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Ojeda S, Arancibia M, Gómez F, Sepúlveda IB, Orellana JI, Fontúrbel FE. Spatial aggregation patterns in four mistletoe species: ecological and environmental determinants. Plant Biol J 2023; 25:1186-1195. [PMID: 37703542 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant spatial distribution is an important topic in ecology as it determines species coexistence and biodiversity dynamics. Usually, plants show clustered distributions in nature. Mistletoes are a good example of aggregated distributions, as they form dense aggregations due to several factors (availability of competent hosts, seed dispersal vectors, microclimate conditions). We analysed four native mistletoe species with divergent life histories and host ranges: Desmaria mutabilis and Tristerix corymbosus from the temperate rainforests of southern Chile; and Tristerix aphyllus and Tristerix verticillatus from the northern semi-desert zone. While T. corymbosus and T. verticillatus have a wide host range, T. aphyllus and D. mutabilis are specialists that can parasitize only a few plant species. We hypothesized that specialized species would be more aggregated due to ecological and environmental restrictions. We used heterogeneous Poisson models to quantify spatial aggregation. Three of the four mistletoe species were spatially clustered at both environments, with aggregation being stronger in the temperate rainforest of southern Chile and particularly in the host-specialist species. Our results suggest that environmental constraints are more important than ecological constraints (host range) in shaping mistletoe spatial structure. Mistletoe aggregated spatial distribution depends primarily on the environment that they inhabit, which conditions host spatial availability, and arrangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ojeda
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - M Arancibia
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - F Gómez
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - I B Sepúlveda
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - J I Orellana
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - F E Fontúrbel
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
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Fontúrbel FE, Villarroel J, Orellana JI. With a little help from my friends: Hyperparasitism allows a generalist mistletoe to expand habitat use. Ecology 2023; 104:e3919. [PMID: 36415080 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco E Fontúrbel
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Javiera Villarroel
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - José I Orellana
- Laboratorio de Vida Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile
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Rodriguez-Quintero WD, Moreno-Chacón M, Carrasco-Urra F, Saldaña A. From dark to darkness, negative phototropism influences the support-tree location of the massive woody climber Hydrangea serratifolia (Hydrangeaceae) in a Chilean temperate rainforest. Plant Signal Behav 2022; 17:2122244. [PMID: 36476262 PMCID: PMC9733698 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2022.2122244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Climbing plants rely on suitable support to provide the light conditions they require in the canopy. Negative phototropism is a directional search behavior proposed to detect a support-tree, which indicates growth or movement away from light, based on light attenuation. In a Chilean temperate rainforest, we addressed whether the massive woody climber Hydrangea serratifolia (H. et A.) F. Phil (Hydrangeaceae) presents a support-tree location pattern influenced by light availability. We analyzed direction and light received in two groups of juvenile shoots: searching shoots (SS), with plagiotropic (creeping) growth vs. ascending shoots (AS), with orthotropic growth. We found that, in accordance with light attenuation, SS and AS used directional orientation to search and then ascend host trees. The light available to H. serratifolia searching shoots was less than that of the general forest understory; the directional orientation in both groups showed a significant deviation from a random distribution, with no circular statistical difference between them. Circular-linear regression indicated a relationship between directional orientations and light availability. Negative phototropism encodes the light environment's heterogeneous spatial and temporal information, guiding the shoot apex to the most shaded part of the support-tree base, the climbing start point.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. David Rodriguez-Quintero
- Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Centro de Ecología Aplicada Ltda, Principe de Gales6465La Reina, Chile
| | | | | | - Alfredo Saldaña
- Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Fontúrbel FE, Rodríguez-Gómez GB, Orellana JI, Cortés-Miranda J, Rojas-Hernández N, Vega-Retter C. Geographical context outweighs habitat disturbance effects in explaining mistletoe population genetic differentiation at a regional scale. