Plant Ecology in a Changing World
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Topic 2 - Climate constrains plant distributions

Essential elements from Topic 2:
  1. Latitude and Earth’s tilt result in predictable and geographically distinct climates.
  2. Elevation (mountain terrain) results in predictable climate gradients.
  3. Temperature and moisture availability are key determinants of plant distributions.
  4. Plant leaf area index is related to soil moisture availability and site water balance.

​Terms to know from today's topic

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Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah