Revista Brasil. Bot., V.27, n.1, p.1-10, jan.-mar.

2004

Review paper/Artigo de revisão

Ecophysiology
ULRICH LÜTTGE1,3 and FABIO R. SCARANO2
(received: July 26, 2003; accepted: November 27, 2003)

ABSTRACT – (Ecophysiology). An attempt to delineate rather than to precisely define what we mean by ”ecophysiology“ is
based on a brief historical overview of what eventually led to development of instrumentation and sampling strategies for
analyses that allow description of physiological performance in the field. These techniques are surveyed. Ecophysiology
originally is aut-ecology dedicated to the behaviour of individual plants, species or higher taxa, viz. “physiotypes”, in particular
habitats. Examples of ecophysiological diversity are developed, which illustrate gradual merging with more integrative
considerations of functions and dynamics of habitats or ecosystems, i.e. a trend of research towards physiological syn-
ecology. The latter is exemplified by studies with comparisons of a variety of morphotypes and physiotypes within a given
habitat or ecosystem and across a range of habitats or ecosystems. The high demand and complexity as well as the excitement
of ecology and ecophysiology arise from the quest to cover all conditions of the existence of organisms according to Ernst
Haeckel´s original definition of “ecology”.
Key words - ecological history, ecological integration, ecophysiology, physiological syn-ecology
RESUMO – (Ecofisiologia). Esta revisão procura delinear ao invés de precisamente definir o significado do termo “ecofisiologia”,
com base em um breve apanhado histórico do desenvolvimento da instrumentação e de estratégias de amostragem para
análises que permitam a descrição de desempenho fisiológico em condições de campo. Ecofisiologia originariamente é auto-
ecologia dedicada ao comportamento de plantas individuais, espécies ou táxons superiores, viz. “fisiotipos”, em determinados
habitats. Exemplos de diversidade ecofisiológica são tratados e ilustram a gradual integração desta disciplina com aspectos
referentes ao funcionamento e dinâmica de habitats ou ecossistemas, i.e., uma tendência de pesquisas voltadas para uma
“sinecologia fisiológica”. Estudos que comparam uma gama de morfotipos e fisiotipos dentro de um dado habitat ou ecossistema
ou entre habitats ou ecossistemas são exemplos deste caso. A complexidade e o encantamento da ecologia e da ecofisiologia
emergem justamente da necessidade de cobrir todas as condições de existência dos organismos, de acordo com a definição
original de “ecologia” de Ernst Haeckel.
Palavras-chaves - ecofisiologia, história da ecologia, integração ecológica, sinecologia fisiológica

Introduction: “…… a label for anything good that happens

historical reminiscence and definitions far from cities or anything that does not have
synthetic chemicals in it.”
ECOLOGY is: STEPHEN JAY GOULD
“The entire science of the relations of the What is “ecophysiology”? Are we sure what we
organism to its surrounding environment, mean by “ecology”? The original definition is by Ernst
comprising in a broader sense all conditions Haeckel (1834-1919), who coined the term in 1866, about
of its existence.” which Stephen Jay Gould (1977) writes as follows:
ERNST HAECKEL
“Ernst Haeckel, the great popularizer of
(“Die gesamte Wissenschaft von den Beziehungen des evolutionary theory in Germany, loved to coin
Organismus zur umgebenden Außenwelt, wohin wir im
words. The vast majority of his creations died
weiteren Sinne alle Existenzbedingungen rechnen können.”)
with him half a century ago, but among the
survivors are ‘ontogeny’, ‘phylogeny’, and
‘ecology’. The last is now facing an opposite
fate - loss of meaning by extension and vastly
1. Darmstadt University of Technology, Institute of Botany, inflated currency.”
Schittspahnstr. 3-5, D-64289, Darmstadt, Germany
2. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, IB, Dept
Ecologia, Caixa Postal 68020, 21941-970 Rio de Janeiro, RJ However, Haeckel’s original definition itself, as we
3. Corresponding author: luettge@[Link] see, was already quite broad and may help us to trace
2 U. Lüttge & F.R. Scarano: Ecophysiology

