Experiments

CAM IN THE SUB-ANTARCTIC

Participants: Francoise Hennion (CNRS) et al., Erika Edwards (Yale), Joe Holtum (JCU)

Project: To test cushion plants from the sub-Antarctic island of Kerguelen (Lyallia kerguelensis) and from New Zealand (Hectorella caespitosa) for CAM. These plants, in monospecific genera, are the southernmost representatives of the Montiaceae, a plant family in which CAM has evolved a number of times. Have yet to test any plants.

Progress: My French colleagues have applied for a grant from the Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV) for travel to Kerguelen. The application has been placed in the highest applicant category. Travel has not been possible since the advent of SARS-covid 2.