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:1389-1402. [PMID: 34995392 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Genetic differentiation depends on ecological and evolutionary processes that operate at different spatial and temporal scales. While the geographical context is likely to determine large-scale genetic variation patterns, habitat disturbance events will probably influence small-scale genetic diversity and gene flow patterns. Therefore, the genetic diversity patterns that we observe today result from the combination of both processes, but they are rarely assessed simultaneously. We determined the population structure and genetic diversity of a hemiparasitic mistletoe (Tristerix corymbosus) from the temperate rainforests of southern Chile to determine the effects of geographical context and habitat disturbance at a regional scale and if it is affected by the abundance and occurrence of its seed disperser mutualist (the arboreal marsupial Dromiciops gliroides). We genotyped 359 individuals from 12 populations using single nucleotide polymorphisms, across three different geographical contexts and four disturbance conditions. We also used camera traps to estimate the abundance and occurrence of the seed disperser. Our results suggest that genetic differences among populations are related more to geographical context than to habitat disturbance. However, as disturbance increased, D. gliroides abundance and occurrence decreased, and mistletoe inbreeding index (FIS ) increased. We also found highly uneven gene flow among study sites. Despite the high levels of disturbance that these temperate rainforests are facing, our results suggest that mistletoe genetic differentiation at a regional scale was more influenced by historical events. However, habitat disturbance can indirectly affect mistletoe population genetic differentiation via the seed dispersal process, which may increase levels of inbreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco E Fontúrbel
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi)
| | - Gloria B Rodríguez-Gómez
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José I Orellana
- Laboratorio de Vida Silvestre, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile
| | - Jorge Cortés-Miranda
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Noemí Rojas-Hernández
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Caren Vega-Retter
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Woods CL, Maleta K, Ortmann K. Plant-plant interactions change during succession on nurse logs in a northern temperate rainforest. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9631-9641. [PMID: 34306649 PMCID: PMC8293789 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-plant interactions change through succession from facilitative to competitive. At early stages of succession, early-colonizing plants can increase the survival and reproductive output of other plants by ameliorating disturbance and stressful conditions. At later stages of succession, plant interactions are more competitive as plants put more energy toward growth and reproduction. In northern temperate rainforests, gap dynamics result in tree falls that facilitate tree regeneration (nurse logs) and bryophyte succession. How bryophyte-tree seedling interactions vary through log succession remains unclear. We examined the relationships of tree seedlings, bryophyte community composition, bryophyte depth, and percent canopy cover in 166 1.0 m2 plots on nurse logs and the forest floor in the Hoh rainforest in Washington, USA, to test the hypothesis that bryophyte-tree seedling interactions change from facilitative to competitive as the log decays. Tree seedling density was highest on young logs with early-colonizing bryophyte species (e.g., Rhizomnium glabrescens) and lowest on decayed logs with Hylocomium splendens, a long-lived moss that reaches depths >20 cm. As a result, bryophyte depth increased with nurse log decay and was negatively associated with tree seedling density. Tree seedling density was 4.6× higher on nurse logs than on the forest floor, which was likely due to competitive exclusion by forest floor plants, such as H. splendens. Nurse logs had 17 species of bryophytes while the forest floor had six, indicating that nurse logs contribute to maintaining bryophyte diversity. Nurse logs enable both tree seedlings and smaller bryophyte species to avoid competition with forest floor plants, including the dominant bryophyte, H. splendens. H. splendens is likely a widespread driver of plant community structure given its dominance in northern temperate forests. Our findings indicate that plant-plant interactions shift with succession on nurse logs from facilitative to competitive and, thus, influence forest community structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katy Maleta
- Biology DepartmentUniversity of Puget SoundTacomaWAUSA
| | - Kimmy Ortmann
- Biology DepartmentUniversity of Puget SoundTacomaWAUSA
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Dickie IA, Wakelin A, Richardson SJ. Rare species of wood-inhabiting fungi are not local. Ecol Appl 2020; 30:e02156. [PMID: 32358821 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Wood-inhabiting fungal communities are a diverse and ecologically critical part of forest ecosystems, yet the spatial structure of fungal biodiversity in these ecosystems is largely unknown. Legislation allowed harvesting of deadwood from temperate rainforests on conservation lands in New Zealand following Cyclone Ita in 2014. Harvesting guidelines specified widely spread harvesting, on the assumption that rare fungal species may be highly spatially restricted, but were not based on quantitative assessment. We sampled fungi in and on logs of Dacrydium cupressinum (Podocarpaceae) a long-lived, common, canopy tree in lowland New Zealand forests. DNA was extracted from 81 logs varying in decay state across a 40 km long region of West Coast (South Island) forests, and sequenced using general fungal primers for metabarcoding to identify OTUs (operational taxonomic units). We examined three axes of rarity: occupancy, dominance when present, and niche breadth (as spatial extent and decay state specialization). Low-occupancy fungi were common, including a group of infrequently occurring but dominant when present fungi, the majority of which