Proline (Pro) is a versatile metabolite playing a role in the protection of plants against environmental stresses. To gain a deeper understanding of the regulation of Pro metabolism under predicted future climate conditions, including drought stress, elevated temperature and CO2 , we combined measurements in contrasting grassland species (two grasses and two legumes) at multiple organisational ...

The photosynthetic efficiency of C3 grasses declines with increasing temperature and C4 grasses are predicted to be advantaged at temperatures above 15 °C. We demonstrated an above-ground productivity difference in a commongarden experiment with Alloteropsis semialata and show that it is related more to differences in life-history than to photosynthesis. Frost caused leaf mortality in the C4 bu...

Resistance to the invasion of exotic plants may sometimes result from the strong effects of a relatively small number of resident species. Understanding the mechanisms by which such species resist invasion could provide important insights for the management of invaded ecosystems. Furthermore, the individualistic responses of community members to resource availability and environmental gradients...

Changes in the vegetation of Flat Top Hill, a highly modified conservation area in semi-arid Central Otago, New Zealand, are described four years after the cessation of sheep and rabbit grazing. Unusually moist weather conditions coincide with the four-year period of change in response to the cessation of grazing. Between 1993 and 1997, the average richness and diversity (H’) of species increas...

Some species introduced into new geographical areas from their native ranges wreak ecological and economic havoc in their new environment. Although many studies have searched for either species or habitat characteristics that predict invasiveness of exotic species, the match between characteristics of the invader and those of members of the existing native community may be essential to understa...

Invasion by the African grass Andropogon gayanus is drastically altering the understory structure of oligotrophic savannas in tropical Australia. We compared nitrogen (N) relations and phenology of A. gayanus and native grasses to examine the impact of invasion on N cycling and to determine possible reasons for invasiveness of A. gayanus. Andropogon gayanus produced up to 10 and four times more...

Practices within the Conservation Reserve Program promote planting native grasses and forbs to improve habitat for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and other wildlife. However, native grasses often become dense and stands can be invaded by undesirable plant species that reduce habitat quality. We investigated three herbicides (clethodim, glyphosate, and imazapyr) at two rates to reduce n...

Epidermal conductance (gmin) is water lost through the cuticle and stomata of plants when stomatal conductance is minimal. Low gmin may affect survival of perennial grasses by maintaining tissue hydration during drought. If true, populations from environments where drought is severe may exhibit reduced gmin compared to those from less arid environments. Success of invasive grasses may also be a...