Ecological Implications of dividing Plants into Groups with Distinct Photosynthetic Production Capacities

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ecological implications of dividing plants in groups with distinct photosynthetic production capacities. The productivity of photosynthetic organisms is a fundamental factor in ecological relationships. It is observed that data on plant anatomy, plant physiology, and plant biochemistry have largely converged with the recognition of distinct groups of plants with several distinct characteristics including photosynthetic production capacity. One of the distinguishing characteristics of each plant group is the rate of net photosynthesis which in one major group of plants is two to threefold higher than the second major group of plants. This chapter describes the data which supports the concept of dividing plants in distinct groups in order to analyze some ecological implications and consequences of a particular division. The chapter also describes various criteria's based on which the plants are divided in distinct group. These include anatomical, physiological, and biochemical criteria's. In specific, the chapter considers photosynthetic capacity as a dominating factor in ecology. It states that solar energy is the major energy source and a plant which can add energy two to three times faster into an ecosystem than another plant must be considered when explaining or studying that ecosystem.