Malia,
Something that comes to my mind is supercooling, a mechanism for
resisting cold temperatures by high elevation giant rosette plants in
the Andes (e.g. Espeletia spp.). Perhaps this is a mechanism that may
interest you? An article that I can suggest on this regard is:
Rada F. et al., 1987. Supercooling along an altitudinal gradient in
Espeletia schultzii, a caulescent giant rosette species. Journal of
Experimental Botany 38 (188): 491-497.
Kersner
On 4/17/2012 12:35 PM, R. Malia Fincher wrote:
I have been unsuccessfully (but briefly) searching the literature for
incidences of plants and/or galls on plants cooling themselves substantially
below ambient temperature. I have run across a fungal gall, with an
associated gall midge larva, that is 6-10 degrees C colder than normal
leaves and the ambient air temperature. I am aware of the capacity of
certain plants to warm themselves, but this is the first time that I have
encountered cooling. Is anyone familiar with such a phenomenon?
Thank you,
Malia
R. Malia Fincher, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Samford University
Department of Biological and Environmental Science
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama35229
[email protected]
205-726-2928
Fax 205-726-2479
Office 133 Propst Hall