were Ascomycota. Despite this, there was an overall positive relationship between occupancy and dominance. Widespread, dominant fungi were most commonly Basidiomycota. Testing all fungal OTUs, there were no more fungi with maximum range sizes < 4 km than would be expected at random. Of the 351 low-occupancy OTUs found two to four times, only 12 had maximum range sizes < 900 m, and there was no more spatial restriction at scales < 900 m than would be expected by random chance, although there was some evidence of niche breadth restriction based on decay state similarity. The results show that fungal communities in deadwood are highly diverse, and include many rare taxa. Nonetheless, the lack of fungal OTUs with spatial restriction at scales < 900 m suggests that spatially dispersed timber harvesting will not mitigate risks of harvesting to rare fungal biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Dickie
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Angela Wakelin
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
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Ostria-Gallardo E, Larama G, Berríos G, Fallard A, Gutiérrez-Moraga A, Ensminger I, Manque P, Bascuñán-Godoy L, Bravo LA. Decoding Gene Networks Modules That Explain the Recovery of Hymenoglossum cruentum Cav. After Extreme Desiccation. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:574. [PMID: 32499805 PMCID: PMC7243127 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Hymenoglossum cruentum (Hymenophyllaceae) is a poikilohydric, homoiochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant (DT) epiphyte fern. It can undergo fast and frequent dehydration-rehydration cycles. This fern is highly abundant at high-humidity/low-light microenvironments within the canopy, although rapid changes in humidity and light intensity are frequent. The objective of this research is to identify genes associated to desiccation-rehydration cycle in the transcriptome of H. cruentum to better understand the genetic dynamics behind its desiccation tolerance mechanism. H. cruentum plants were subjected to a 7 days long desiccation-rehydration process and then used to identify key expressed genes associated to its capacity to dehydrate and rehydrate. The relative water content (RWC) and maximum quantum efficiency (F v/F m) of H. cruentum fronds decayed to 6% and 0.04, respectively, at the end of the desiccation stage. After re-watering, the fern showed a rapid recovery of RWC and F v/F m (ca. 73% and 0.8, respectively). Based on clustering and network analysis, our results reveal key genes, such as UBA/TS-N, DYNLL, and LHC, orchestrating intracellular motility and photosynthetic metabolism; strong balance between avoiding cell death and defense (CAT3, AP2/ERF) when dehydrated, and detoxifying pathways and stabilization of photosystems (GST, CAB2, and ELIP9) during rehydration. Here we provide novel insights into the genetic dynamics behind the desiccation tolerance mechanism of H. cruentum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Ostria-Gallardo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), La Serena, Chile
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Giovanni Larama
- Centro de Excelencia de Modelación y Computación Científica, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Graciela Berríos
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Ana Fallard
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Cs. Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Instituto de Agroindustria, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Ana Gutiérrez-Moraga
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ingo Ensminger
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patricio Manque
- Center for Integrative Biology, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - León A. Bravo
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Cs. Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Instituto de Agroindustria, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
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Spribille T, Fryday AM, Pérez-Ortega S, Svensson M, Tønsberg T, Ekman S, Holien H, Resl P, Schneider K, Stabentheiner E, Thüs H, Vondrák J, Sharman L. Lichens and associated fungi from Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Lichenologist (Lond) 2020; 52:61-181. [PMID: 32788812 PMCID: PMC7398404 DOI: 10.1017/s0024282920000079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lichens are widely acknowledged to be a key component of high latitude ecosystems. However, the time investment needed for full inventories and the lack of taxonomic identification resources for crustose lichen and lichenicolous fungal diversity have hampered efforts to fully gauge the depth of species richness in these ecosystems. Using a combination of classical field inventory and extensive deployment of chemical and molecular analysis, we assessed the diversity of lichens and associated fungi in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (USA), a mixed landscape of coastal boreal rainforest and early successional low elevation habitats deglaciated after the Little Ice Age. We collected nearly 5000 specimens and found a total of 947 taxa, including 831 taxa of lichen-forming and 96 taxa of lichenicolous fungi together with 20 taxa of saprotrophic fungi typically included in lichen studies. A total of 98 species (10.3% of those detected) could not be assigned to known species and of those, two genera and 27 species are described here as new to science: Atrophysma cyanomelanos gen. et sp. nov., Bacidina circumpulla, Biatora marmorea, Carneothele sphagnicola gen. et sp. nov., Cirrenalia lichenicola, Corticifraga nephromatis, Fuscidea muskeg, Fuscopannaria dillmaniae, Halecania