the development of approaches in history. Alexander Magno Coutinho, Mário Guimarães Ferri, Luiz Gouvêa
von Humboldt (1769 -1859) became the founder of plant Labouriau, to name but a few, were some of the Brazilian
geography, as he discovered that the physiognomy of ecophysiologists active from the 1960ies onwards who
vegetation is determined by environmental conditions left an important legacy (Alvim & Alvim 1976, Arens
and that the distribution of plants depends on the climate 1958 a, b, Coutinho 1990, Ferri 1944, Goodland & Ferri
(von Humboldt 1808, ed. 1982). The impact of 1979, Labouriau 1966).
environmental factors on organisms then also became Increasing sophistication and demand of
an essential aspect of natural selection in Charles understanding has made it necessary to apply a kind of
Darwin’s theory of evolution (Darwin 1859). “ping-pong” between studies in the field and in
Subsequently, having Haeckel’s term “ecology”, Andreas laboratories, growth chambers and phytotrons with
Franz Wilhelm Schimper (1856-1901), who was widely controlled environment. Problems of environmental
travelled in the tropics, founded “plant geography on an adaptation, often in Simon Schwendener´s sense under
ecological basis” (Schimper 1898); and he also particularly extreme conditions, are determined in the
recognized the need for physiological experimentation: field. Physiological, biochemical and now also molecular
mechanisms putatively favourable for adaptation to these
“…the oecology of plant-distribution will
conditions are assessed in the laboratory. Their actual
succeed in opening new paths on condition only
action and effectiveness then must again be tested in
that it leans closely on experimental physiology,
the field, since it is not always given that traits intuitively
for it presupposes accurate knowledge of the
considered favourable for ecological adaptation correlate
conditions of the life of plants which experiment
with actual ecological distribution of plants. This casts
alone can bestow”
questions back to laboratory work on individual plants,
(see introduction in Lange et al. 1981). Thus, Pickett and so forth. Such approaches have been extremely
et al. (1994) propose that ecology emerged out of the successful making very important contributions to
need highlighted by Schimper to integrate physiology pinpointing physiological, biochemical and molecular
and biogeography. Simon Schwendener (1829-1919) bases of ecological adaptation. This created a voluminous
suggested that the relations between the environment international literature (e.g., Lange et al. 1981, 1982,
and the morphological habit of plants are best studied in 1983a, b, Crawford 1989, Schulze & Caldwell 1994,
regions subject to extreme conditions. Finally, as the Lüttge 1997a, Lambers et al. 1998, Larcher 2003, and
founder of ecophysiology we may consider Ernst Stahl many volumes of the series “Ecological Studies”,
(1848-1919) who introduced experimentation to Springer-Verlag, Berlin). In Brazil, Scarano & Franco
ecological research. (For details see Mägdefrau 1992; (1998) organised a book that reviews adaptation of
for review see introduction in Lange et al. 1981, and Brazilian plants to drought and flooding, which included
Lüttge 1997a). contributions of some of the main active ecophysiologists
Some of this reasoning considers wider areas and from Brazil and also Venezuela. Of course, most of this
geographical dimensions while some is dedicated to is work on individual plants, hence aut-ecology. And
individual organisms and plants. Currently we indeed, among outdoor naturalists and ecologists with
distinguish “syn-ecology” and “aut-ecology”, where the the quest of understanding habitat dynamics and
former applies to the ecology of habitats and entire ecosystems this has the odour of inadequate
ecosystems with a comprehensive view of all life reductionism. Only recently, with the miniaturization and
(“syn-”) and the latter to the ecology of organisms by increasing facilitation of handling field-fit equipment it is
themselves (“aut-”) getting possible to bridge the gap between syn- and aut-
In the first part of the 20th century researchers, ecology, when many different species and life forms can
such as Otto Stocker (1888-1979) and Bruno Huber be measured physiologically on site in a given habitat
(1899-1969), much promoted ecophysiology of plants and comparisons can be made across different sites and
because they developed instruments that could be taken habitats.
to the field to measure the actual behaviour of plants
under natural environmental conditions, especially to Field-fit equipment for plant ecophysiology
follow photosynthesis and transpiration. Simultaneously,
the approach of studying adaptive functional traits of Basically any equipment that is portable or mobile
plants in the field also developed a strong tradition in enough and can be operated in the field can be used for
Brazil. Paulo de Tarso Alvim, Karl Arens, Leopoldo on-site ecophysiological measurements, while - naturally -
 Revista Brasil. Bot., V.27, n.1, p.1-10, jan.-mar. 2004 3

