title: Bunchgrass architecture, light interception, and water-use efficiency: assessment by fiber optic point quadrats and gas exchange.
abstract: The bunchgrass growth form, which is very prominent in water-limited environments, can result in considerable self-shading of photosynthetically active foliage. The consequences of this growth form for light interception and water-use efficiency (photosynthesis/transpiration, P/T) were investigated for two Agropyron species which differ in tussock density and degree of self-shading. During the period of most active gas exchange, the tussocks were very compact and photosynthesis of shaded foliage was markedly light-limited. Stomatal control of older shaded foliage was poorly attuned for water-use efficiency. At low light, P/T decreased and intercellular CO2concentrations increased. Despite differences in architecture and amount of shaded foliage, P/T of whole tussocks under ambient field conditions did not differ between these species. Partial defoliation decreased, rather than increased, P/T, primarily as a result of the poor photosynthetic light harvesting by the remaining foliage. Despite self-shading, the architecture of widely-spaced bunchgrasses provides for interception of as much direct beam solar radiation as is calculated for a rhizomatous grass occupying an area six-fold greater than the ground area underneath the canopy of these bunchgrasses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Range Science and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, 84322, Logan, UT, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Range Science and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, 84322, Logan, UT, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Department of Range Science and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, 84322, Logan, UT, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Department of Range Science and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, 84322, Logan, UT, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dzurec
authors.affiliation: Department of Range Science and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, 84322, Logan, UT, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Richards