The effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic region

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dc.contributor.advisorWest, Adamen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGibson, Myfannwynen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-10T06:31:38Z
dc.date.available2017-11-10T06:31:38Z
dc.date.issued2012en_ZA
dc.date.updated2017-03-10T14:43:54Z
dc.description.abstractRecent studies on the interception and utilization of occult precipitation (fog, cloud-borne mist and dew) have revealed that the direct wetting of foliage provides a water subsidy to plants of various ecosystem types. In this study, we investigate the presence of foliar uptake, and the effects of misting on the plant water potential of species representing diverse functional types, namely ericoids, proteoids and restioids in Fynbos species occurring within the Cape Fold mist belt. In this study, foliar uptake after 180-min submergence in distilled water was demonstrated by five of the seven species investigated. These species included all the restioids and ericoids investigated in this study. By contrast, the proteoids L. conocarpodendron and L. laureolum were found to show no significant amount of foliar uptake or increased leaf water content (%). There was an increase in the average, normalized leaf water content in individuals subjected to misting treatments in both proteoids, L. laureolum and L. conocarpodendron. Similarly, there was also an overall increase in plant water status, as shown by the increased water potential in individuals that were subjected to the misting treatment. It was found that control individuals showed a decrease in plant water potential (i.e. lost water) during the day, as can be expected when soil water is not replenished. All species showed significant stomatal conductance, during both night and day. Results indicate that misting events have a significant effect on the overall plant water status in all functional types and the presence of foliar uptake in both ericoids and restioids; thus indicating that cloud events may have an important effect on the vulnerability of these species to drought, under the precepts of global climate change.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationGibson, M. (2012). <i>The effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic region</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26119en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationGibson, Myfannwyn. <i>"The effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic region."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26119en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationGibson, M. 2012. The effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic region. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Gibson, Myfannwyn AB - Recent studies on the interception and utilization of occult precipitation (fog, cloud-borne mist and dew) have revealed that the direct wetting of foliage provides a water subsidy to plants of various ecosystem types. In this study, we investigate the presence of foliar uptake, and the effects of misting on the plant water potential of species representing diverse functional types, namely ericoids, proteoids and restioids in Fynbos species occurring within the Cape Fold mist belt. In this study, foliar uptake after 180-min submergence in distilled water was demonstrated by five of the seven species investigated. These species included all the restioids and ericoids investigated in this study. By contrast, the proteoids L. conocarpodendron and L. laureolum were found to show no significant amount of foliar uptake or increased leaf water content (%). There was an increase in the average, normalized leaf water content in individuals subjected to misting treatments in both proteoids, L. laureolum and L. conocarpodendron. Similarly, there was also an overall increase in plant water status, as shown by the increased water potential in individuals that were subjected to the misting treatment. It was found that control individuals showed a decrease in plant water potential (i.e. lost water) during the day, as can be expected when soil water is not replenished. All species showed significant stomatal conductance, during both night and day. Results indicate that misting events have a significant effect on the overall plant water status in all functional types and the presence of foliar uptake in both ericoids and restioids; thus indicating that cloud events may have an important effect on the vulnerability of these species to drought, under the precepts of global climate change. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2012 T1 - The effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic region TI - The effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic region UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26119 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/26119
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationGibson M. The effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic region. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2012 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26119en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBotanyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPlant Ecologyen_ZA
dc.titleThe effects of cloud moisture on Restions, Ericas and Proteas in the Cape Floristic regionen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetype
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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