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Koelemeijer IA, Severholt I, Ehrlén J, De Frenne P, Jönsson M, Hylander K. Canopy cover and soil moisture influence forest understory plant responses to experimental summer drought. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17424. [PMID: 39044435 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Extreme droughts are globally increasing in frequency and severity. Most research on drought in forests focuses on the response of trees, while less is known about the impacts of drought on forest understory species and how these effects are moderated by the local environment. We assessed the impacts of a 45-day experimental summer drought on the performance of six boreal forest understory plants, using a transplant experiment with rainout shelters replicated across 25 sites. We recorded growth, vitality and reproduction immediately, 2 months, and 1 year after the simulated drought, and examined how differences in ambient soil moisture and canopy cover among sites influenced the effects of drought on the performance of each species. Drought negatively affected the growth and/or vitality of all species, but the effects were stronger and more persistent in the bryophytes than in the vascular plants. The two species associated with older forests, the moss Hylocomiastrum umbratum and the orchid Goodyera repens, suffered larger effects than the more generalist species included in the experiment. The drought reduced reproductive output in the moss Hylocomium splendens in the next growing season, but increased reproduction in the graminoid Luzula pilosa. Higher ambient soil moisture reduced some negative effects of drought on vascular plants. Both denser canopy cover and higher soil moisture alleviated drought effects on bryophytes, likely through alleviating cellular damage. Our experiment shows that boreal understory species can be adversely affected by drought and that effects might be stronger for bryophytes and species associated with older forests. Our results indicate that the effects of drought can vary over small spatial scales and that forest landscapes can be actively managed to alleviate drought effects on boreal forest biodiversity. For example, by managing the tree canopy and protecting hydrological networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena A Koelemeijer
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Isabelle Severholt
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Ehrlén
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Mari Jönsson
- Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristoffer Hylander
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Jauregui-Lazo J, Wilson M, Mishler BD. The dynamics of external water conduction in the dryland moss Syntrichia. AOB PLANTS 2023; 15:plad025. [PMID: 37292250 PMCID: PMC10244898 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plad025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Syntrichia relies on external water conduction for photosynthesis, survival, and reproduction, a condition referred to as ectohydry. Capillarity spaces are abundant in Syntrichia, but the link between function and morphology is complex. The aim of this study was to provide a better understanding of species-specific morphological traits underlying the functions of water conduction and storage. We used an environmental scanning electron microscope and confocal microscopy for observing anatomical characters in the leaves of Syntrichia species. We also measured hydration/dehydration curves to understand the rate of conduction and dehydration by experimental approaches. Syntrichia is an ectohydric moss that can externally transport and store water from the base of the stem using capillary action. We propose a new framework to study ectohydric capabilities, which incorporates three morphological scales and the timing of going from completely dehydrated to fully hydrated. Characters of interest in this model include cell anatomy (papillae development, hyaline basal cells and laminar cells), architecture of the stem (concavity and orientation) and whole clump characteristics (density of stems). We report significant variations in the speed of conduction, water holding capacity and hydration associated with each species studied (11 in total). All Syntrichia species are capable of external water conduction and storage, but the relevant traits differ among species. These results help to understand potential evolutionary and ecological trade-offs among speed of water conduction, water holding capacity, ontogeny, and differing habitat requirements. An integrative view of ectohydry in Syntrichia contributes to understanding the water relationships of mosses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marielle Wilson
- Department of Integrative Biology, and University and Jepson Herbaria, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2465, USA
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brent D Mishler
- Department of Integrative Biology, and University and Jepson Herbaria, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2465, USA
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Organ Patterning at the Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM): The Potential Role of the Vascular System. Symmetry (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/sym15020364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Auxin, which is transported in the outermost cell layer, is one of the major players involved in plant organ initiation and positioning at the shoot apical meristem (SAM). However, recent studies have recognized the role of putative internal signals as an important factor collaborating with the well-described superficial pathway of organogenesis regulation. Different internal signals have been proposed; however, their nature and transport route have not been precisely determined. Therefore, in this mini-review, we aimed to summarize the current knowledge regarding the auxin-dependent regulation of organ positioning at the SAM and to discuss the vascular system as a potential route for internal signals. In addition, as regular organ patterning is a universal phenomenon, we focus on the role of the vasculature in this process in the major lineages of land plants, i.e., bryophytes, lycophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.