athallina, Hydropunctaria alaskana, Lambiella aliphatica, Lecania hydrophobica, Lecanora viridipruinosa, Lecidea griseomarginata, L. streveleri, Miriquidica gyrizans, Niesslia peltigerae, Ochrolechia cooperi, Placynthium glaciale, Porpidia seakensis, Rhizocarpon haidense, Sagiolechia phaeospora, Sclerococcum fissurinae, Spilonema maritimum, Thelocarpon immersum, Toensbergia blastidiata and Xenonectriella nephromatis. An additional 71 'known unknown' species are cursorily described. Four new combinations are made: Lepra subvelata (G. K. Merr.) T. Sprib., Ochrolechia minuta (Degel.) T. Sprib., Steineropsis laceratula (Hue) T. Sprib. & Ekman and Toensbergia geminipara (Th. Fr.) T. Sprib. & Resl. Thirty-eight taxa are new to North America and 93 additional taxa new to Alaska. We use four to eight DNA loci to validate the placement of ten of the new species in the orders Baeomycetales, Ostropales, Lecanorales, Peltigerales, Pertusariales and the broader class Lecanoromycetes with maximum likelihood analyses. We present a total of 280 new fungal DNA sequences. The lichen inventory from Glacier Bay National Park represents the second largest number of lichens and associated fungi documented from an area of comparable size and the largest to date in North America. Coming from almost 60°N, these results again underline the potential for high lichen diversity in high latitude ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Spribille
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AlbertaT6G 2R3, Canada
- Department of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Holteigasse 6, 8010Graz, Austria
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, Montana59812, USA
| | - Alan M. Fryday
- Herbarium, Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan48824, USA
| | - Sergio Pérez-Ortega
- Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), Departamento de Micología, Calle Claudio Moyano 1, E-28014Madrid, Spain
| | - Måns Svensson
- Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 16, SE-75236Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tor Tønsberg
- Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen Allégt. 41, P.O. Box 7800, N-5020Bergen, Norway
| | - Stefan Ekman
- Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 16, SE-75236Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Håkon Holien
- Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, Box 2501, NO-7729Steinkjer, Norway
- NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491Trondheim, Norway
| | - Philipp Resl
- Faculty of Biology, Department I, Systematic Botany and Mycology, University of Munich (LMU), Menzinger Straße 67, 80638München, Germany
| | - Kevin Schneider
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Edith Stabentheiner
- Department of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Holteigasse 6, 8010Graz, Austria
| | - Holger Thüs
- Botany Department, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191Stuttgart, Germany
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, LondonSW7 5BD, UK
| | - Jan Vondrák
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, 252 43Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-370 05České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lewis Sharman
- Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, Alaska99826, USA
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Lusk CH, Grierson ERP, Laughlin DC. Large leaves in warm, moist environments confer an advantage in seedling light interception efficiency. New Phytol 2019; 223:1319-1327. [PMID: 30985943 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Leaf size varies conspicuously along environmental gradients. Small leaves help plants cope with drought and frost, because of the effect of leaf size on boundary layer conductance; it is less clear what advantage large leaves confer in benign environments. We asked if large leaves give species of warm climates an advantage in seedling light interception efficiency over small-leaved species from colder environments. We measured seedling leaf, architectural and biomass distribution traits of 18 New Zealand temperate rainforest evergreens; we then used a 3-D digitiser and the Yplant program to model leaf area display and light interception. Species associated with mild climates on average had larger leaves and larger specific leaf areas (SLA) than those from cold climates, and displayed larger effective foliage areas per unit of aboveground biomass, indicating higher light interception efficiency at whole-plant level. This reflected differences in total foliage area, rather than in self-shading. Our findings advance the understanding of leaf size by showing that large leaves enable seedlings of species with highly conductive (but frost-sensitive) xylem to deploy large foliage areas without increasing self-shading. Leaf size variation along temperature gradients in humid forests may therefore reflect a trade-off between seedling light interception efficiency and susceptibility to frost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Lusk
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Ella R P Grierson
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, Sandringham 1142, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Daniel C Laughlin
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
