| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annals of Botany 93: 629-652, 2004
© 2004 Annals of Botany Company
Ecophysiology of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)
1 Institute of Botany, Technical University of Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 3–5, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
*For correspondence. E-mail: luettge{at}bio.tu-darmstadt.de
Received: 3 October 2003; Returned for revision: 17 December 2003; Accepted: 20 January 2004
• Background and Scope Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) as an ecophysiological modification of photosynthetic carbon acquisition has been reviewed extensively before. Cell biology, enzymology and the flow of carbon along various pathways and through various cellular compartments have been well documented and discussed. The present attempt at reviewing CAM once again tries to use a different approach, considering a wide range of inputs, receivers and outputs.
• Input Input is given by a network of environmental parameters. Six major ones, CO2, H2O, light, temperature, nutrients and salinity, are considered in detail, which allows discussion of the effects of these factors, and combinations thereof, at the individual plant level (‘physiological aut-ecology’).
• Receivers Receivers of the environmental cues are the plant types genotypes and phenotypes, the latter including morphotypes and physiotypes. CAM genotypes largely remain ‘black boxes’, and research endeavours of genomics, producing mutants and following molecular phylogeny, are just beginning. There is no special development of CAM morphotypes except for a strong tendency for leaf or stem succulence with large cells with big vacuoles and often, but not always, special water storage tissues. Various CAM physiotypes with differing degrees of CAM expression are well characterized.
• Output Output is the shaping of habitats, ecosystems and communities by CAM. A number of systems are briefly surveyed, namely aquatic systems, deserts, salinas, savannas, restingas, various types of forests, inselbergs and paramós.
• Conclusions While quantitative census data for CAM diversity and biomass are largely missing, intuition suggests that the larger CAM domains are those systems which are governed by a network of interacting stress factors requiring versatile responses and not systems where a single stress factor strongly prevails. CAM is noted to be a strategy for variable, flexible and plastic niche occupation rather than lush productivity. ‘Physiological syn-ecology’ reveals that phenotypic plasticity constitutes the ecophysiological advantage of CAM.
Key words: CAM, ecophysiology.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. Ceusters, A. M. Borland, N. Ceusters, V. Verdoodt, C. Godts, and M. P. De Proft Seasonal influences on carbohydrate metabolism in the CAM bromeliad Aechmea 'Maya': consequences for carbohydrate partitioning and growth Ann. Bot., February 1, 2010; 105(2): 301 - 309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Silvera, L. S. Santiago, J. C. Cushman, and K. Winter Crassulacean Acid Metabolism and Epiphytism Linked to Adaptive Radiations in the Orchidaceae Plant Physiology, April 1, 2009; 149(4): 1838 - 1847. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P.-A. Christin, N. Salamin, A. M. Muasya, E. H. Roalson, F. Russier, and G. Besnard Evolutionary Switch and Genetic Convergence on rbcL following the Evolution of C4 Photosynthesis Mol. Biol. Evol., November 1, 2008; 25(11): 2361 - 2368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Ceusters, A. M. Borland, E. Londers, V. Verdoodt, C. Godts, and M. P. De Proft Diel Shifts in Carboxylation Pathway and Metabolite Dynamics in the CAM Bromeliad Aechmea 'Maya' in Response to Elevated CO2 Ann. Bot., September 1, 2008; 102(3): 389 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Osmond, T. Neales, and G. Stange Curiosity and context revisited: crassulacean acid metabolism in the Anthropocene J. Exp. Bot., May 1, 2008; 59(7): 1489 - 1502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 O. Hernandez-Gonzalez and O. B. Villarreal Crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis in columnar cactus seedlings during ontogeny: the effect of light on nocturnal acidity accumulation and chlorophyll fluorescence Am. J. Botany, August 1, 2007; 94(8): 1344 - 1351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Winter and J. A.M. Holtum Environment or Development? Lifetime Net CO2 Exchange and Control of the Expression of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Plant Physiology, January 1, 2007; 143(1): 98 - 107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|