Lange, OL/ Büdel, B/ Heber, U/ Meyer, A/ Zellner, H/ Green, TGA 1993: Temperate rainforest lichens in New Zealand: high thallus water content can severely limit photosynthetic CO2 exchange. - Oecologia95: 303-313. [RLL List # 154 / Rec.# 11006] Keywords: CO2 EXCHANGE/ DIFFUSION/ DIFFUSIVE RESISTANCE/ PHOTOSYNTHESIS/ RAIN FORESTS/ WATER CONTENT/ WATER RELATIONS
Abstract: 8 fig. 1 tab. ["CO2 exchange rate in relation to thallus water content (WC, % of dry weight) was determined for 22 species of lichens, mainly members of the genera Pseudocyphellaria and Sticta, from a temperate rainforest, Urewera National Park, New Zealand. All data were obtained in the field, either using a standard technique in which the lichens were initially wetted (soaked or sprayed, then shaken) and allowed to slowly dry, or from periodic measurements on samples that were continuously exposed in their natural habitat. A wide range of WC was found, with species varying from 357 to 3360% for maximal WC in the field, and from 86 to 1300% for optimal WC for photosynthesis."]