1
|
He Y, Bader MY, Li D, Stark LR, Li X, Liu X, Yuan Q, Guo S, Fang Z, Wang Z. Relationships among sporophytic and gametophytic traits of 27 subtropical montane moss species. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16253. [PMID: 37938812 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Moss sporophytes differ strongly in size and biomass partitioning, potentially reflecting reproductive and dispersal strategies. Understanding how sporophyte traits are coordinated is essential for understanding moss functioning and evolution. This study aimed to answer: (1) how the size and proportions of the sporophyte differ between moss species with and without a prominent central strand in the seta, (2) how anatomical and morphological traits of the seta are related, and (3) how sporophytic biomass relates to gametophytic biomass and nutrient concentrations. METHODS We studied the relationships between seta anatomical and morphological traits, the biomass of seta, capsule, and gametophyte, and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations of 27 subtropical montane moss species. RESULTS (1) Moss species with a prominent central strand in the seta had larger setae and heavier capsules than those without a prominent strand. (2) With increasing seta length, setae became thicker and more rounded for both groups, while in species with a prominent central strand, the ratio of transport-cell area to epidermal area decreased. (3) In both groups, mosses with greater gametophytic biomass tended to have heavier sporophytes, but nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the gametophyte were unrelated to sporophytic traits. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights that the central strand in the seta may have an important functional role and affect the allometry of moss sporophytes. The coordinated variations in sporophyte morphological and anatomical traits follow basic biomechanical principles of cylinder-like structures, and these traits relate only weakly to the gametophytic nutrient concentrations. Research on moss sporophyte functional traits and their relationships to gametophytes is still in its infancy but could provide important insights into their adaptative strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunyu He
- Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Maaike Y Bader
- Ecological Plant Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Marburg, Marburg, 35032, Germany
| | - Dandan Li
- Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Lloyd R Stark
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-4004, USA
| | - Xiaoming Li
- China-Croatia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xin Liu
- China-Croatia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qizhang Yuan
- Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | | | - Zhiqiang Fang
- Sichuan Provincial Academy of Natural Resources Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Meng W, Ran J, Dai Q, Tu N, Leng T, Ren Q. Morphological and physiological adaptation characteristics of lithophytic bryophytes to karst high calcium environment. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:160. [PMID: 36964495 PMCID: PMC10039556 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03980-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lithophytic bryophytes grow on the rock surface, change the habitat on the rock surface through biological karstification, and provide a material basis for the growth of other plants. However, the surface calcium content of bare rock is high. The lithophytic bryophytes may have a special mechanism to adapt to the karst high calcium environment. The present study aimed to explore the physiological regulation process of karst lithophytic bryophytes under high calcium environment, and to provide scientific basis for revealing the maintenance mechanism of karst biodiversity. RESULTS With the increase of Ca2+ concentration, the contents of Pro, SP and MDA of lithophytic bryophytes showed a downward-upward-downward trend. However, when Ca2+ ≥ 400 mmol/L, the contents of Pro and SP changed significantly at 1d, 2d, 3d, 5d and 7d with the extension of culture time, and lithophytic bryophytes died after 2 months of culture. Under different Ca2+ concentrations, the maximum SOD activity of lithophytic bryophytes is 1758.00 (U/g FW), the minimum is 92.60 (U/g FW), the maximum POD activity is 120.88 (U/g FW), and the minimum is 4.80 (U/g FW). The antioxidative activity of of Hyophila involuta are higher than that of Didymodon constrictus and Eurohypnum leptothallum, and its enzyme activity changed significantly with the increase of calcium concentration and time.At the same time, the contents of TChl, Chla, and Chlb in lithophytic bryophytes decreased with the increase of Ca2+ concentration. When Ca2+ = 400 mmol/L, the contents of TChl and Chla were the lowest, but when Ca2+ > 400 mmol/L, they began to increase. In addition, ABA is negatively correlated with TChl and Chla, and positively correlated with ROS. It shows that ABA has a certain role in regulating the adaptation of lithophytic bryophytes to high calcium environment. CONCLUSIONS Lithophytic bryophytes have strong calcium tolerance, and their physiological response to high calcium stress is different from vascular bundle plants. The general stress principle is not applicable to lithophytic bryophytes. The response of lithophytic bryophytes to the change of Ca2+concentration is slow, showing passive response or inert response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jingcheng Ran
- Guizhou Academy of Forestry Sciences, Guiyang, 550005 China
| | - Quanhou Dai
- College of Forestry, Guizhou Universtry, Guiyang, 550001 China
