CO2 exchange of CAM exhibiting succulents in the southern Namib desert in relation to microclimate and water stress

Abstract

The responses of CO2 exchange and overnight malate accumulation of leaf and stem succulent CAM-plants to water stress and the particular climatic conditions of fog and föhn in the southern Namib desert have been investigated. In most of the investigated CAM plants a long term water stress gradually attenuated any uptake of external CO2 and led to CO2 release throughout day and night. No CAM-idling was observed. Rainfall or irrigation immediately restored daytime CO2 uptake while the recovery of the nocturnal CO2 uptake was delayed. Dawn peak of photosynthesis was only found in well watered plants but was markedly reduced by the short term water stress of a föhn-storm. Morning fog with its higher diffuse light intensity compared with clear days increased photosynthetic CO2 uptake considerably. Even in well watered plants nocturnal CO2 uptake and malate accumulation were strongly affected by föhn indicating that the water vapour pressure deficit during the night determines the degree of acidification.