restrictions for the glasshouse and growth-chamber part together with the progress of micro-electronics is now
in the above-mentioned “ping-pong” are much less providing us with increasingly smaller and readily
severe. However, this is stated much more readily than portable instruments to perform IRGA-based
in fact put to action. It was already evident in Stocker’s measurements of gas exchange, i.e. H2O-vapour and
and Huber’s early days of increasingly sophisticated field CO2-fluxes, with porometers now available from various
ecophysiology that special technical developments were suppliers.
important for field application. The major objectives then, Miniaturization has also affected instruments
as still mostly today, were to understand water relations measuring photosynthetic quantum yield, i.e. efficiency
and CO2-assimilation, i.e. transpiration and CO2-uptake. of light-use in photosynthesis, based on the Kautsky
It was also realized that it was important to make effect. We must remember that in the 1930ies
momentary measurements of CO2 and H2O-vapour gas- H. Kautsky had to work at 73 K and in a dark room
exchange which avoided artefacts due to enclosure of with elaborate optical setups. Now we use pulse
plant parts, mostly leaves, in cuvettes. Stocker and amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometers, which allow
associates used highly sensitive torsion-balances to very us to measure the far-red shifted chlorophyll
quickly measure transpiratory water loss from fluorescence at ambient temperature and solar
momentarily excised leaves. Stocker and Huber irradiation. Such fluorometers have been miniaturized
developed a photosynthesis-apparatus for field to readily portable instruments (Mini-PAM; H. Walz,
measurements of CO 2 -exchange based on CO 2 Effeltrich, Germany) providing information on potential
absorption by NaOH with measurements of the electrical and effective quantum yield and allowing calculations
conductivity of the NaOH-solution. For a long time this of apparent electron transport rates and non-
was superior to IRGA (infra red gas analysis), which photochemical effects of photosynthesis (Genty et al.
was restricted to climate controlled chambers and 1989, van Kooten & Snel 1990, Schreiber & Bilger 1993,
needed leaf-enclosure in gas-exchange cuvettes Bilger et al. 1995). Field equipment for measuring water
(Holdheide et al. 1936, Stocker & Vieweg 1960). potentials are Scholander-Hamel pressure chambers
Stocker packed all equipment available into a vehicle (Slavik 1974, Steudle 1987, 2001) and psycrometry based
that was the first measuring-van and was used to study instruments, the latter also being applicable to measuring
ecophysiology of desert plants in Mauritania (see Lüttge soil water potentials (Slavik 1974). Instruments for
1979). The principle of a mobile measuring-van was measuring xylem sap flow in stems of plants in the field
subsequently developed much further, especially by Otto based on heat pulse propagation originally introduced
L. Lange. In Brazil, Luiz G. Labouriau transformed a by Bruno Huber (Huber 1932, 1956, Vieweg & Ziegler
bus into a mobile laboratory in the early nineteen-sixties. 1960) are now also on the market.
However, this raises another question: Which sites Together, these approaches now permit to obtain
are accessible for ecophysiological measurements in the extensive and comprehensive sets of data on water
field? Measuring-vans at least need some kind of access relations and photosynthesis under actual environmental
roads. Special ecosystems will require particular conditions in the field. The easiness of equipment-use
approaches of access. As an example one important now even bears a danger of non-critical accumulation
development currently are attempts for reaching forest of vast amounts of data. This certainly constitutes a
canopies, much including tropical rainforests, for strong demand on problem-oriented intuition by
ecophysiological studies (Sutton 2001). Approaches of ecophysiological researchers in the field. It also
access range from rope-climbing techniques, fixed increasingly requires adoption of theoretical approaches
ladders, masts and platforms (Reitmayer et al. 2002), of data analysis (Hütt & Lüttge 2002).
canopy walkways, cranes, balloon operated platforms Furthermore sampling strategies for various
up to a new high-tech canopy observation permanent analyses in the laboratory are now more than a
access system (COPAS) with a gondola operating in all supplement to instrument-based field ecophysiology. This
three dimensions of space (Gottsberger & Döring 1995, comprises sampling various compartments, such as roots,
Ulmer Universitätsmagazin 2000). stems, leaves, xylem, phloem etc., and also soil, and
Another very important trend is miniaturizing of analyses of contents of mineral nutrients and metabolites
equipment. The concept of the click-cuvette with an and stable isotopes (mainly 2H, 13C, 15N, 18O) (e.g.,
automatically or hand-operated opening and closing of Scarano et al. in press). While for some purposes air
a lid as developed by Lange (1962) to reduce and even dried material is sufficient (mineral contents, stable
avoid cuvette artefacts, i.e. the so-called cuvette-climate, isotopes), special field sampling is also required
4 U. Lüttge & F.R. Scarano: Ecophysiology