- Institute for Forest Resources & Environment of Guizhou, Guiyang, 550001 China
| | - Na Tu
- Guizhou Academy of Forestry Sciences, Guiyang, 550005 China
| | - Tingjiao Leng
- College of Forestry, Guizhou Universtry, Guiyang, 550001 China
| | - Qingqing Ren
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000 China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Perera-Castro AV, González-Rodríguez ÁM, Fernández-Marín B. When time is not of the essence: constraints to the carbon balance of bryophytes. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:4562-4575. [PMID: 35298628 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The data available so far indicate that the photosynthetic and relative growth rates of bryophytes are 10% of those reported for tracheophytes. By examining the existing literature and reanalysing data published in over 100 studies, this review examines the ecophysiological, biochemical, and structural reasons behind this phenomenon. The limiting Rubisco content and surface for gas exchange are the internal factors that can explain the low photosynthetic and growth rates of bryophytes. The role of the thicker cell walls of bryophytes in limiting CO2 diffusion is unclear, due to the current uncertainties regarding their porosity and permeability to CO2. From this review, it is also evident that, despite bryophytes having low photosynthetic rates, their positive carbon balance is tightly related to their capacity to deal with extreme conditions. Contributing factors include their capacity to deal with large daily temperature oscillations, and their capacity to delay the cessation of photosynthesis under water deficit (or to tolerate desiccation in extreme situations). Although further studies on bryophytes are needed before more solid conclusions can be drawn, it seems that their success relies on their remarkable tolerance to a highly variable environment, possibly at the expense of their maximum photosynthetic rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia V Perera-Castro
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Águeda M González-Rodríguez
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Beatriz Fernández-Marín
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Roig-Oliver M, Douthe C, Bota J, Flexas J. Cell wall thickness and composition are related to photosynthesis in Antarctic mosses. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2021; 173:1914-1925. [PMID: 34432898 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cell wall thickness (Tcw ) has been proposed as an important anatomical trait that could determine photosynthesis through land plants' phylogeny, bryophytes being the plant group presenting the thickest walls and the lowest photosynthetic rates. Also, it has recently been suggested that cell wall composition may have the potential to influence both thickness and mesophyll conductance (gm ), representing a novel trait that could ultimately affect photosynthesis. However, only a few studies in spermatophytes have demonstrated this issue. In order to explore the role of cell wall composition in determining both Tcw and gm in mosses, we tested six species grown under field conditions in Antarctica. We performed gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, an anatomical characterization, and a quantitative analysis of cell wall main composition (i.e., cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectins) in these six species. We found the photosynthetic rates to vary between the species, and they also presented differences in anatomical characteristics and in cell wall composition. Whilst gm correlated negatively with Tcw and pectins content, a positive relationship between Tcw and pectins emerged, suggesting that pectins could contribute to determine cell wall porosity. Although our results do not allow us to provide conclusive statements, we suggest for the first time that cell wall composition-with pectins playing a key role-could strongly influence Tcw and gm in Antarctic mosses, ultimately defining photosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margalida Roig-Oliver
- Departament de Biologia, Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Cyril Douthe
- Departament de Biologia, Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Josefina Bota
- Departament de Biologia, Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Jaume Flexas
- Departament de Biologia, Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
- King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Perera-Castro AV, Nadal M, Flexas J. What drives photosynthesis during desiccation? Mosses and other outliers from the photosynthesis-elasticity trade-off. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:6460-6470. [PMID: 32686831 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In vascular plants, more rigid leaves have been linked to lower photosynthetic capacity, associated with low CO2 diffusion across the mesophyll, indirectly resulting in a trade-off between photosynthetic capacity (An) and bulk modulus of elasticity (ε). However, we evaluated mosses, liverworts, and Chara sp., plus some lycophytes and ferns, and found that they behaved as clear outliers of the An-ε relationship. Despite this finding, when vascular and non-vascular plants were plotted together, ε still linearly determined the cessation of net photosynthesis during desiccation both in species with stomata (either actively or hydro-passively regulated) and in species lacking stomata, and regardless of their leaf structure. The latter result challenges our current view of photosynthetic responses to desiccation and/or water stress. Structural features and hydric strategy are discussed as possible explanations for the deviation of these species from the An-ε trade-off, as well as for the general linear dependency between ε and the full cessation of An during desiccation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia V Perera-Castro
