Uwe Hacke
 |
Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Tree-Water Relations, Renewable Resources Degree: PhD, University of Kiel, Germany Location: 251 Earth Sciences Building Phone: (780) 492-8511; Fax: (780) 492-1767 Email: uwe.hacke@ales.ualberta.ca Personal Website: http://www.ualberta.ca/~hacke/ |
Job/Research Area: Plant physiological ecology, especially subjects related to water transport and xylem structure in woody plants
Major Responsibilities/Research Interests: I am interested in exploring the relationship between xylem structure and development, water transport, and a plant’s (changing) environment. Leaves take up atmospheric carbon through their stomata. The price of carbon uptake is the loss of large quantities of water. Water uptake and transport patterns should be compatible with a plant’s environment to maximize gas exchange and productivity. Environmental stresses like drought and frost trigger cavitation and pose threats to the integrity of the water columns in the xylem. Xylem must balance efficient delivery of water to the canopy against protection from cavitation. Other xylem functions are mechanical support for the plant body and storage. My research aims at understanding how variation in xylem structure and function serves to maximize plant performance in a given environment.
Selected Publications
J.S. Sperry, U.G. Hacke, J. Pittermann. 2006. Size and function in conifer tracheids and angiosperm vessels. American Journal of Botany 93: 1490-1500.
J. Pittermann, J.S. Sperry, J.K. Wheeler, U.G. Hacke, E. Sikkema. 2006. Mechanical reinforcement against tracheid implosion compromises the hydraulic efficiency of conifer xylem. Plant, Cell and Environment 29: 1618-1628.
J. Pittermann, J.S. Sperry, U.G. Hacke, J.K. Wheeler, E. Sikkema. 2006. Inter-tracheid pitting and the hydraulic efficiency of conifer wood: the role of tracheid allometry and cavitation protection. American Journal of Botany 93: 1265-1273.
R.N. Addington, L.A. Donovan, R.J. Mitchell, J.M. Vose, S.D. Pecot, S.B. Jack, U.G. Hacke, J.S. Sperry, R.. 2006. Adjustments in hydraulic architecture of Pinus palustris maintain similar stomatal conductance in xeric and mesic habitats. Plant, Cell and Environment 29: 535-545.
S. Mayr, U. Hacke, P. Schmid, F. Schwienbacher, A. Gruber.. 2006. Frost drought in conifers at the alpine timberline: xylem dysfunction and adaptations. Ecology 87: 3175–3185.
U.G. Hacke, J.S. Sperry, J.K. Wheeler, L. Castro. 2006 Scaling of angiosperm xylem structure with safety and efficiency. Tree Physiology 26: 689-701.
J. Pittermann, J.S. Sperry, U.G. Hacke, J.K. Wheeler, E. Sikkema. 2005. Torus-margo pits help conifers compete with angiosperms. Science 310: 1924.
U.G. Hacke, J.S. Sperry, J. Pittermann. 2005. Efficiency vs. safety trade-offs for water conduction in angiosperm vessels vs. gymnosperm tracheids. In: Vascular Transport in Plants (eds. N.M. Holbrook, M. Zwieniecki). Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 333-353.
J.S. Sperry, U.G. Hacke, J.K. Wheeler. 2005. Comparative analysis of end wall resistance in xylem conduits. Plant, Cell and Environment 28: 456-465.
J.K. Wheeler, J.S. Sperry, U.G. Hacke, N. Hoang. 2005. Inter-vessel pitting and cavitation in woody Rosaceae and other vesseled plants: a basis for a safety vs. efficiency trade-off in xylem transport. Plant, Cell and Environment 28: 800-812.