(metabolites) with rapid microwave oven drying and/or almost infinite. Plants studied aut-ecologically
storage on dry ice or best in liquid nitrogen. A very range over all major groups, from cyanobacteria
powerful new approach supplementing ecophysiology (Lüttge et al. 1995, Lüttge 1997b, Rascher et al.
is taking samples for isolating molecular markers (DNA) 2003) and lichens (Lange 1992) to higher plants.
allowing to link population genetics to comparison of Studies are often specially dedicated to light use,
ecophysiological traits (e.g., Vaasen et al. 2002, Gehrig i.e. to photosynthesis and photoinhibition, and great
et al. 2003). themes of ecophysiology are, e.g., the midday-
Such analyses of field-sampled specimen in the depression of C 3-photosynthesis (Schulze & Hall
laboratory must not be confused with the field-laboratory 1982), C 4 -photosynthesis (Ray & Black 1979,
“ping-pong” discussed above. They are directly Osmond et al. 1980), crassulacean acid
interwoven with the field measurements. The ensemble metabolism (CAM) and C 3-CAM-switches (Winter
of such analyses, however, regularly very strongly & Smith 1996, Functional Plant Biology 2002) all
enhances conclusiveness of field measurements. This related to stress given by availability of water
now is threatened, however, in a rather uncaring way. (Lange et al. 1976), and hence, the major topics
Sample analysis often requires a somewhat sophisticated and concerns of plant ecophysiology (see above:
high-tech laboratory background, which frequently needs historical reminiscence).
specialization with respect to investments and
(ii) The use of habitats for performing aut-ecological
equipment. This is not always available at the places of
studies often reflects Simon Schwendener’s advice that
sample-generation and thus makes transport of samples
studies may be best performed in regions providing
necessary, which may include crossing national borders.
extreme conditions (see above: historical reminiscence).
While on one hand all ecologists, including
Thus, typical ecophysiological study sites comprise
ecophysiologists, must and do welcome legislation
deserts and other arid environments, salinas, and other
protecting national privileges in control and maintenance
salinity affected environments, various tropical habitats,
of biodiversity, on the other hand restrictive handling
such as rain-forests, savannas (Franco 2002), mangroves
and a lack of clear regulations for scientific cooperation
(Trees 2002) and inselbergs (Porembski & Barthlott
in many cases begin to hamper progress of
2000), flooded habitats (Joly 1994), high latitudes (arctic
ecophysiological research severely.
and antarctic; Crawford 1989) and altitudes (alpine zones
of mountains, paramos; Rundel et al. 1994), more
Examples of aut-ecological studies recently also forest canopies (Linsenmair et al. 2001),
and many others.
Examples of aut-ecological studies can be listed
by i) special adaptations and ii) special habitats with
particular stresses and combinations of stresses.
Ecophysiological diversity