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions. Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Miquel Nadal
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions. Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Jaume Flexas
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions. Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Coe KK, Howard NB, Slate ML, Bowker MA, Mishler BD, Butler R, Greenwood J, Stark LR. Morphological and physiological traits in relation to carbon balance in a diverse clade of dryland mosses. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2019; 42:3140-3151. [PMID: 31306496 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Plant functional trait analyses have focused almost exclusively on vascular plants, but bryophytes comprise ancient and diverse plant lineages that have widespread global distributions and important ecological functions in terrestrial ecosystems. We examined a diverse clade of dryland mosses, Syntrichia, and studied carbon balance during a precipitation event (C-balance), a functional trait related to physiological functioning, desiccation tolerance, survival, and ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycling. We examined variability in C-balance among 14 genotypes of Syntrichia and measured an additional 10 physiological and 13 morphological traits at the cell, leaf, shoot, and clump level. C-balance varied 20-fold among genotypes, and highest C-balances were associated with long, narrow leaves with awns, and small cells with thick cell walls, traits that may influence water uptake and retention during a precipitation event. Ordination analyses revealed that the axis most strongly correlated with C-balance included the maximum chlorophyll fluorescence, Fm , indicating the importance of photosystem II health for C exchange. C-balance represents a key functional trait in bryophytes, but its measurement is time intensive and not feasible to measure on large scales. We propose two models (using physiological and morphological traits) to predict C-balance, whereby identifying simpler to measure traits for trait databases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten K Coe
- Department of Biology, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's, City, MD, 20653, USA
| | - Nora B Howard
- Department of Biology, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's, City, MD, 20653, USA
| | - Mandy L Slate
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Matthew A Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Brent D Mishler
- University and Jepson Herbaria, and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720-2465, USA
| | - Riley Butler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Joshua Greenwood
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
| | - Lloyd R Stark
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Carriquí M, Roig-Oliver M, Brodribb TJ, Coopman R, Gill W, Mark K, Niinemets Ü, Perera-Castro AV, Ribas-Carbó M, Sack L, Tosens T, Waite M, Flexas J. Anatomical constraints to nonstomatal diffusion conductance and photosynthesis in lycophytes and bryophytes. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 222:1256-1270. [PMID: 30623444 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis in bryophytes and lycophytes has received less attention than terrestrial plant groups. In particular, few studies have addressed the nonstomatal diffusion conductance to CO2 gnsd of these plant groups. Their lower photosynthetic rate per leaf mass area at any given nitrogen concentration compared with vascular plants suggested a stronger limitation by CO2 diffusion. We hypothesized that bryophyte and lycophyte photosynthesis is largely limited by low gnsd . Here, we studied CO2 diffusion inside the photosynthetic tissues and its relationships with photosynthesis and anatomical parameters in bryophyte and lycophyte species in Antarctica, Australia, Estonia, Hawaii and Spain. On average, lycophytes and, specially, bryophytes had the lowest photosynthetic rates and nonstomatal diffusion conductance reported for terrestrial plants. These low values are related to their very thick cell walls and their low exposure of chloroplasts to cell perimeter. We conclude that the reason why bryophytes lie at the lower end of the leaf economics spectrum is their strong nonstomatal diffusion conductance limitation to photosynthesis, which is driven by their specific anatomical characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Carriquí
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) - Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA), Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Margalida Roig-Oliver
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) - Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA), Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Timothy J Brodribb
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Rafael Coopman
- Ecophysiology Laboratory for Forest Conservation, Instituto de Conservación, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Warwick Gill
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Kristiina Mark
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu, 51006, Estonia
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu, 51006, Estonia
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, Kohte 6, 10130, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Alicia V Perera-Castro
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) - Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA), Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Miquel Ribas-Carbó
