Document Type
Research Poster
Publication Date
4-10-2018
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to provide an explanation into how the invasive species Pennisetium setaceum, Fountain Grass, is able to outcompete the native California grassland species Stipa pulchra, Purple Needle Grass. We used a light adapted and a dark adapted fluorometer to measure the photosynthetic radiation (PAR), leaf temperature, alpha (α), light adapted fluorescence (Fv’/Fm’), dark adapted fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and the electron transport rate (ETR) on young Fountain Grass and Purple Needlegrass. After collecting and analyzing the data, we concluded that the dark adapted fluorescence (Fv/Fm) was the only statistically significant measurement where the Fv/Fm of S. pulchra is higher than that of P. setaceum which suggests that S. pulchra’s quantum yield of photosystem II is higher and is therefore more efficient. With this result, we are able to state that Fv/Fm is not the reason why Fountain Grass outcompetes Purple Needlegrass.
Recommended Citation
Adams, Sydney; Chuck, Brandon; Heng, Agatha; Vento, Amelia; and Davis, Stephen D., "A Comparison of Electron Transport Rate, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Light-Adapted Fluorescence, and Dark-Adapted Fluorescence Between Stipa pulchra and Pennisetium setaceum" (2018). Pepperdine University, Featured Research. Paper 171.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/sturesearch/171