(i) Considering adaptations, the term “physiotype” To address the question of ecophysiological diversity
propagated by Kinzel (1972, 1982) appears to be again the physiotype-concept appears useful. Just like
very useful. The physiotype sensu Kinzel is the comparative morphology and anatomy delineate different
complement of all properties or traits that is shared structural life forms or morphotypes, comparative
by individuals belonging to a taxonomical unit, physiology, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular
where these taxa may represent different levels, biology delineate different physiological life forms or
i.e. species, genera, families, orders or even physiotypes. Briefly, the complete set of phenotypical
higher taxa. The respective properties are, e.g., traits generated by a genotype in the morphological
given preferences, resistances and sensitivities, domain is the morphotype and in the physiological domain
and their combinations. Kinzel and collaborators is the physiotype. Although physiotypical traits basically
have exemplified physiotypes mostly on the basis often provide a good explanation of the occurrence of
of mineral relations, typical physiotypes being, e.g., plants in habitats, it is impossible to derive strict rules.
calcicole and calcifuge plants, halophytes, heavy For example, morphologically almost identical rosettes
metal accumulators, nitrophilous plants and their of epiphytic bromeliad species can be found side by side
subtypes. However, since this can be extended to on the same branch of a phorophyte, one being an obligate
any kind of stress factor (“stressor”) examples of C3- the other one an obligate CAM-species (Griffiths
special physiological adaptations are manifold, et al. 1986). Morphologically very similar rosettes of the
 Revista Brasil. Bot., V.27, n.1, p.1-10, jan.-mar. 2004 5

two C 3 -species Paepalanthus polyanthus Kunth and was more flexible occupying both the wetter and
(Eriocaulaceae) and Eryngium eurycephalum Malme the drier locations in the valley (Lüttge et al. 2001).
(Apiaceae) growing next to each other were observed These examples, taken from our work, although
to differ in susceptibility to photoinhibition and nitrogen- still largely physiological aut-ecology already lead to
nutrition signature (Scarano et al. 2001). physiological syn-ecology as they combine aut-ecology
Physiological and ecological optima are not with describing functions and dynamics in habitats and
necessarily congruent (page 222 in Kinzel 1982). ecosystems.
Ecophysiological plasticity determines the width of It was also debated whether plasticity may support
functional niches. Thus, for example, it was shown that development of species diversity. Plasticity may either
the niche-width of the obligate C3-species Clusia hinder speciation by protecting given genotypes from
multiflora H.B.K. (Clusiaceae) is smaller than that of selection under environmental pressure, or enhance
the C3/CAM-intermediate species Clusia minor L. speciation by allowing large ecological amplitudes (but
(Clusiaceae). Counterintuitively, i.e. when CAM is see Schlichting & Pigliucci 1998). Ecological amplitudes
considered an adaptation to critical water supply, may separate populations with reduced sets of
C3-C. multiflora may dominate open exposed sites and genotypes specially adapted to particular sites leading
does not occur in shaded sites, while its compatriot the to genetically stable populations, which we call ecotypes
C3-CAM-intermediate C. minor occupies shaded sites (Turesson 1922, Kinzel 1982). Segregation may then
and also intrudes the exposed sites of C. multiflora. enhance speciation, as exemplified by discussing the
Not the water saving mechanism of CAM per se but large ecological amplitude and species richness of the
the flexibility given by CAM appears to be the specific genus Clusia (Lüttge 1999, 2000). In this context it is
advantage of C. minor (Herzog et al. 1999, Lüttge very important that molecular studies of population
2000). As another example, small-scale patchy habitat genetics now can be combined with ecophysiological
segregation was also explained physiologically for a measurements, because variations of physiotype may
C 3 and a CAM species of the bromeliad genus even occur between populations, and it is most
Nidularium (Bromeliaceae) in the understory of a regrettable when bureaucratic constraints hinder this
tropical swamp forest (Scarano et al. 1999). The approach (see above: field-fit equipment and sampling).
C3-species N. innocentii Lem. is restricted to shaded
periodically flooded patches and the CAM-species N. Physiological syn-ecology
procerum Lindm. to semi-exposed permanently flooded
patches, with CAM allowing colonization of patches As argued in the Introduction physiological syn-
potentially exposed to higher irradiance. Habitat ecology is a newly emerging field, and this is particularly
preferences of tree and palm species between due to the great progress in development of miniaturized
neighbouring longer-term and shorter-term flooding field-fit equipment. Physiological syn-ecology is
sites, in an estuarine várzea forest in the Amazon, were comparative ecophysiology. Hence, in this case, one
often related to patterns of carbohydrate storage in would not wish to exaggerate obedience to Simon
roots of saplings prior to flooding (Scarano et al. 1994). Schwendener’s suggestion because extreme sites will
For a further example, two giant rosette plants, the be occupied by only very few specialists adapted to the
two C 3 -species Lobelia gibberoa Hemsl. dominating stressor, and the attempts of physiological
(Lobeliaceae) and Solanecio gigas (Vatke) C. Jeffrey syn-ecology rapidly return to aut-ecology. Not too
(Asteraceae) in an afromontane forest valley, it was extreme sites with a diversity of species with different
found that niche occupation could be explained by a adaptive strategies appear more suitable. It depends on
combination of morphological and anatomical traits and specific examples though. On the very extreme habitat
ecophysiological features. Transpiration and of the highly sun-exposed bare granite surface of tropical
photosynthesis were basically similar in both species rock outcrops (inselbergs) the distribution of
but responses to varying soil moisture differed. cyanobacteria communities building up the rock-surface
L. gibberoa had a well-developed vascular cylinder ecosystem can largely be explained by physiological
but maintained a large number of rosettes on one plant traits of light and water use (Büdel et al. 1994, Rascher
and a large average leaf area index (LAI). It was et al. 2003). Such “ink-stripe”-like cyanobacterial
restricted to the more humid parts of the valley. ecosystems (Lüttge 1997b) appear to be rather simple,
S. gigas, having a poorly developed vascular bundle but the various types of related soil crusts - perhaps
had many fewer rosettes and a lower average LAI overall in somewhat less extreme situations - are highly
6 U. Lüttge & F.R. Scarano: Ecophysiology

