Desert ecology
Much of my career has focused on arid lands research. In this section, I present those desert-research projects that do not fall under Atacama Desert, Encelia, or population biology.
Publications are listed in chronological order; PDF indicates that a copy of the publication is available in the Publications menu
11. Ehleringer, J., O. Björkman, and H. A. Mooney. 1976. Leaf pubescence: effects on absorptance and photosynthesis in a desert shrub. Science 192:376-377. PDF
14. Mooney, H. A., J. Ehleringer, and J. A. Berry. 1976. High photosynthetic capacity of a winter annual in Death Valley. Science 194:322-324. PDF
17. Mooney, H. A., J. Ehleringer, and O. Björkman. 1977. The energy balance of leaves of the evergreen desert shrub Atriplex hymenelytra. Oecologia 29:301-310. PDF
22. Ehleringer, J., and H. A. Mooney. 1978. Leaf hairs: effects on physiological activity and adaptive value to a desert shrub. Oecologia 37:183-200. PDF
25. Mooney, H. A., and J. Ehleringer. 1978. The carbon gain benefits of solar tracking in a desert annual. Plant, Cell and Environment 1:307-311. PDF
26. Ehleringer, J., H. A. Mooney, and J. A. Berry. 1979. Photosynthesis and microclimate of a desert winter annual. Ecology 60:280-286. PDF
31. Forseth, I., and J. Ehleringer. 1980. Solar tracking response to drought in a desert annual. Oecologia 44:159-163. PDF
36. Ehleringer, J., and I. Forseth. 1980. Solar tracking by plants. Science 210:1094-1098. PDF
50. Forseth, I. N., and J. Ehleringer. 1983. Ecophysiology of two solar tracking desert winter annuals. IV. Effects of leaf orientation on calculated daily carbon gain and water use efficiency. Oecologia 58:10-18 PDF
52. Ehleringer, J., and H. A. Mooney. 1983. Photosynthesis and productivity of desert and Mediterranean climate plants. Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology (New Series) Vol. 12D:205-231, Springer-Verlag, New York. PDF
56. Ehleringer, J. 1984. Ecology and ecophysiology of leaf pubescence in North American desert plants, p. 113-132. In E. Rodriguez, P. Healey, and I. Mehta (eds.), Biology and Chemistry of Plant Trichomes. Plenum Press, New York. PDF
60. Ehleringer, J., and D. House. 1984. Orientation and slope preference in barrel cactus (Ferocactus acanthodes) at its northern distribution limit. Great Basin Naturalist 44:133-139. PDF
66. Ehleringer, J. 1985. Adaptations of annuals and perennials to warm deserts, p. 162-180. In B. Chabot and H. A. Mooney (eds.), Physiological Ecology of North American Plant Communities. Chapman and Hall Ltd., London. PDF
92. Comstock, J. P., T. A. Cooper, and J. R. Ehleringer. 1988. Seasonal patterns of canopy development and carbon gain in nineteen warm desert shrub species. Oecologia 75:327-335. PDF
100. Ehleringer, J. R., and T. A. Cooper. 1988. Correlations between carbon isotope ratio and microhabitat in desert plants. Oecologia 76:562-566. PDF
117. Nilsen, E.T., M.R. Sharifi, P.W. Rundel, I.N. Forseth, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1990. Water relations of stem succulent trees in north-central Baja California. Oecologia 82:299-303. PDF
142. Ehleringer, J.R., S.L. Phillips, W.F.S. Schuster, and D.R. Sandquist. 1991. Differential utilization of summer rains by desert plants: implications for competition and climate change. Oecologia 88:430-434. PDF
153. Schuster, W.S.F., D.R. Sandquist, S.L. Phillips, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1992. Comparisons of carbon isotope discrimination in populations of aridland plant species differing in lifespan. Oecologia 91:332-337. PDF
164. Ehleringer, J.R. 1993. Carbon and water relations in desert plants: an isotopic perspective, p. 155-172. In J.R. Ehleringer, A.E. Hall, and G.D. Farquhar (eds.), Stable Isotopes and Plant Carbon/Water Relations. Academic Press, San Diego PDF
172. Donovan, L.A., J. Mausberg, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1993. Seedling size and survival for the semiarid shrub Chrysothamnus nauseosus. Great Basin Naturalist 53:237-245. PDF
173. Sandquist, D.R., W.S.F. Schuster, L.A. Donovan, S.L. Phillips, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1993. Differences in carbon isotope discrimination between seedlings and adults of southwestern desert perennial plants. Southwestern Naturalist 38:212-217. PDF
175. Ehleringer, J.R. 1993. Gas exchange implications of isotopic variation in aridland plants, p. 265-284. In J.A.C. Smith and H. Griffiths (eds.), Water Deficits: Plant Responses From Cell To Community. BIOS Scientific Publ., London. PDF
182. Schuster, W.S.F., D.R. Sandquist, S.L. Phillips, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1994. High levels of genetic variation in populations of four dominant aridland plant species in Arizona. Journal of Arid Environments 27:159-167. PDF
188. Donovan, L.A., and J.R. Ehleringer. 1994. Carbon isotope discrimination, water-use efficiency, growth, and mortality in a natural shrub population. Oecologia 100:347-354. PDF
264. Ehleringer, J.R. 2001. Productivity of deserts, p 345-362. In H.A. Mooney and J. Roy (eds.), Primary Productivity in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Academic Press, San Diego. PDF
265. Schwinning, S., and J.R. Ehleringer. 2001. Water use tradeoffs and optimal adaptations to pulse-driven arid ecosystems. Journal of Ecology 89:464-480.