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Ostria-Gallardo E, Ranjan A, Ichihashi Y, Corcuera LJ, Sinha NR. Decoding the gene coexpression network underlying the ability of Gevuina avellana to live in diverse light conditions. New Phytol 2018; 220:278-287. [PMID: 29956327 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Gevuina avellana (Proteaceae) is a typical tree from the South American temperate rainforest. Although this species mostly regenerates in shaded understories, it exhibits an exceptional ecological breadth, being able to live under a wide range of light conditions. Here we studied the genetic basis that underlies physiological acclimation of the photosynthetic responses of G. avellana under contrasting light conditions. We analyzed carbon assimilation and light energy used for photochemical processes in plants acclimated to contrasting light conditions. Also, we used a transcriptional profile of leaf primordia from G. avellana saplings growing under different light environments in their natural habitat, to identify the gene coexpression network underpinning photosynthetic performance and light-related processes. The photosynthetic parameters revealed optimal performance regardless of light conditions. Strikingly, the mechanism involved in dissipation of excess light energy showed no significant differences between high- and low-light-acclimated plants. The gene coexpression network defined a community structure consistent with the photochemical responses, including genes involved mainly in assembly and functioning of photosystems, photoprotection, and retrograde signaling. This ecophysiological genomics approach improves our understanding of the intraspecific variability that allows G. avellana to have optimal photochemical and photoprotective mechanisms in the diverse light habitats it encounters in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Ostria-Gallardo
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus BIOREN-UFRO, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Cautín, 4780000, Chile
- CEAZA, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, Casilla 599, La Serena, Chile
| | - Aashish Ranjan
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Yasunori Ichihashi
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- JST, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan
| | - Luis J Corcuera
- Katalapi Park Foundation, Llanquihue, Puerto Montt, 5480000, Chile
| | - Neelima R Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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García-Cervigón AI, Olano JM, von Arx G, Fajardo A. Xylem adjusts to maintain efficiency across a steep precipitation gradient in two coexisting generalist species. Ann Bot 2018; 122:461-472. [PMID: 29800073 PMCID: PMC6110345 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Trees adjust the configuration of their conductive system in response to changes in water availability, maximizing efficiency in wet environments and increasing safety in dry habitats. However, evidence of this general trend is not conclusive. Generalist species growing across broad climatic gradients provide an ideal framework to assess intra-specific xylem adjustments under contrasting environmental conditions. Our aims were to compare the response of xylem traits to variations in precipitation of two co-occurring generalist tree species, and to assess climate control on xylem trait variability and co-ordination. METHODS We evaluated xylem traits of Embothrium coccineum (Proteaceae, evergreen) and Nothofagus antarctica (Nothofagaceae, deciduous) in three areas across an abrupt precipitation gradient, from 500 to 2500 mm, in southern Chile. We measured wood density, vessel lumen area and density, percentage of conductive area and vessel grouping, and estimated the hydraulic function from anatomical measurements in 60 individuals per species. KEY RESULTS Both species shared a common pattern of response along the precipitation gradient, with an increase in vessel density with dryness, but without changes in estimated hydraulic conductivity. Xylem traits in E. coccineum were more variable and more responsive to the climate gradient, decreasing vessel lumen area and increasing wood density, whereas vessel grouping showed contrasting patterns between species. Additionally, the analysis of trait co-ordination at the individual level revealed a tighter co-ordination among xylem traits in E. coccineum. CONCLUSIONS Estimated xylem efficiency was maintained in combination with different levels of expected xylem safety within species. Reduction in vessel lumen area was compensated through large increases in vessel density, thus breaking the trade-off between xylem efficiency and safety. Otherwise, the existence of alternative internal adjustments in coexisting species to face similar climatic constraints might increase resilience of temperate forests against unpredictable changes in climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana I García-Cervigón
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, Puerto Real, Spain
- For correspondence. E-mail
| | - José M Olano
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, EiFAB, Universidad de Valladolid, Soria, Spain
| | - Georg von Arx
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Alex Fajardo
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Coyhaique, Chile
