what is expected in terms of PI levels in plants at different elevations
In general, the primary environmental factor that affects plant productivity and growth at different elevations is temperature. As elevation increases, the temperature decreases, resulting in changes in plant physiology and metabolism. This, in turn, affects the photosynthetic activity of plants and their photosynthetic pigment concentrations.
At higher elevations, where temperatures are lower, plants often have lower levels of photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. This is because lower temperatures can slow down the enzymatic reactions involved in pigment synthesis, leading to reduced pigment production.
Additionally, at higher elevations, where there is less light due to increased cloud cover and shorter day lengths, plants may produce less chlorophyll to optimize their use of limited light resources. This can result in a decrease in pigment concentrations.
However, it is important to note that these trends are not absolute and can vary depending on the specific microclimate, plant species, and other environmental factors. Adaptation strategies of plants to different elevation conditions can also significantly influence their photosynthetic pigment levels.