Latitudinal trends in the responses of growth respiration and maintenance respiration to temperature in the beach pea, <i>Lathyrus japonicus</i>

Abstract

The response of dark respiration to temperature was measured for populations of Lathyrus japonicus collected from 39–56° N latitude. Carbon loss in dark respiration increases with latitude at all temperatures. This increased respiratory activity is attributable to concomitant increases in both the growth and maintenance components of total dark respiration. The possible adaptive significance of these respiratory responses is discussed.