PDF
300. Schwinning, S. B. Starr, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2003. Dominant cold desert shrubs do not partition warm season precipitation by event size. Oecologia 136:252-260. PDF
322. Schwinning, S., O.E. Sala, M.E. Loik, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2004. Thresholds, memory, and seasonality: understanding pulse dynamics in arid/semi-arid ecosystems. Oecologia 141:191-193, DOI: 10.1007/s00442-00401683-3. PDF
381. West, A.G., K.R. Hultine, K. Burtch, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2007. Seasonal variations in moisture use in a piñon-juniper woodland. Oecologia 153:787-798. DOI:10.1007/s00442-007-0777-0. PDF
382. West, A.G., K.R. Hultine, T.L. Jackson, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2007. Differential summer moisture use by Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma reflect contrasting hydraulic characteristics. Tree Physiology 27:1711-1720. PDF
388. West, A.G., K.R. Hultine, J.S. Sperry, S.E. Bush, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2008. Transpiration and hydraulic strategies in a piñon-juniper woodland. Ecological Applications 18:911-927. PDF
521. 1.Hambach, B., B.J. Tipple, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2021. Cuticular leaf wax concentrations and distributions of common flora of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Deserts. PANGEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.931950. PDF
14. Mooney, H. A., J. Ehleringer, and J. A. Berry. 1976. High photosynthetic capacity of a winter annual in Death Valley. Science 194:322-324. PDF
17. Mooney, H. A., J. Ehleringer, and O. Björkman. 1977. The energy balance of leaves of the evergreen desert shrub Atriplex hymenelytra. Oecologia 29:301-310. PDF
22. Ehleringer, J., and H. A. Mooney. 1978. Leaf hairs: effects on physiological activity and adaptive value to a desert shrub. Oecologia 37:183-200. PDF
25. Mooney, H. A., and J. Ehleringer. 1978. The carbon gain benefits of solar tracking in a desert annual. Plant, Cell and Environment 1:307-311. PDF
26. Ehleringer, J., H. A. Mooney, and J. A. Berry. 1979. Photosynthesis and microclimate of a desert winter annual. Ecology 60:280-286. PDF
31. Forseth, I., and J. Ehleringer. 1980. Solar tracking response to drought in a desert annual. Oecologia 44:159-163. PDF
36. Ehleringer, J., and I. Forseth. 1980. Solar tracking by plants. Science 210:1094-1098. PDF
50. Forseth, I. N., and J. Ehleringer. 1983. Ecophysiology of two solar tracking desert winter annuals. IV. Effects of leaf orientation on calculated daily carbon gain and water use efficiency. Oecologia 58:10-18 PDF
52. Ehleringer, J., and H. A. Mooney. 1983. Photosynthesis and productivity of desert and Mediterranean climate plants. Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology (New Series) Vol. 12D:205-231, Springer-Verlag, New York. PDF
56. Ehleringer, J. 1984. Ecology and ecophysiology of leaf pubescence in North American desert plants, p. 113-132. In E. Rodriguez, P. Healey, and I. Mehta (eds.), Biology and Chemistry of Plant Trichomes. Plenum Press, New York. PDF
60. Ehleringer, J., and D. House. 1984. Orientation and slope preference in barrel cactus (Ferocactus acanthodes) at its northern distribution limit. Great Basin Naturalist 44:133-139. PDF
66. Ehleringer, J. 1985. Adaptations of annuals and perennials to warm deserts, p. 162-180. In B. Chabot and H. A. Mooney (eds.), Physiological Ecology of North American Plant Communities. Chapman and Hall Ltd., London. PDF
92. Comstock, J. P., T. A. Cooper, and J. R. Ehleringer. 1988. Seasonal patterns of canopy development and carbon gain in nineteen warm desert shrub species. Oecologia 75:327-335. PDF
100. Ehleringer, J. R., and T. A. Cooper. 1988. Correlations between carbon isotope ratio and microhabitat in desert plants. Oecologia 76:562-566. PDF
