The evolution of plant physiology : from whole plants to ecosystems

483 Pages·2004·38.356 MB·English

by  Alan R Hemsley, Imogen Poole, Linnean Society of London. Palaeobotany Specialist Group

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List of contributors
Pieter Baas, Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Universiteit Leiden Branch, PO Box 9514,
2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
Hendrik Bargel, Institut flir Botanik, Zellescher Weg 22, 01062 Dresden, Germany
Wilheim Barthlott, Botanisches Institut, Abteilung SystematiR und Biodiversitat,
Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany
David J BeerUng, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield,
Sheffield SIO 2TN, UK
Pim F van Bergen, Organic Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, PO Box
80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Peter C Bilkey, AgResearch International, 7841 East Oakbrook Circle, Madison,
WI 53717, USA
Peter Blokker, Vrije Universiteit, Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Faculty
of Sciences, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
William J Bond, Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag,
Rondebosch, 7700 South Africa
Adrianus C Borstlap, Transport Physiology Research Group, Department of Plant
Sciences, Utrecht University, Sorbonnelaan 16, NL-3584 CA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tim Brodribb, Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Costa Rica
William G Chaloner, Department of Geology, Royal Hollow^ay, University of London,
Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX, UK
Mark W Chase, Molecular Systematics Section, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3DS, UK
Jerry D Cohen, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul,
MN 55108, USA
Margaret E CoUinson, Department of Geology, Royal HoUoway University of London,
Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX, UK
Martha E Cook, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal,
IL, USA
Todd J Cooke, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of
Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
viii CONTRIBUTORS
Stephen D Davis, Pepperdine University, Natural Science Division, Malibu, CA
90263-4321, USA
Michael E Day, Department of Forest Ecosystem Science, University of Maine, 5755
Nutting Hall, Orono, Maine, USA
Steven Dessein, Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Institute of Botany and Microbiology,
K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Joost van Dongen, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muhlenberg 1,
14476 Golm, Germany
Dianne Edv^ards, School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University,
PO Box 914, Cardiff CFl 3YE, UK
Frank W Ev^ers, Michigan State University, Department of Plant Biology, East Lansing,
MI 48824, USA
Richard D Firn, Department of Biology, University of York, York YOl 5DD, UK
Madeline M Fisher, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, University of Wisconsin,
Madison, WI 53706, USA
James M Graham, Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706,
USA
Linda E Graham, Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706,
USA
How^ard Griffiths, Department of Plant Sciences, Dow^ning Street, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
John M Hackney, Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706,
USA
David T Hanson, Molecular Plant Physiology, Research School of Biological Sciences,
National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Robert S Hill, Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, South Australian
Museum, Adelaide, South Australia 5000; Department of Environmental Biology,
Adelaide University, South Australia 5005
Martin Ingrouille, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Birkbeck University of
London, Malet Street, London WCIE 7HX, UK
Richard Jagels, Department of Forest Ecosystem Science, University of Maine, 5755
Nutting Hall, Orono, Maine, USA
Steven Jansen, Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Institute of Botany and Microbiology,
K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Philip John, School of Plant Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AS, UK
Clive G Jones, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook NY 12545-0129
Millbrook, USA
Kerstin Koch, Botanisches Institut, Abteilung SystematiR und Biodiversitat,
Meckenheimer AUee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany
CONTRIBUTORS be
Robin B Kodner, Department of Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Pieter J C Kuiper, Department of Plant Biology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Cecile M H Lapre, Freelance Research Consultancy, Haren, The Netherlands
Tracy Lav^son, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park,
Colchester, Essex C04 3SQ, UK
Jan W de Leeuw, Organic Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, PO Box
80021, 3508 TA Utrecht; Marine Biogeochemistry and Toxicology, Royal NIOZ,
PO Box 59, AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
Ben A LePage, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of
Pennsylvania, 240 S. 33rd St, Philadelphia, PA 1910-6316, USA
Kate Maxwell, Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge,
Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
Guy F Midgley, Ecology and Conservation, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, National
Botanical Institute, Private Bag X7 Claremont, 7735 South Africa
James I L Morison, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe
Park, Colchester, Essex C04 3SQ, UK
Christoph Neinhuis, Institut fiir Botanik, Zellescher Weg 22, 01062 Dresden, Germany
John Obst, UDSA Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Colin P Osborne, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield,
Sheffield SIO 2TN, UK
Christopher N Page, Honorary Associate, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
Correspondence: Cornwall Geological Museum, Penzance TR18 2QR, UK
Norman W Pammenter, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Natal,
Durban, 4041 South Africa
DorothyBelle Poli, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of
Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
John A Raven, Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences
Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DDl 4HN, UK
Elizabeth A Reynolds, School of Plant Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading RG6
6AS, UK
David Richardson, Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
Elmar Robbrecht, National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Domein van Bouchout, B-1860
Meise, Belgium
Wendy Robe, Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge,
Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
Nick Rowe, Botanique et bioinformatique de I'architecture des plantes, UMR 5120,
TA 40/PS 2 Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier, cedex 5, France
CONTRIBUTORS
Lukas Schreiber, Botanisches Institut, Abteilung Okophysiologie, Kirschallee 1, 53115
Bonn, Germany
Jaap S Sinninghe Damste, Organic Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Utrecht University,
PO Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht; Marine Biogeochemistry and Toxicology, Royal
NIOZ, PO Box 59, AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