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Alvarenga DO, Rousk K. Unraveling host-microbe interactions and ecosystem functions in moss-bacteria symbioses. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:4473-4486. [PMID: 35728619 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mosses are non-vascular plants usually found in moist and shaded areas, with great ecological importance in several ecosystems. This is especially true in northern latitudes, where mosses are responsible for up to 100% of primary production in some ecosystems. Mosses establish symbiotic associations with unique bacteria that play key roles in the carbon and nitrogen cycles. For instance, in boreal environments, more than 35% of the nitrogen fixed by diazotrophic symbionts in peatlands is transferred to mosses, directly affecting carbon fixation by the hosts, while moss-associated methanotrophic bacteria contribute 10-30% of moss carbon. Further, half of ecosystem N input may derive from moss-cyanobacteria associations in pristine ecosystems. Moss-bacteria interactions have consequences on a global scale since northern environments sequester 20% of all the carbon generated by forests in the world and stock at least 32% of global terrestrial carbon. Different moss hosts influence bacteria in distinct ways, which suggests that threats to mosses also threaten unique microbial communities with important ecological and biogeochemical consequences. Since their origin ~500 Ma, mosses have interacted with bacteria, making these associations ideal models for understanding the evolution of plant-microbe associations and their contribution to biogeochemical cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danillo O Alvarenga
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Section, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kathrin Rousk
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Section, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Grau‐Andrés R, Wardle DA, Nilsson M, Kardol P. Precipitation regime controls bryosphere carbon cycling similarly across contrasting ecosystems. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roger Grau‐Andrés
- Dept of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Umeå Sweden
| | - David A. Wardle
- Dept of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Umeå Sweden
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological Univ. Singapore Singapore
| | - Marie‐Charlotte Nilsson
- Dept of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Umeå Sweden
| | - Paul Kardol
- Dept of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Umeå Sweden
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Liu X, Wang Z, Li X, Rousk K, Bao W. High nitrogen resorption efficiency of forest mosses. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2020; 125:557-563. [PMID: 31840155 PMCID: PMC7102953 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Nutrient resorption from senescing tissue is a key mechanism for plants to conserve nutrients, and can affect the nutrient dynamics of ecosystems. Yet, our limited knowledge of nitrogen (N) resorption and release from mosses hampers our understanding of the role of mosses as N sources and, thereby, N cycling in moss-dominated ecosystems. The aims of this study were to estimate N resorption efficiency (NRE) of two moss species, identify the pathways of N release from the mosses and to provide a better understanding of N cycling and budgeting strategies of mosses. METHODS The dynamics of N allocation along annual moss segments of two dominant moss species (Actinothuidium hookeri and Hylocomium splendens) were assessed in old-growth fir forests using an in situ15N tracer experiment. KEY RESULTS The NRE of A. hookeri and H. splendens was 61 and 52 %, respectively. While the mosses lost 23 and 33 % N from live tissues via leaching, 15 and 14 % of N remained in senesced tissues (>3 years old) in A. hookeri and H. splendens, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Both mosses resorbed the majority of their tissue N, but a considerable amount of N was lost from live segments. Our results highlight the crucial role mosses play as N sinks in ecosystems, since N retention (resorbed and sequestered in senescent tissue) outweighed N loss via leaching. However, the sink strength depends on temperature and precipitation, which will change in a future climate. The values for NRE, leaching, etc. estimated here can help improve biogeochemical models aiming to complete N budgets for moss-abundant ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Kathrin Rousk
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Weikai Bao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
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Fernández‐Martínez M, Berloso F, Corbera J, Garcia‐Porta J, Sayol F, Preece C, Sabater F. Towards a moss sclerophylly continuum: Evolutionary history, water chemistry and climate control traits of hygrophytic mosses. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Fernández‐Martínez
- Department of Biology Centre of Excellence PLECO (Plants and Ecosystems) University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
- Delegació de la Serralada Litoral Central (ICHN) Mataró Spain
| | - Ferran Berloso
- Delegació de la Serralada Litoral Central (ICHN) Mataró Spain
| | - Jordi Corbera
- Delegació de la Serralada Litoral Central (ICHN) Mataró Spain
| | - Joan Garcia‐Porta
- Department of Biology Washington University in Saint Louis St. Louis MO USA
| | - Ferran Sayol
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre (GGBC) Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Catherine Preece
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit CREAF‐CSIC‐UAB Barcelona Spain
- CREAF Barcelona Spain
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Heslop-Harrison JS(P. Morphology, adaptation and speciation. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2017; 120:621-624. [PMCID: PMC5691378 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcx130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The study of plant evolution and development in a phylogenetic context has accelerated research advances in both areas over the last decade. The addition of a robust phylogeny for plant taxa based on DNA as well as morphology has given a strong context for this research. Genetics and genomics, including sequencing of many genes, and a better understanding of non-genetic, responsive changes, by plants have increased knowledge of how the different body forms of plants have arisen. Here, I overview the papers in this Special Issue of Annals of Botany on Morphological Adaptation, bringing together a range of papers that link phylogeny and morphology. These lead to models of development and functional adaptation across a range of plant systems, with implications for ecology and ecosystems, as well as development and evolution.
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