干旱区叶片形态特征与植物响应和适应的关系

A review of leaf morphology plasticity linked to plant response and adaptation characteristics in arid ecosystems

叶片形态是指示植物适应特定环境的重要指标。由于植物叶片形态不仅对时空环境变化具有极强的敏感性和可塑性,而且能够通过叶片形态的调整调节自身的生存适应能力,所以叶片形态学研究一直是植物生理及植物生态学研究中的热点。该文在总结前人叶片形态学研究成果的基础上,探索建立了简单的叶片形态指标分类体系;结合物质能量交换的物理学原理,回顾总结了叶片表观形态变化与叶片物质能量交换之间的相关关系;应用叶片形态影响物质能量交换的物理学原理,重点分析了干旱区植物叶片表观形态对低水分环境、高辐射(或高温)的响应与适应特征;最后,在回顾分析的基础上,对叶片形态研究中存在的几个问题进行了讨论。

Leaf morphology is closely related to the specific environment and provides the most useful characteristics to understand plant response and adaptation strategy to environmental change. Leaf morphology plasticity is obviously related to the temporal and spatial variation of environmental variables, which are useful to plants to enhance their ability to survive. Consequently, for many years, studies on plant physiology, plant ecology and physiological ecology focused on leaf morphology. We establish a simple category of leaf morphology classification. Simultaneously, based on the principle of material and energy balances, we systematically review the relationships among environment, leaf morphology and energy balances （or material changes）, and emphasize that leaf morphology responded or adapted to lower water availability and higher radiation （or temperature） in arid ecosystems. In conclusion, we submit and discuss existing problems in leaf morphology based on the weaknesses of previous studies.