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<p>A thesis concerning the effects of water deficit on stomatal traits in plants. The relationships between different traits and their influence on overall stomatal anatomy is discussed. Genetic work to investigate molecular regulation of stomatal development is also presented and discussed.</p>

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It is recognised that atmospheric CO(_2) concentrations are increasing, with concerns raised as to the global impact continued rises may have. Plant stomatal parameters have been suggested as a means of monitoring changing CO(_2) levels. In order to assess their suitability for use, a thorough examination of leaf characteristics within a variety of surroundings was undertaken. Environments examined included both natural variations in CO(_2), which incorporated a variety of environmental influences and artificially enhanced ones where it was possible to monitor specific responses to variable CO(_2) levels. A short term study of Ranunculus ficaria, Sambucus nigra and Hedera helix revealed considerable variation in stomatal parameters, with inconsistent responses observed between and within species. These variations could not be attributed to CO(_2) changes and were assigned to a combination of other factors. R. ficaria grown in an artificial environment at ambient and elevated CO(_2) produced significant and consistent changes in stomatal parameters. Stomatal density and index were found to be reduced at elevated CO(_2) concentrations, with a decrease in guard cell dimensions. Salix herbacea, growing along a naturally reduced CO(_2) partial pressure gradient further highlighted the extent of variation in stomatal parameters in extant material within a species. No consistent stomatal trends associated with changing CO(_2) levels were observed. This inherent variation must be considered before any conclusions can be made regarding stomatal parameters obtained from fossil material. The novel application of molecular biology techniques to identify S. herbacea leaves was partially successful. However, identification of leaf macrofossils was not possible, due to the inferior preservation of DNA. However, the technique will provide a useful tool for identification if suitably preserved macrofossil fragments were available. S. herbacea leaf macrofossils revealed no consistent correlation to past changes in CO(_2) levels. The use of as an additional tool with which to monitor environmental change once again showed variation, and was not associated closely with changes in CO(_2) levels or stomatal parameters. In light of this work it would appear that the use of stomatal parameters is of limited value as a model to monitor environmental change, in the absence of information concerning other variables, and as such must be treated with caution.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Drylands are the largest terrestrial biome on the planet, and the critically important systems that produce approximately 40% of global net primary productivity to support nearly 2.5 billion of global population. Climate change, increasing populations and resulting anthropogenic effects are all expected to impact dryland regions over the coming decades. Considering that approximately 90% of the more than 2 billion people living in drylands are geographically located within developing countries, improved understanding of these systems is an international imperative. Although considerable progress has been made in recent years in understanding climate change impacts on hydrological cycles, there are still a large number of knowledge gaps in the field of dryland ecohydrology. These knowledge gaps largely hinder our capability to better understand and predict how climate change will affect the hydrological cycles and consequently the soil-vegetation interactions in drylands. The present study used recent technical advances in remote sensing and stable isotopes, and filled some important knowledge gaps in the understanding of the dryland systems. My study presents a novel application of the combined use of customized chambers and a laser-based isotope analyzer to directly quantify isotopic signatures of transpiration (T), evaporation (E) and evapotranspiration (ET) in situ and examine ET partitioning over a field of forage sorghum under extreme environmental conditions. We have developed a useful framework of using satellite data and trend analysis to facilitate the understanding of temporal and spatial rainfall variations in the areas of Africa where the in situ observations are scarce. By using a meta-analysis approach, we have also illustrated that higher concentrations of atmospheric CO2 induce plant water saving and the consequent available soil water increases are a likely driver of the observed greening phenomena. We have further demonstrated that Leuning’s modified Ball-Berry model and RuBP limited optimization model can generally provide a good estimate of stomatal conductance response to CO2 enrichment under different environmental conditions. All these findings provide important insights into dryland water-soil-vegetation interactions.

Estômatos são poros responsáveis pela troca gasosa entre a folha e o meio externo. A partir da década de 80, experimentos revelaram um complexo padrão espaço temporal na abertura e fechamento dos estômatos. As experiências apontam para uma possível coordenação entre estômatos em algumas áreas da folha chamada de patches. Esse fenômeno é conhecido na literatura como patchy stomatal conductance. Frequentemente a coordenação dinâmica dos estômatos está associada à oscilações temporais na condutãncia estomática (média especial da abertura dos estômatos). Em 1997 Haefner, Buckley e Mott (HBM) publicaram uma análise numérica de um modelo dinâmico para explorar o comportamento complexo dos estômatos. O modelo é baseado em algumas características conhecidas dos estômatos e assume transporte hídrico em uma rede definida por uma geometria simples e bastante restritiva. De acordo com os autores, o modelo reproduz qualitativamente os dados experimentais. Recentemente, Ferraz e Prado mostraram que esse modelo não é capaz de reproduzir os resultados experimentais. Usando ingredientes do modelo sugerido por HBM, Ferraz e Prado sugeriram uma geometria realística de distribuição reservatórios hídricos. Embora essa configuração reproduza os patches, eles permanecem estáticos e nenhuma oscilação é observada. Sem explorar detalhes significativos, Ferraz e Prado afirmaram que a histerese na abertura estomatal poderia explicar vários aspectos dos resultados experimentais. No presente estudo comprovamos, através de uma abordagem computacional baseada em transdutores histeréticos, que a hipótese de histerese na abertura dos estômatos de fato reproduz qualitativamente os dados experimentais. Em nossa abordagem a histerese na abertura dos estômatos é emulada através de operadores chamados de histerons. A robustez da hipótese é testada usando diferentes tipos de histerons. Analisamos a correlação entre os estômatos na rede que simula a superfície da folha. Observamos que a correlação entre estômatos depende da geometria da veia. Uma análise detalhada dos parâmetros envolvidos revela uma dependência entre o período de oscilação na condutância estomática e o déficit de vapor d\'água entre a folha e o meio ambiente. Esta característica subjacente ao modelo pode inspirar novas experiências para testar a hipótese da histerese na abertura dos estômatos. / Stomata are pores on the surface of leaves responsible for controlling the exchange of gas between the plant and the environment. Experiments revealed a complex spatial-temporal pattern in the opening and closing mechanism of stomata. The main feature of the phenomenon is that stomata appear to be synchronized into clusters, known as patches. The dynamical coordination of stomata often involves oscillations in stomatal conductance. In 1997 Haefner, Buckley, and Mott (HBM) published a numerical analysis of a dynamic model to explore the complex behavior of stomata. The model is based on some known features of the stomata, and assumes that water diffuses within the leaves according to a simple geometric arrangement. According to the authors, the model reproduces qualitatively the experimental data. Recently, Ferraz and Prado showed that the computational approach of HBM is not able to reproduce the experimental results. Inspired by this model, Ferraz and Prado introduced a new geometric features that leads to static patches of stomata; however no oscillation was observed and the patches remained static. The authors suggested that hysteresis in stomatal aperture could explain several experimental aspects. We now report a further investigation of the changes suggested by Ferraz and Prado in the original model of HBM. The theoretical approach confirmed that hysteresis in the aperture mechanism of pores reproduces a variety of behaviors of stomatal conductance described in experiments. We explore the hysteresis feature through the formalism of hysteretic transducer. The robustness of the hysteretic assumption is tested by different kinds of hysteresis operators. We analyzed the correlation among stomata in the lattice. We observed that the correlation depends on the geometry of the veins. Finally, the analysis of the model reveals a dependence between the period of oscillation in the stomatal conductance time series and water vapor pressure deficits &#916;&#969; - an external parameter. Further experiments might explore this underlying feature of the model.

主催：JST/CREST，Vrije University, ALTERRA, IBPC