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Shen Z, Liu Q, Hao J, Bi S, Fu Y, Zhang L. The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of the Medicinal Moss Rhodobryum giganteum (Bryaceae, Bryophyta): Comparative Genomics and Phylogenetic Analyses. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:900. [PMID: 39062679 PMCID: PMC11275618 DOI: 10.3390/genes15070900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhodobryum giganteum (Bryaceae, Bryophyta), a rare medicinal bryophyte, is valued for its cardiovascular therapeutic properties in traditional Chinese medicine. This study presents the first complete chloroplast genome sequence of R. giganteum, including its assembly and annotation. The circular chloroplast genome of R. giganteum is 124,315 bp in length, displaying a typical quadripartite structure with 128 genes: 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. Analyses of codon usage bias, repetitive sequences, and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed an A/U-ending codon preference, 96 repetitive sequences, and 385 SSRs in the R. giganteum chloroplast genome. Nucleotide diversity analysis identified 10 high mutational hotspots. Ka/Ks ratio analysis suggested potential positive selection in rpl20, rps18, petG, and psbM genes. Phylogenetic analysis of whole chloroplast genomes from 38 moss species positioned R. giganteum within Bryales, closely related to Rhodobryum laxelimbatum. This study augments the chloroplast genomic data for Bryales and provides a foundation for molecular marker development and genetic diversity analyses in medicinal bryophytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyuan Shen
- Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Z.S.)
| | - Qin Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources Chemistry and Biotechnology, Yulin Normal University, Yulin 537000, China
| | - Jiewei Hao
- Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Z.S.)
| | - Sheng Bi
- Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Z.S.)
| | - Yezhen Fu
- Bawangling Branch of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Administration, Changjiang 572700, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Z.S.)
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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Bravo-Avila CH, Feeley KJ. Variation in the Drought Tolerance of Tropical Understory Plant Communities across an Extreme Elevation and Precipitation Gradient. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2957. [PMID: 37631168 PMCID: PMC10459884 DOI: 10.3390/plants12162957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about how differences in water availability within the "super humid" tropics can influence the physiology of understory plant species and the composition of understory plant communities. We investigated the variation in the physiological drought tolerances of hundreds of understory plants in dozens of plant communities across an extreme elevation and precipitation gradient. Specifically, we established 58 understory plots along a gradient of 400-3600 m asl elevation and 1000-6000 mm yr-1 rainfall in and around Manu National Park in southeastern Peru. Within the plots, we sampled all understory woody plants and measured three metrics of physiological leaf drought tolerance-turgor loss point (TLP), cuticular conductance (Gmin), and solute leakage (SL)-and assessed how the community-level means of these three traits related to the mean annual precipitation (MAP) and elevation (along the study gradient, the temperature decreases linearly, and the vapor pressure deficit increases monotonically with elevation). We did not find any correlations between the three metrics of leaf drought tolerance, suggesting that they represent independent strategies for coping with a low water availability. Despite being widely used metrics of leaf drought tolerance, neither the TLP nor Gmin showed any significant relationships with elevation or the MAP. In contrast, SL, which has only recently been developed for use in ecological field studies, increased significantly at higher precipitations and at lower elevations (i.e., plants in colder and drier habitats have a lower average SL, indicating greater drought tolerances). Our results illustrate that differences in water availability may affect the physiology of tropical montane plants and thus play a strong role in structuring plant communities even in the super humid tropics. Our results also highlight the potential for SL assays to be efficient and effective tools for measuring drought tolerances in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth J. Feeley
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Coral Gables, FL 33156, USA
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Mata-Guel EO, Soh MCK, Butler CW, Morris RJ, Razgour O, Peh KSH. Impacts of anthropogenic climate change on tropical montane forests: an appraisal of the evidence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1200-1224. [PMID: 36990691 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
In spite of their small global area and restricted distributions, tropical montane forests (TMFs) are biodiversity hotspots and important ecosystem services providers, but are also highly vulnerable to climate change. To protect and preserve these ecosystems better, it is crucial to inform the design and implementation of conservation policies with the best available scientific evidence, and to identify knowledge gaps and future research needs. We conducted a systematic review and an appraisal of evidence quality to assess the impacts of climate change on TMFs. We identified several skews and shortcomings. Experimental study designs with controls and long-term (≥10 years) data sets provide the most reliable evidence, but were rare and gave an incomplete understanding of climate change impacts on TMFs. Most studies were based on predictive modelling approaches, short-term (<10 years) and cross-sectional study designs. Although these methods provide moderate to circumstantial