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Fajardo A, Siefert A. Intraspecific trait variation and the leaf economics spectrum across resource gradients and levels of organization. Ecology 2018; 99:1024-1030. [PMID: 29603183 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Understanding patterns of functional trait variation across environmental gradients offers an opportunity to increase inference in the mechanistic causes of plant community assembly. The leaf economics spectrum (LES) predicts global tradeoffs in leaf traits and trait-environment relationships, but few studies have examined whether these predictions hold across different levels of organization, particularly within species. Here, we asked (1) whether the main assumptions of the LES (expected trait relationships and shifts in trait values across resource gradients) hold at the intraspecific level, and (2) how within-species trait correlations scale up to interspecific or among-community levels. We worked with leaf traits of saplings of woody species growing across light and soil N and P availability gradients in temperate rainforests of southern Chile. We found that ITV accounted for a large proportion of community-level variation in leaf traits (e.g., LMA and leaf P) and played an important role in driving community-level shifts in leaf traits across environmental gradients. Additionally, intraspecific leaf trait relationships were generally consistent with interspecific and community-level trait relationships and with LES predictions-e.g., a strong negative intraspecific LMA-leaf N correlation-although, most trait relationships varied significantly among species, suggesting idiosyncrasies in the LES at the intraspecific level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fajardo
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Camino Baguales s/n, Coyhaique, 5951601, Chile
| | - Andrew Siefert
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
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Wallace KJ, Laughlin DC, Clarkson BD. Exotic weeds and fluctuating microclimate can constrain native plant regeneration in urban forest restoration. Ecol Appl 2017; 27:1268-1279. [PMID: 28182314 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Restoring forest structure and composition is an important component of urban land management, but we lack clear understanding of the mechanisms driving restoration success. Here we studied two indicators of restoration success in temperate rainforests: native tree regeneration and epiphyte colonization. We hypothesized that ecosystem properties such as forest canopy openness, abundance of exotic herbaceous weeds, and the microclimate directly affect the density and diversity of native tree seedlings and epiphytes. Relationships between environmental conditions and the plant community were investigated in 27 restored urban forests spanning 3-70 years in age and in unrestored and remnant urban forests. We used structural equation modelling to determine the direct and indirect drivers of native tree regeneration and epiphyte colonization in the restored forests. Compared to remnant forest, unrestored forest had fewer native canopy tree species, significantly more light reaching the forest floor annually, and higher exotic weed cover. Additionally, epiphyte density was lower and native tree regeneration density was marginally lower in the unrestored forests. In restored forests, light availability was reduced to levels found in remnant forests within 20 years of restoration planting, followed shortly thereafter by declines in herbaceous exotic weeds and reduced fluctuation of relative humidity and soil temperatures. Contrary to expectations, canopy openness was only an indirect driver of tree regeneration and epiphyte colonization, but it directly regulated weed cover and microclimatic fluctuations, both of which directly drove the density and richness of regeneration and epiphyte colonization. Epiphyte density and diversity were also positively related to forest basal area, as large trees provide physical habitat for colonization. These results imply that ecosystem properties change predictably after initial restoration plantings, and that reaching critical thresholds in some ecosystem properties makes conditions suitable for the regeneration of late successional species, which is vital for restoration success and long-term ecosystem sustainability. Abiotic and biotic conditions that promote tree regeneration and epiphyte colonization will likely be present in forests with a basal area ≥27 m2 /ha. We recommend that urban forest restoration plantings be designed to promote rapid canopy closure to reduce light availability, suppress herbaceous weeds, and stabilize the microclimate.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Wallace
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Daniel C Laughlin
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Bruce D Clarkson
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
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Ostria-Gallardo E, Ranjan A, Chitwood DH, Kumar R, Townsley BT, Ichihashi Y, Corcuera LJ, Sinha NR. Transcriptomic analysis suggests a key role for SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE, NAC and YUCCA genes in the heteroblastic development of the temperate rainforest tree Gevuina avellana (Proteaceae). New Phytol 2016; 210:694-708. [PMID: 26680017 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Heteroblasty, the temporal development of the meristem, can produce diverse leaf shapes within a plant. Gevuina avellana, a tree from the South American temperate rainforest shows strong heteroblasty affecting leaf shape, transitioning from juvenile simple leaves to highly pinnate adult leaves. Light availability within the forest canopy also modulates its leaf size and complexity. Here we studied how the interaction between the light environment and the heteroblastic progression of leaves is coordinated in this species. We used RNA-seq on the Illumina platform to compare the range of transcriptional responses in leaf primordia of G. avellana at different heteroblastic stages and growing under different light environments. We found a steady up-regulation of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL), NAC, YUCCA and AGAMOUS-LIKE genes associated with increases in age, leaf complexity, and light availability. In contrast, expression of TCP, TPR and KNOTTED1 homeobox genes showed a sustained down-regulation. Additionally, genes involved in auxin synthesis/transport and jasmonate activity were differentially expressed, indicating an active regulation of processes controlled by these hormones. Our large-scale transcriptional analysis of the leaf primordia of G. avellana sheds light on the integration of internal and external cues during heteroblastic development in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Ostria-Gallardo
