Desert environments are among the harshest on earth. Nevertheless many organisms live there. The book describes the adaptations of plants to the extreme conditions in North American deserts.

Desert environments are among the harshest on earth. Nevertheless many organisms live there. The book describes the adaptations of plants to the extreme conditions in North American deserts.

Prologue.- 1 North American Deserts: Environments and Vegetation.- 1.1 The Deserts of North America.- 1.2 Abiotic Features of North American Deserts.- 1.3 North American Desert Vegetation.- 1.4 Structure and Function of North American Desert Ecosystems.- 2 Plant Processes and Responses to Stress.- 2.1 Photosynthesis in Desert Plants.- 2.2 Desert Plant Water Relations.- 2.3 Desert Plant Growth.- 2.4 Reproduction in Desert Plants.- 2.5 Defense of Desert Plants.- 3 Evergreen Shrubs.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Case Study: Artemisia tridentata.- 3.3 Case Study: Larrea tridentata.- 3.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 4 Drought-Deciduous Shrubs.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Case Study: Encelia farinosa.- 4.3 Stem Photosynthetic Shrubs and Trees.- 4.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 5 CAM Succulents.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Case Study: Carnegiea gigantea.- 5.3 Case Study: Agave deserti.- 5.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 6 Perennial Grasses.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Architecture of Perennial Grasses.- 6.3 Hypotheses to Account for Selection for Bunchgrass Architecture.- 6.4 Case Study: Leymus cinereus.- 6.5 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 7 Phreatophytes.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Case Study: Prosopis glandulosa.- 7.3 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 8 Desert Annuals.- 8.1 General Distribution of Desert Annuals.- 8.2 Phenological Controls over Growth of Desert Annuals.- 8.3 Plant Carbon and Water Balance of Desert Annuals.- 8.4 Case Study: Machaeranthera gracilis.- 8.5 Case Study: Solar Trackers.- 8.6 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 9 Poikilohydric Plants.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Case Study: Selaginella lepidophylla.- 9.3 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- 10 Exotic Plants.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Case Study: Bromus tectorum.- 10.3 Case Study: Tamarix ramosissima.- 10.4 Summary: Adaptations and Environmental Constraints.- Epilogue.- Desert Adaptation: A Growth Form Perspective.- Global Climate Change: Potential Responses of Desert Ecosystems.- Concluding Remarks.- Acknowledgements.- References.- Species Index.

This book begins with the physical and biological characterization of the four North American deserts and a description of the primary adaptations of plants to environmental stress. In the following chapters the authors present case studies of key species representing dominant growth forms of the North American deserts, and provide an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the major patterns of adaptations in desert plants. One chapter is devoted to several important exotic plants that have invaded North American deserts. The book ends with a synthesis of the adaptations and resource requirements of North American desert plants. Further, it addresses how desert plants may respond to global climate change.