diverse in species of cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, rainforest complex in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Scarano
bryophytes, and small animals and largely characterized et al. in press) showed a few trends, but no confirmable
ecophysiologically (Belnap & Lange 2001). generalisation: (1) at the intra-specific level,
For higher plants we began to undertake attempts ecophysiological performance often (but not always)
to combine habitat and species comparisons in varied largely in both time and space; (2) at the inter-
comparative ecophysiology for advancing physiological specific level, ecophysiological performance was often
syn-ecology. This is a long-term programme starting (but not always) related to species dominance in the
with i) the comparison of various elements of xerophytic community; (3) at both intra- and inter-specific level,
and halophytic vegetation of a coastal alluvial plain in ecophysiological performance was not related to the
Northern Venezuela looking at small ground-covering geographic distribution patterns, i.e., generalists and
halophytes, mangroves, epiphytic and terrestrial specialists did not form groups of similarly behaving
bromeliads, orchids, and cacti (Griffiths et al. 1989, Lee plants in regard to ecophysiology. Confirmed
et al. 1989, Lüttge et al. 1989a, b, Medina et al. 1989, generalisations shall be necessary to help us formulate
Smith et al. 1989), and moving on to ii) a comparison of models and theories to explain ecological and
various morphotypes and physiotypes, viz. woody plants, ecophysiological diversity on a geographical scale (see
climbers, graminoids, rosettes, cacti and geophytes, Pickett et al. 1994), which will provide the necessary
along a gradient of sites marginal to the Atlantic rain background to understanding processes such as
forest in Brazil, viz. dry and wet restingas, dry forest, speciation and extinction, essential for correct
and high altitude fields (Scarano et al. in press), and iii) conservation and management initiatives. Thus, it
an increasingly comprehensive range of measurements appears that in order to search for general patterns,
and analyses including photosynthesis, stable isotopes, physiological syn-ecology studies should try to enhance
metabolites and various plant organs such as leaves, the x, y and z axis of their orientations, i.e., increase the
roots, wood, xylem, phloem, etc. number of species sampled, increase the spatial and
A particularly interesting example of physiological temporal scales covered and increase the numbers and
syn-ecology is the study of differential effects of dry- kinds of parameters at different ecological hierarchical
season drought on seedling performance in co- scales for each species.
occurring tropical moist forest plants in a semi- While confirmed generalisations do not fully emerge
deciduous forest in Panamá (B. Engelbrecht, data not from our integration initiatives on a geographical scale,
published, Engelbrecht & Kursar 2003). The study uses some case studies in a narrower geographical range
experimental plots with transplantation strategies as indicate the potential of integrated studies. For instance,
well as the natural rainfall gradient across the Scarano et al. (2002) compared four neighbouring
Panamanian isthmus from the wetter Atlantic to the populations of Aechmea bromeliifolia (Rudge) Baker
drier Pacific side. Many traits that are often intuitively (Bromeliaceae) under distinct selective pressures, and
considered to be bases of drought adaptation and by combining parameters related to demography, growth,
resistance did not individually correlate with plant leaf anatomy and photochemical efficiency, they could
distribution. Species’ differences in drought resistance tell which spectrum of the morpho-physiological
were associated with a wide range of combinations of variation found consisted in acclimation and which
morphological and physiological characters. consisted in stress-symptom.
Maintenance of critical leaf-water potential appeared In conclusion, ecology in general and also
to be the most essential factor. ecophysiology are highly integrative sciences. They
require integration of wide ranges of information input
Epilogue: a need for integration about the physical environment as well as parameters
of biological diversity. They require work on a wide
Schimper’s (1898) urge to integrate plant range of scaling levels extending over some 15 to 20
geography and physiology as a means to understand powers of 10 in space, i.e. from planet geographic levels
plant distribution and abundance patterns is still largely and ecosystems to habitats and sites, plants, organs, cells,
unfulfilled. Although some new workable hypotheses organelles, membranes and molecules, and in time, i.e.
emerge (e.g., Scarano 2002), results on a given scale from slow developments of vegetation in time scales of
do not always become confirmed generalisations as we centuries and decades down to rapid events, such as
enhance the scale. For instance, our latest study on photosynthetic excitation in pico- and femto-seconds
plants of several marginal habitats of the Atlantic (Osmond et al. 1980, Lüttge 1996).
 Revista Brasil. Bot., V.27, n.1, p.1-10, jan.-mar. 2004 7