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, 4030000, Biobío, Chile
| | - Aashish Ranjan
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | | | | | - Brad T Townsley
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Yasunori Ichihashi
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Luis J Corcuera
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, 4030000, Biobío, Chile
| | - Neelima R Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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Coomes DA, Flores O, Holdaway R, Jucker T, Lines ER, Vanderwel MC. Wood production response to climate change will depend critically on forest composition and structure. Glob Chang Biol 2014; 20:3632-45. [PMID: 24771558 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Established forests currently function as a major carbon sink, sequestering as woody biomass about 26% of global fossil fuel emissions. Whether forests continue to act as a global sink will depend on many factors, including the response of aboveground wood production (AWP; MgC ha(-1 ) yr(-1) ) to climate change. Here, we explore how AWP in New Zealand's natural forests is likely to change. We start by statistically modelling the present-day growth of 97 199 individual trees within 1070 permanently marked inventory plots as a function of tree size, competitive neighbourhood and climate. We then use these growth models to identify the factors that most influence present-day AWP and to predict responses to medium-term climate change under different assumptions. We find that if the composition and structure of New Zealand's forests were to remain unchanged over the next 30 years, then AWP would increase by 6-23%, primarily as a result of physiological responses to warmer temperatures (with no appreciable effect of changing rainfall). However, if warmth-requiring trees were able to migrate into currently cooler areas and if denser canopies were able to form, then a different AWP response is likely: forests growing in the cool mountain environments would show a 30% increase in AWP, while those in the lowland would hardly respond (on average, -3% when mean annual temperature exceeds 8.0 °C). We conclude that response of wood production to anthropogenic climate change is not only dependent on the physiological responses of individual trees, but is highly contingent on whether forests adjust in composition and structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Coomes
- Forest Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
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Proctor MCF. Light and desiccation responses of some Hymenophyllaceae (filmy ferns) from Trinidad, Venezuela and New Zealand: poikilohydry in a light-limited but low evaporation ecological niche. Ann Bot 2012; 109:1019-26. [PMID: 22334496 PMCID: PMC3310494 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcs012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hymenophyllaceae (filmy ferns) are typically plants of shady, constantly moist habitats. They attain greatest species diversity and biomass in humid tropical montane forests and temperate hyperoceanic climates. This paper presents ecophysiological data bearing on their worldwide ecological niche space and its limits. METHODS Chlorophyll fluorescence was used to monitor recovery in desiccation experiments, and for measurements of 95 % saturating irradiance [photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD(95 %))] of photosynthetic electron flow and other parameters, in the New Zealand Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum, and three species each of Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes from forests in Trinidad and Venezuela. KEY RESULTS Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum was comparable in desiccation tolerance and light responses with the European species. The more common species in the two tropical forests showed PPFD(95 %) >100 µmol m(-2) s(-1), and withstood moderate desiccation (-40 MPa) for several days. The four most shade-adapted species had PPFD(95 %) ≤51 µmol m(-2) s(-1), and were sensitive to even mild and brief desiccation (-22 MPa for 3 d). CONCLUSIONS Light and desiccation responses of filmy ferns can be seen as an integrated package. At low light and windspeed in humid forests, net radiation and saturation deficit are low, and diffusion resistance high. Water loss is slow and can be supported by modest conduction from the sub-stratum. With higher irradiance, selection pressure for desiccation tolerance increases progressively. With low light and high humidity, the filmy fern pattern of adaptation is probably optimal, and the vascular plant leaf with mesophyll and stomata offers no advantage in light capture, water economy or CO(2) uptake. Trade-offs between light adaptation and desiccation tolerance, and between stem conduction and water absorption through the leaf surface, underlie adaptive radiation and niche differentiation of species within the family. Hymenophyllaceae are a rare example of an evolutionary shift of adaptive strategy from typical vascular plant adaptation to the poikilohydry most typical of bryophytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C F Proctor
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences: Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK.
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