Erik Smets, Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Institute of Botany and Microbiology,
K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Thomas Speck, Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanical Garden of the Albert-Ludwigs-
Universitat, Schanzlestrasse 1, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
David R Vann, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of
Pennsylvania, 240 S. 33rd St, Philadelphia, PA 1910-6316, USA
Toshihiro Watanabe, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo,
0608589,Japan
Charles H Wellman, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield,
Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield SIO 2TN, UK
Elisabeth A Wheeler, North Carolina State University, Department of Wood & Paper
Science, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005, USA
Lee W Wilcox, Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706,
USA
Christopher J Williams, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of
Pennsylvania, 240 S. 33rd St, Philadelphia, PA 1910-6316, USA
Preface
Despite its extensive history as a field of study, plant physiology has rarely been considered
by palaeobotanists in the context of the fossil record. Similarly, those involved with modern
physiology have rarely considered that the fossil record might have anything to offer with
respect to a modern view of plants and their responses to environmental change. This is of
no great surprise since few fossils are amenable to the traditional methods used in modern
physiology and fossils are, quite rightly, viewed as being deficient in useful characters when
compared with living specimens. However, over the past few years, the emerging field of
palaeophytophysiology (the study of the physiology of living plant ancestors and their
extinct relatives) has begun to redress this imbalance and the wealth of physiological infor
mation hidden within the palaeobotanical realm is finally being unearthed. It was with these
thoughts in mind that the symposium, sharing the same title as this book, was organized
jointly between the Linnean Society of London (Palaeobotany Specialist Group) and the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with sponsorship from the Annals of Botany Company. Its aim
was to bring together researchers from a range of disciplines, each with their own perspec
tive on the overlap between an interest in plant physiology and the botanical fossil record. At
this unique and somewhat unusual event we were able to begin considering the mechanisms,
responses, effects and subsequent repercussions of plant physiology through geological time.
The synthesis of such previously disparate disciplines has required the development of
new techniques and interpretative frameworks. These have brought about an understanding
of palaeophytophysiology in its widest context and have provided exciting ideas for physiol
ogists, palaeobotanists and climate modellers alike. Cutting edge developments in this novel
field provide the basis of this book drawing on subjects as distant as animal evolution, bio
chemistry, computer modelling, phylogenetic analyses, organic geochemistry and plant ecol
ogy to provide greater insights into the evolution of plant physiology in its widest context.
The origins of plant physiology
We begin with a focus on the physiology of early land plants with reference to the prob
lems faced by bryophytes and embryophytes; their photosynthetic limitations and the
mechanistic means of overcoming associated physiological limitations. The necessary
advances in spore wall physiology, involving crucial adaptive responses to the new harsh
subaerial environment, which ensured a successful invasion of the land, are discussed.
Evolution of plant physiology from the molecular level
Any consideration of physiological evolution must include reference to the associated bio
chemistry. This section delves deeper into our understanding of how and why selected
xii PREFACE
molecules and molecular structures have played an important role in palaeophytophysi-
ology. These chapters provide an introduction to this area vs^ith focus on specific biomol-
ecules such as auxin, aquaporins, ethylene and phenolics and their resulting influence on
the plants themselves concurrent with evidence from the fossil record. Biomacromolecules
with protective and supportive roles are considered.
Evolution of anatomical physiology
Physiological adaptation to environmental variables cannot improve without associated
advances in morphology and anatomy. Evolutionary development of the leaf and its asso
ciated anatomy is an obvious example but without an improved hydraulic system the
functioning of the leaves would undoubtedly fail. This section focuses on the development
of the megaphyll leaf, the stomata (a crucial advancement for photosynthesis and con
trolling water loss through transpiration) and the plan of hydraulic delivery of water
throughout the plant. This section also considers physiology with respect to reproduction
and its phylogenetic utility.
Evolution of environmental and ecosystem physiology
Evolutionary adaptation is inevitably a response to environmental change. Throughout
the course of geological time, the environments in which plants grew have been changing,
often radically and irreversibly. Therefore it is only right to include a section on their
adaptations to environments. Such adaptations include responses to factors as far reach
ing as the unique polar regime, specific elements present within the soil and large-scale
relationships between physiology, environment and species distribution.
This broad, but readable collection of contributions from leading specialists in systematics,
plant physiology, palaeobotany and bio/geochemistry provides an essential resource base
for both the newcomer and the established researcher in this new field. The contributions
are individual, thought provoking and sometimes even provocative. In some cases authors
disagree, but we view this as inevitable in a newly emerging field. Already, new terminol
ogy and conceptual frameworks are accruing; clearly the idea of 'trade-offs' among past
physiological requirements permeates this book. Our personal interest and enthusiasm for
this research area is only dampened somewhat by the realization that previous publica
tions, and the chapters that make up this volume, represent only a small body of work and
that this currently constrains the intellectual walls against which we push. We are confi
dent, however, that increasing interest, inspiring curiosity-driven research, and the obvious
relevance of palaeophytophysiology to all aspects of palaeoecology and environmental
change, coupled with the development of newly emerging techniques, will promote rigor
ous evaluation and notable expansion of this field. Regardless of the ultimate conclusions,
palaeophytophysiology certainly merits further investigation and we are confident that this
volume will act as a seed for the pursuit and dispersal of additional, more speciaUzed and
comprehensive texts in the not too distant future.
Finally, we would like to thank all those who helped make the symposium and this pub
lication a reality, including the independent reviewers for their time and effort spent on
each chapter. Special mention goes to John Marsden and the staff at the Linnean Society