Lange, OL/ Schulze, ED/ Koch, W 1970: Experimentell-okologische Untersuchungen an Flechten der Negev-Wuste. II. CO2-Gaswechsel und Wasserhaushalt von Ramalina maciformis (Del.) Bory am naturlichen Standort wahrend der sommerlichen Trockenperiode. - Flora159: 38-62. [RLL List # 76 / Rec.# 11048] Keywords: ECOPHYSIOLOGY/ WATER RELATIONS/ GAS EXCHANGE/ PHOTOSYNTHESIS/ NEGEV DESERT/ ISRAEL/ NIGHT RESPIRATION
Abstract: 12 fig. 2 tab. ["The lichen thalli are so much moistened, as a result of the nightly dew fall, that an apparent CO2-uptake is possible for a period of approx. 3 hours following sunrise.... In the natural habitat lichens, which have become dried-out during the daytime, are also capable of absorbing enought water vapour without any dew condensation from the surrounding moist air at night to enable a short period of photosynthetic acitivity during the morning. The resulting CO2-yield exceeds significantly the loss due to night respiration, so that a positive daily CO2 balance results.... The capability of the lichens to use dew moisture and water vapour to activate their photosynthetic synthesis explains their existence and distribution in the Negev."]