evidence, they can advance our understanding on climate change effects. Current evidence suggests that increasing temperatures and rising cloud levels have caused distributional shifts (mainly upslope) of montane biota, leading to alterations in biodiversity and ecological functions. Neotropical TMFs were the best studied, thus the knowledge derived there can serve as a proxy for climate change responses in under-studied regions elsewhere. Most studies focused on vascular plants, birds, amphibians and insects, with other taxonomic groups poorly represented. Most ecological studies were conducted at species or community levels, with a marked paucity of genetic studies, limiting understanding of the adaptive capacity of TMF biota. We thus highlight the long-term need to widen the methodological, thematic and geographical scope of studies on TMFs under climate change to address these uncertainties. In the short term, however, in-depth research in well-studied regions and advances in computer modelling approaches offer the most reliable sources of information for expeditious conservation action for these threatened forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik O Mata-Guel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Malcolm C K Soh
- National Park Boards, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, 259569, Singapore
| | - Connor W Butler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Rebecca J Morris
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Orly Razgour
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Kelvin S-H Peh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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Avila Clasen L, Permin A, Horwath AB, Metcalfe DB, Rousk K. Do Nitrogen and Phosphorus Additions Affect Nitrogen Fixation Associated with Tropical Mosses? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1443. [PMID: 37050067 PMCID: PMC10097241 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Tropical cloud forests are characterized by abundant and biodiverse mosses which grow epiphytically as well as on the ground. Nitrogen (N)-fixing cyanobacteria live in association with most mosses, and contribute greatly to the N pool via biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). However, the availability of nutrients, especially N and phosphorus (P), can influence BNF rates drastically. To evaluate the effects of increased N and P availability on BNF in mosses, we conducted a laboratory experiment where we added N and P, in isolation and combined, to three mosses (Campylopus sp., Dicranum sp. and Thuidium peruvianum) collected from a cloud forest in Peru. Our results show that N addition almost completely inhibited BNF within a day, whereas P addition caused variable results across moss species. Low N2 fixation rates were observed in Campylopus sp. across the experiment. BNF in Dicranum sp. was decreased by all nutrients, while P additions seemed to promote BNF in T. peruvianum. Hence, each of the three mosses contributes distinctively to the ecosystem N pool depending on nutrient availability. Moreover, increased N input will likely significantly decrease BNF associated with mosses also in tropical cloud forests, thereby limiting N input to these ecosystems via the moss-cyanobacteria pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Avila Clasen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (K.R.)
| | - Aya Permin
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (K.R.)
| | - Aline B. Horwath
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Daniel B. Metcalfe
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Umeå, 907 36 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kathrin Rousk
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (K.R.)
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Snyder KA, Robinson SA, Schmidt S, Hultine KR. Stable isotope approaches and opportunities for improving plant conservation. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac056. [PMID: 35966756 PMCID: PMC9367551 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Successful conservation of threatened species and ecosystems in a rapidly changing world requires scientifically sound decision-making tools that are readily accessible to conservation practitioners. Physiological applications that examine how plants and animals interact with their environment are now widely used when planning, implementing and monitoring conservation. Among these tools, stable-isotope physiology is a potentially powerful, yet under-utilized cornerstone of current and future conservation efforts of threatened and endangered plants. We review the underlying concepts and theory of stable-isotope physiology and describe how stable-isotope applications can support plant conservation. We focus on stable isotopes of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen to address plant ecophysiological responses to changing environmental conditions across temporal scales from hours to centuries. We review examples from a broad range of plant taxa, life forms and habitats and provide specific examples where stable-isotope analysis can directly improve conservation, in part by helping identify resilient, locally adapted genotypes or populations. Our review aims to provide a guide for practitioners to easily access and evaluate the information that can be derived from stable-isotope signatures, their limitations and how stable isotopes can improve conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keirith A Snyder
- Corresponding author: USDA Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, Reno,
920 Valley Road, NV 89512, USA.
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
- Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Susanne Schmidt
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Building 62, Brisbane Queensland 4075, Australia
| | - Kevin R Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
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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.