At the onset of Haeckel´s definition of ecology, i.e. ENGELBRECHT, B.M. & KURSAR, T.A. 2003. Comparative
“…. relations of the organism …..comprising ALL drought resistance of seedlings of 28 species of co-
conditions of its existence”, many argued that if occurring tropical woody plants. Oecologia 136:383-393.
Haeckel’s definition was correct, “there is very little FERRI, M.G. 1944. Transpiração de plantas permanentes dos
“Cerrados”. Boletim da Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências
that is not ecology” (see Krebs 1972). It seems ironic e Letras da Universidade de São Paulo, Botânica
that it took us more than a whole century to realise that 4:161-224.
Haeckel appears to be right after all: this makes ecology FRANCO, A.C. 2002. Ecophysiology of woody plants. In The
and ecophysiology both demanding and complexly cerrados of Brazil (P.S. Oliveira & R.J. Marquis, eds.).
difficult, therefore a very exciting challenge. Columbia University Press, New York, p.178-197.
FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY. 2002. Crassulacean acid
Acknowledgements – We thank S.M.C. Dietrich and M.S. metabolism. Special issue. Functional Plant Biology
Buckeridge for valuable comments on the manuscript and for 29:657-785.
providing relevant additional information about the history GEHRIG, H.H., ARANDA, J., CUSHMAN, M.A., VIRGO,
of ecophysiology in Brazil. This review was produced within A., CUSHMAN, J.C., HAMMEL, B.E. & WINTER, K.
the scope of the projects funded by The Volkswagen 2003. Cladogram of Panamanian Clusia based on nuclear
Foundation, Hannover, Germany and by the Brazilian Long DNA: Implications for the origins of Crassulacean Acid
Term Ecological Research Program (CNPq, Brazilian Research Metabolism. Plant Biology 5:59-70.
Council). F.R. Scarano thanks Capes (Brazilian Higher GENTY, B., BRIANTAIS, J.-M. & BAKER, N.R. 1989. The
relationship between the quantum yield of
Education Council) for a post-doctoral grant in The University
photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of
of Minnesota, USA, during the period he co-wrote this review.
chlorophyll fluorescence. Biochimica Biophysica Acta
990:87-92.
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