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Understanding C3 and C4 Plant Distributions: Models and Influences

This paper explores the distribution of C3 and C4 plants, focusing on the differences between their photosynthetic pathways. Key factors influencing their distribution include temperature, CO2 concentration, precipitation patterns, and light intensity. It compares modern C4 distribution models by Koch et al. (2004) and Still and Powell (2010), highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. The paper aims to integrate climate data with experimental findings while considering other ecological factors like fire regimes and herbivores in understanding plant distributions.

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Understanding C3 and C4 Plant Distributions: Models and Influences

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Distributions of C3 and C4 Plants Travis Wicks

  2. What are C3/C4 Plants? Different photosynthetic pathways

  3. C3-C4 Examples C3 C4 Treesdirect.co.uk Scientificamerican.com Kaupag.com En.wikipedia.org Most plants Warm-season grasses

  4. Influences on Distribution • Temperature • CO2 concentration • Precipitation patterns • Light intensity

  5. Goals Modern C4 Distribution Compare with: • Koch et al. (2004) • Still and Powell (2010)

  6. Models Koch et al. (2004) • Based on regressions on modern distributions • Purely climate-based • Inputs: • mean annual temperature • mean annual precipitation • mean summer precipitation

  7. Koch Results

  8. Models Still and Powell (2010) • Climate aspect based on experimental data • MODIS and Global Land Cover (GLC) vegetation data included • Eliminates problem of plant physiology distributions • Inputs: • Mean monthly precipitation • Mean monthly temperature • MODIS % herbaceous layer • Global Land Cover Map 2000

  9. Still and Powell Results

  10. Still and Powell Results Without GLC With GLC

  11. Still and Powell (non-GLC) Results

  12. Intermodel comparison Mean difference: 0.17 Mean difference: 0.20

  13. Conclusions • Both models have their respective problems • Hybridize the two • Other possible factors: • Fire regime • Herbivores • Are the systems truly in equilibrium? • Natural variability

  14. The End! Thanks to: -Gonzalo Espinoza -Dr. Maidment -You, for listening

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