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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
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Permin A, Horwath AB, Metcalfe DB, Priemé A, Rousk K. ‘High nitrogen‐fixing rates associated with ground‐covering mosses in a tropical mountain cloud forest will decrease drastically in a future climate’. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aya Permin
- Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM) University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Aline B. Horwath
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling UK
| | - Daniel B. Metcalfe
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science Lund University SE Lund Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science SE Umeå Sweden
| | - Anders Priemé
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM) University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Kathrin Rousk
- Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM) University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
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Mejia-Chang M, Reyes-Garcia C, Seibt U, Royles J, Meyer MT, Jones GD, Winter K, Arnedo M, Griffiths H. Leaf water δ 18O reflects water vapour exchange and uptake by C 3 and CAM epiphytic bromeliads in Panama. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2021; 48:732-742. [PMID: 34099101 DOI: 10.1071/fp21087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The distributions of CAM and C3 epiphytic bromeliads across an altitudinal gradient in western Panama were identified from carbon isotope (δ13C) signals, and epiphyte water balance was investigated via oxygen isotopes (δ18O) across wet and dry seasons. There were significant seasonal differences in leaf water (δ18Olw), precipitation, stored 'tank' water and water vapour. Values of δ18Olw were evaporatively enriched at low altitude in the dry season for the C3 epiphytes, associated with low relative humidity (RH) during the day. Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) δ18Olw values were relatively depleted, consistent with water vapour uptake during gas exchange under high RH at night. At high altitude, cloudforest locations, C3 δ18Olw also reflected water vapour uptake by day. A mesocosm experiment with Tillandsia fasciculata (CAM) and Werauhia sanguinolenta (C3) was combined with simulations using a non-steady-state oxygen isotope leaf water model. For both C3 and CAM bromeliads, δ18Olw became progressively depleted under saturating water vapour by day and night, although evaporative enrichment was restored in the C3 W. sanguinolenta under low humidity by day. Source water in the overlapping leaf base 'tank' was also modified by evaporative δ18O exchanges. The results demonstrate how stable isotopes in leaf water provide insights for atmospheric water vapour exchanges for both C3 and CAM systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Mejia-Chang
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Casandra Reyes-Garcia
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK; and Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 Num. 130 Churburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, 97200, México
| | - Ulli Seibt
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK; and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Royles
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Moritz T Meyer
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Glyn D Jones
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Klaus Winter
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Miquel Arnedo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Fac. Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Howard Griffiths
- Physiological Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK; and Corresponding author.
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Lai GY, Liu HC, Kuo AJ, Huang CY. Epiphytic bryophyte biomass estimation on tree trunks and upscaling in tropical montane cloud forests. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9351. [PMID: 32566412 PMCID: PMC7295022 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epiphytic bryophytes (EB) are some of the most commonly found plant species in tropical montane cloud forests, and they play a disproportionate role in influencing the terrestrial hydrological and nutrient cycles. However, it is difficult to estimate the abundance of EB due to the nature of their "epiphytic" habitat. This study proposes an allometric scaling approach implemented in twenty-one 30 × 30 m plots across an elevation range in 16,773 ha tropical montane cloud forests of northeastern Taiwan to measure EB biomass, a primary metric for indicating plant abundance and productivity. A general allometry was developed to estimate EB biomass of 100 cm2 circular-shaped mats (n = 131) with their central depths. We developed a new point-intercept instrument to rapidly measure the depths of EB along tree trunks below 300 cm from the ground level (sampled stem surface area (SSA)) (n = 210). Biomass of EB of each point measure was derived using the general allometry and was aggregated across each SSA, and its performance was evaluated. Total EB biomass of a tree was estimated by referring to an in-situ conversion model and was interpolated for all trees in the plots (n = 1451). Finally, we assessed EB biomass density at the plot scale of the study region. The general EB biomass-depth allometry showed that the depth of an EB mat was a salient variable for biomass estimation (R 2 = 0.72, p < 0.001). The performance of upscaling from mats to SSA was satisfactory, which allowed us to further estimate mean (±standard deviation) EB biomass of the 21 plots (272 ± 104 kg ha-1). Since a significant relationship between tree size and EB abundance is commonly found, regional EB biomass may be mapped by integrating our method and three-dimensional remotely sensed airborne data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Yu Lai
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chi Liu
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ariel J Kuo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cho-Ying Huang
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Research Center for Future Earth, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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