Dissertation Research: Variation in Vulnerability to Cavitation in Quercus douglasii

9520679在限水环境中，蓝橡树是一个关键物种，在加利福尼亚州的大部分活动范围内，这种树都不能再生。这项研究的目的是了解水关系在决定这棵树的成功中所起的作用。这项研究将比较不同树龄的橡树对干旱引起的空化的脆弱性。它将通过比较不同亲本树产生的苗木的反应来确定该性状存在的遗传变异量。最后，它将确定表型可塑性在改变对不同程度水分胁迫的反应中的重要性。这项研究将增加对木本植物对干旱诱导的空化反应的机制和变异性的理解。了解水分利用特性的表型表达，并了解时间和空间尺度上的变化，对于制定养护生态重要物种的管理计划应具有相当大的价值。

9520679 The blue oak is a keystone species in a water limiting environment, and over much of its range in California, this tree is not regenerating. This research is aimed at understanding the role that water relations play in determining the success of this tree. The research will compare vulnerability to drought-induced cavitation in oaks of different ages. It will determine the amount of genetic variation that exists in this trait, by comparing responses of seedlings produced by different parent trees. Finally, it will ascertain the importance of phenotypic plasticity in modifying response to different levels of moisture stress. The research will increase understanding of the mechanisms and variability of response to drought induced cavitation in woody plants. Understanding of the phenotypic expression of water-use traits, and knowledge of variation on temporal and spatial scales should be of considerable value in developing management plans for the conservation of an ecologically important species.