Anatomické a fyziologické adaptace listu v extrémních podmínkách západního Himálaje

Binter, Jan

High-mountain plants had to develop various adaptations to survive in harsh conditions. While plant ecologists have been focusing on mountain regions for a long time, there is still not much known about adaptations of species nearing the upper elevational limit of vascular plants distribution. Particularly, physiology and anatomy of these plants is almost unknown. In the context of an unprecedented warming of high-mountain regions, such knowledge is crucial to predict future changes in the world's highest ecosystems. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate leaf structural and physiological adaptations of plants at extreme elevations in the Western Himalayas. The fieldwork was conducted in the Ladakh region (Western Himalayas), in two elevational transects spanning from 4150 m to 5315 m, creating 3 contrasting habitats determined by elevational changes in temperature and precipitation. Gas exchange and flavonoid measurements were recorded in the field and leaves were sampled for future anatomical measurements and determination of nutrient concentrations. Apart from comparison of plants in different habitats, selected parameters were quantitively compared to published data, to stress important differences between Himalayan and lowland species. Results showed that leaf anatomy and physiology vary...

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