Skip to main content
Log in

Orientation and its consequences for Copiapoa (Cactaceae) in the Atacama Desert

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Three species of the barrel cactus Copiapoa (C. cinerea, C. columna-alba, C. haseltoniana) were investigated in their native habitats along the cool, arid coastal regions of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. All species orient towards the north with a high degree of precision. Two consequences of adaptive value result from this northerly orientation. First, tissue temperatures of the meristematic and floral regions on the tip of the cactus receive high solar radiation loads which result in high temperatures (30°–40°C) relative to air temperatures (15°–20°) during winter and spring months when adequate soil moisture for growth is available. Second, absorption of solar radiation by the sides of the cactus is minimized, which reduces both the potential detrimental effects of light and heat load on the cactus and probably balances daily quanta absorbed for photosynthesis with nighttime CO2 uptake rates during drought stress periods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ehleringer JR, Björkman O (1978) Pubescence and leaf spectral characteristics in a desert shrub, Encelia farinosa. Oecologia (Berl) 36:151–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Espinosa HR (1967) Captacion de agua en la provincia de Antofagasta. Revista Univ Norte 2:65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Gates DM (1963) Energy exchange in the biosphere. New York Harper and Row

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulmon SL, Rundel PW, Ehleringer JR, Mooney HA (in press) Spatial relations and competition in a Chilean desert cactus. Oecologia (Berl)

  • Humphrey RR (1936) Growth habits of barrel cacti. Madroño 3:348–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Lembcke H (1961) Kleines chilenisches Kakteen-Einmaleins. Andina: 27–33

  • Lewis DA, Nobel PS (1977) Thermal energy exchange model and water loss of a barrel cactus, Ferocactus acanthodes. Plant Physiol 60:609–616

    Google Scholar 

  • List RJ (1968) Smithsonian Meteorological Tables. Washington: Smithsonian Inst Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney HA, Troughton J, Berry JA (1974) Arid climates and photosynthetic systems. Carnegie Inst Wash Yb 73:793–805

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney HA, Weisser PJ, Gulmon SL (1977) Environmental adaptations of the Atacama Desert cactus Copiapoa haseltoniana. Flora 166:117–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozingo HN, Comanor PL (1975) Implications of the thermal response of Ferocactus acanthodes. Cactus Succ J Suppl 1:22–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Nobel PS (1977) Water relations and photosynthesis of a barrel cactus Ferocactus acanthodes, in the Colorado Desert. Oecologia (Berl) 27:117–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Rundel, PW (1974) Trichocereus in the Mediterranean zone of central Chile. Cactus Succ J 46:86–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Rundel PW (1976) Succulents in the coastal fog zone of northern Chile. Cactus Succ J 48:269–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Rundel PW, Mahu M (1976) Community structure and diversity in a coastal fog desert in northern Chile. Flora 165:493–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Rundel PW, Ehleringer JR, Mooney HA, Gulmon SL Patterns of drought responses in leaf-succulent shrubs of the coastal Atacama Desert in northern Chile. Oecologia (Berl) (in review)

  • Szarek SR, Johnson HB, Ting IP (1973) Drought adaptation in Opuntia basilaris. Plant Physiol 52:539–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Szarek SR, Ting IP (1975) Physiological responses to rainfall in Opuntia basilaris (Cactaceae). Amer J Bot 62:602–709

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ehleringer, J., Mooney, H.A., Gulmon, S.L. et al. Orientation and its consequences for Copiapoa (Cactaceae) in the Atacama Desert. Oecologia 46, 63–67 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346967

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346967

Keywords

Navigation