Marius-Nicusor GRIGORE¹, Constantin TOMA¹, Maria-Magdalena ZAMFIRACHE¹, Monica BOSCAIU², Zenovia OLTEANU¹ & Dumitru COJOCARU^1
1 Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Biology, Bd. Carol I, 20 A, 700505, Iasi, Romania,
e-mail: mariusgrigorepsyche@yahoo.com;
² Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo (UPV), CPI, edificio 8E, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera
s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain, e-mail: mobosnea@eaf.upv.es;

ECOLOGICAL ANATOMY IN HALOPHYTES WITH C₄ PHOTOSYNTHESIS: DISCUSSING ADAPTATIVE FEATURES IN ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS


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The Chenopodiaceae halophyte species provide perhaps the ideal model to study the ecological adaptations in relations with extreme environmental conditions. Closely linked with saline habitats, the chenopods with Kranz anatomy represents a striking and intriguing example of coevolution. In this study, we investigate the Kranz anatomy in a holistic manner in halophytes vegetating in two nature reserves, here regarded as rare and endangered ecosystems. This issue, apart from its scientific interest – as an adaptive, ecological and evolutive feature – also suggests the compulsory necessity to protect these areas, in order to preserve the floristic diversity in such menaced ecosystems.