Ca Depletion as a Biologically Unique Threat
Authored By: P. G. Schaberg, E. K. Miller, C. Eagar
Although the depletion of any of the essential base cations can have varied and interacting influences on ecosystem function, the loss of Ca may be particularly limiting to tree health because the unique distribution and physiology of Ca suggests that the depletion of this key cation could specifically weaken plant stress response systems and predispose trees to decline.
Subsections found in Ca Depletion as a Biologically Unique Threat
- Ca Distribution and Physiology : In contrast to many cations, Ca is highly compartmentalized within plant cells and tissues, and this partitioning is a defining characteristic of its physiological function.
- Implications to Forest Health : Given the fundamental role Ca plays in plant stress response systems, biological Ca depletion could create a scenario analogous to the suppression of animal immune systems (Schaberg and others 2001).
Encyclopedia ID: p3181
