title: A multistressor, multitrait approach to assessing the effects of wind and dust on Eucalyptus tereticornis.
abstract: Plants are routinely subjected to multiple environmental stressors, and the ability to respond to these stressors determines species survival and ecological breadth. Despite stressors such as wind and dust significantly influencing plant development, morphology, and chemistry, the combined influence of these factors is yet to be investigated.
  
  
  
  We used a manipulative glasshouse approach to compare the morphological, physiological, and biomechanical responses of Eucalyptus tereticornis to the independent and combined effects of wind and dust.
  
  
  
  Wind decreased both E. tereticornis height and stem flexural stiffness. Additionally, wind had no effect on leaf physiology, nor did dust have any significant effect on any of the traits measured.
  
  
  
  Our results suggest that wind and dust in combination may have an additive effect on several plant traits and provide new insight into the effects and importance of studying wind, dust, and different stress combinations.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia ryan.leonard@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.affiliation: Integrative Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McArthur
authors.affiliation: Integrative Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia.
authors.forename: Dieter F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hochuli
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004391:Dust; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D004391:Dust
keywords: Myrtaceae; dust; flexural stiffness; height; leaf biomass; multistress; photosynthesis; stem diameter; transpiration; wind