117. Nilsen, E.T., M.R. Sharifi, P.W. Rundel, I.N. Forseth, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1990. Water relations of stem succulent trees in north-central Baja California. Oecologia 82:299-303. PDF
142. Ehleringer, J.R., S.L. Phillips, W.F.S. Schuster, and D.R. Sandquist. 1991. Differential utilization of summer rains by desert plants: implications for competition and climate change. Oecologia 88:430-434. PDF
153. Schuster, W.S.F., D.R. Sandquist, S.L. Phillips, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1992. Comparisons of carbon isotope discrimination in populations of aridland plant species differing in lifespan. Oecologia 91:332-337. PDF
164. Ehleringer, J.R. 1993. Carbon and water relations in desert plants: an isotopic perspective, p. 155-172. In J.R. Ehleringer, A.E. Hall, and G.D. Farquhar (eds.), Stable Isotopes and Plant Carbon/Water Relations. Academic Press, San Diego PDF
172. Donovan, L.A., J. Mausberg, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1993. Seedling size and survival for the semiarid shrub Chrysothamnus nauseosus. Great Basin Naturalist 53:237-245. PDF
173. Sandquist, D.R., W.S.F. Schuster, L.A. Donovan, S.L. Phillips, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1993. Differences in carbon isotope discrimination between seedlings and adults of southwestern desert perennial plants. Southwestern Naturalist 38:212-217. PDF
175. Ehleringer, J.R. 1993. Gas exchange implications of isotopic variation in aridland plants, p. 265-284. In J.A.C. Smith and H. Griffiths (eds.), Water Deficits: Plant Responses From Cell To Community. BIOS Scientific Publ., London. PDF
182. Schuster, W.S.F., D.R. Sandquist, S.L. Phillips, and J.R. Ehleringer. 1994. High levels of genetic variation in populations of four dominant aridland plant species in Arizona. Journal of Arid Environments 27:159-167. PDF
188. Donovan, L.A., and J.R. Ehleringer. 1994. Carbon isotope discrimination, water-use efficiency, growth, and mortality in a natural shrub population. Oecologia 100:347-354. PDF
264. Ehleringer, J.R. 2001. Productivity of deserts, p 345-362. In H.A. Mooney and J. Roy (eds.), Primary Productivity in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Academic Press, San Diego. PDF
265. Schwinning, S., and J.R. Ehleringer. 2001. Water use tradeoffs and optimal adaptations to pulse-driven arid ecosystems. Journal of Ecology 89:464-480.
300. Schwinning, S. B. Starr, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2003. Dominant cold desert shrubs do not partition warm season precipitation by event size. Oecologia 136:252-260. PDF
322. Schwinning, S., O.E. Sala, M.E. Loik, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2004. Thresholds, memory, and seasonality: understanding pulse dynamics in arid/semi-arid ecosystems. Oecologia 141:191-193, DOI: 10.1007/s00442-00401683-3. PDF
381. West, A.G., K.R. Hultine, K. Burtch, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2007. Seasonal variations in moisture use in a piñon-juniper woodland. Oecologia 153:787-798. DOI:10.1007/s00442-007-0777-0. PDF
382. West, A.G., K.R. Hultine, T.L. Jackson, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2007. Differential summer moisture use by Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma reflect contrasting hydraulic characteristics. Tree Physiology 27:1711-1720. PDF
388. West, A.G., K.R. Hultine, J.S. Sperry, S.E. Bush, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2008. Transpiration and hydraulic strategies in a piñon-juniper woodland. Ecological Applications 18:911-927. PDF
521. 1.Hambach, B., B.J. Tipple, and J.R. Ehleringer. 2021. Cuticular leaf wax concentrations and distributions of common flora of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Deserts. PANGEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.931950. PDF