied Aspects : Proceedings of the International Symposium on Photosynthesis, Primary Production and Biomass Utilization in Mediterranean-type Ecosystems, Held in Kassandra, Greece, S

Our knowledge of the functional characteristics of the plants of mediterranean-cl imate regions has increased greatly in the past decade. In recent times the possibility of large-scale util ization of biomass for energy from these regions has been proposed. In order to assess the feasibil ity of these proposals we must consider the productive structure of these plant communities and how they vary through time and space. This symposium was an attempt to examine our recently acquired basic knowledge of the environmental I imitations on the productivity of Mediterranean plant communities in relation to the consequences of the possible util ization of these communities for energy and chemicals. Specifically in this book we examine the mechanisms by which plants of mediterranean-cl imate regions maintain their productive capacity under the prevail ing conditions of summer draught and winter cold. We consider the characteristics of leaves, their history, morphology and plasticity. Evergreen sclerophyll leaves are common to the dominant plants of all mediterranean-cl imate regions and thus they have significance in terms of enhancing carbon gain and water-use efficiency as well as ensuring survival under the prevail ing cl imatic conditions. Front Matter....Pages I-VIII Introduction....Pages 1-1 Leaf Morphology....Pages 3-3 Morphological and Physiological Responses of the Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophyll, Ceratonia Siliqua , to Different Light Intensities....Pages 5-15 Leaf Longevity in Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophylls....Pages 17-19 Leaf Structural Diversity in Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophylls....Pages 21-25 Ultrastructural Aspects of Secretory Trichomes in Cistus Monspeliensis ....Pages 27-38 Photosynthesis and Allocation....Pages 39-39 Leaf Age Effects on the Carbon Gain of Individual Leaves in Relation to Microsite....Pages 41-50 Nutrient and Environmental Controls on Carbon Flux in Mediterranean Shrubs from California....Pages 51-59 Midday Stomatal Closure in Arbutus Unedo Leaves: Measurements with a Steady-State Porometer in the Portuguese Evergreen Scrub....Pages 61-69 Annual Variation of Photosynthesis of the Olive Tree Under Different Watering Conditions and Related to Chlorophyll Accumulation....Pages 71-75 Adaptive Responses of Leaf Water Potential, CO 2 -Gas Exchange and Water Use Efficiency of Olea Europaea During Drying and Rewatering....Pages 77-84 Some Adaptative Photosynthetic Characteristics of a Sun Plant ( Ceratonia Siliqua ) and a Shade Plant ( Coffea Arabica )....Pages 85-89 The Effect of SO 2 on Photosynthesis and Stomatal Behavior of Mediterranean-Climate Shrubs and Trees....Pages 91-103 Photosynthetic Characteristics and Environmental Control in Some Grapevine Cultivars....Pages 105-113 Carbon Allocation to Root Systems in Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophylls....Pages 115-120 Changes of Storage Lipids, Fatty Acids and Carbohydrates in Vegetative Parts of Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophylls During One Year....Pages 121-127 Stand Productivity....Pages 129-130 Biomass and Productivity of a Pinus Pinea L. Stand.....Pages 131-134 Biomass Structure and Utilization of the Natural Vegetation in the Winner Rainfall Region of South Africa....Pages 135-149 The Effects of Fire Intensity, Aspect and Substrate on Post-Fire Growth of Californian Coastal Sage Scrub....Pages 151-179 Producers and the Fire Cycle in a Phryganic Ecosystem....Pages 181-190 Productivity and Nutritional Responses of Chamaebatia Foliolosa (Rosaceae) to Seasonal Burning....Pages 191-196 Biomass, Productivity and Succession in the Scrub of the Doñana Biological Reserve in Southwest Spain....Pages 197-203 Species Structure and Productivity in Grasslands of Northern Greece....Pages 205-217 Biomass Utilization....Pages 219-219 Biomass and Net Primary Productivity of Portuguese Forests....Pages 221-227 Utilizations of Mediterranean Forest Biomass for making Energy and Organics....Pages 229-234 Biomass Yield of Short-Rotation Platanus Species in Greece....Pages 235-238 Maquis Biomass for Energy; Costs and Benefits....Pages 239-242 Conversion of Biomass into Energy and Chemicals by Thermolytic Methods....Pages 243-255 Plant and Stand Environment....Pages 257-257 Low Temperature Effects on Mediterranean Sclerophylls: An Unconventional Viewpoint....Pages 259-266 Light and Energy Environments of Chaparral and Matorral in Southern California and Central Chile....Pages 267-276 Temperature Germination Responses in Three Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophylls....Pages 277-279 Proceedings of the International Symposium on Photosynthesis, Primary Production and Biomass Utilization in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems, Held in Kassandra, Greece, September 13-15, 1980