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) - Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA), Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Tiina Tosens
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu, 51006, Estonia
| | - Mashuri Waite
- Center for Regional System Analysis, Planning, and Development, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, 16153, Indonesia
| | - Jaume Flexas
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) - Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA), Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang Z, Bader MY, Liu X, Zhu Z, Bao W. Comparisons of photosynthesis-related traits of 27 abundant or subordinate bryophyte species in a subalpine old-growth fir forest. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:7454-7461. [PMID: 28944030 PMCID: PMC5606851 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Bryophyte communities can exhibit similar structural and taxonomic diversity as vascular plant communities, just at a smaller scale. Whether the physiological diversity can be similarly diverse, and whether it can explain local abundance patterns is unknown, due to a lack of community-wide studies of physiological traits. This study re-analyzed data on photosynthesis-related traits (including the nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations, photosynthetic capacities, and photosynthetic nutrient use efficiencies) of 27 bryophyte species in a subalpine old-growth fir forest on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. We explored differences between taxonomic groups and hypothesized that the most abundant bryophyte species had physiological advantages relative to other subdominant species. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to summarize the differences among species and trait values of the most abundant and other co-occurring subdominant species. Species from the Polytrichaceae were separated out on both PCA axes, indicating their high chlorophyll concentrations and photosynthetic capacities (axis 1) and relatively high-light requirements (axis 2). Mniaceae species also had relatively high photosynthetic capacities, but their light saturation points were low. In contrast, Racomitrium joseph-hookeri and Lepidozia reptans, two species with a high shoot mass per area, had high-light requirements and low nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations and photosynthetic capacities. The nutrient concentrations, photosynthetic capacities, and photosynthetic nutrient use efficiencies of the most abundant bryophyte species did not differ from co-occurring subdominant species. Our research confirms the links between the photosynthesis-related traits and adaptation strategies of bryophytes. However, species relative abundance was not related to these traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- College of Life and Environmental SciencesShanghai Normal UniversityShanghaiChina
- Ecological Plant GeographyFaculty of GeographyUniversity of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Maaike Y. Bader
- Ecological Plant GeographyFaculty of GeographyUniversity of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Xin Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Zhangming Zhu
- School of Ecology and Environmental scienceYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Weikai Bao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang Z, Liu X, Bao W. Higher photosynthetic capacity and different functional trait scaling relationships in erect bryophytes compared with prostrate species. Oecologia 2015; 180:359-69. [PMID: 26552378 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3484-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ecophysiological studies of bryophytes have generally been conducted at the shoot or canopy scale. However, their growth forms are diverse, and knowledge of whether bryophytes with different shoot structures have different functional trait levels and scaling relationships is limited. We collected 27 bryophyte species and categorised them into two groups based on their growth forms: erect and prostrate species. Twenty-one morphological, nutrient and photosynthetic traits were quantified. Trait levels and bivariate trait scaling relationships across species were compared between the two groups. The two groups had similar mean values for shoot mass per area (SMA), light saturation point and mass-based nitrogen (N(mass)) and phosphorus concentrations. Erect bryophytes possessed higher values for mass-based chlorophyll concentration (Chl(mass)), light-saturated assimilation rate (A(mass)) and photosynthetic nitrogen/phosphorus use efficiency. N(mass), Chl(mass) and A(mass) were positively related, and these traits were negatively associated with SMA. Furthermore, the slope of the regression of N(mass) versus Chl(mass) was steeper for erect bryophytes than that for prostrate bryophytes, whereas this pattern was reversed for the relationship between Chl(mass) and A(mass). In conclusion, erect bryophytes possess higher photosynthetic capacities than prostrate species. Furthermore, erect bryophytes invest more nitrogen in chloroplast pigments to improve their light-harvesting ability, while the structure of prostrate species permits more efficient light capture. This study confirms the effect of growth form on the functional trait levels and scaling relationships of bryophytes. It also suggests that bryophytes could be good models for investigating the carbon economy and nutrient allocation of plants at the shoot rather than the leaf scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weikai Bao
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|