1948- 2018 Ray Specht: A Retrospective Editor David Doley The Royal Society of Queensland 6 December 2018 Revised 16 January 2019 The International Biological Program The International Geosphere – Biosphere Program By Raymond Louis Specht Emeritus Professor of Botany, The University of Queensland Email <
[email protected] > Editor: David Doley Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, The University of Queensland Email <
[email protected]> CONTENTS Summary Introduction: Understanding Ecosystem Structure and Function 1. Ecosystem Productivity 1.1. Structure and productivity of Australian plant communities 1.2. Foliage Projective Cover 1.3. Vegetation cover and condition in Queensland 2. Ecosystem Production Processes 2.1. Solar radiation interception by foliage canopies 2.2. Annual photosynthesis and evapo-transpiration from plant communities 2.3. Rainfall interception by foliage canopies and resultant runoff 2.4. Evaporative Coefficient 2.5. Climate, vegetation height and species diversity 2.6. Seasonal growth rhythms of foliage in overstorey and understorey 2.7. Closed vegetation communities 2.8. Regeneration of arid zone plant communities after overgrazing during drought 2.9. Biochemical processes in Australian plant communities 2.9.1 Phosphorus biochemistry of vegetation on nutrient-poor soil 2.9.2 Phosphorus toxicity in vegetation on nutrient-poor soil 2.9.3 C4 Photosynthetic Pathway 2.9.4 Sodium as a micro-nutrient for C4 plants 2.9.5 Stomatal resistance, measured by the Carbon Isotope Ratio 2.9.6 Leaf Specific Weight (dry weight per unit area) and Leaf Area 2.9.7 Chlorophyll a/b ratio 2.9.8 Nitrate reductase enzyme activity 2.9.9 Resurrection chloroplasts in the leaves of arid zone grasses 2.9.10 Calcium carbonate toxicity 2.9.11 Altitudinal cline of Eucalyptus pauciflora (Snow Gum) 3.