Comparisons of photosynthesis-related traits among understory lichens, mosses, and vascular plant leaves in a high-elevation subalpine forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Xin Liu ◽  
Zhangming Zhu ◽  
Wenzhang Ma ◽  
Weikai Bao
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Plant Leaves ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus

Abstract Many mosses and lichens thrive in high-elevation subalpine forests and even become dominant species on the forest floor. Although they play an irreplaceable ecological role in the forest, less is known about their eco-physiological status, and how their photosynthesis-related functional traits differ from those of co-occurring vascular plants. We determined the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations and stoichiometric ratios, tissue mass per area, chlorophyll concentrations, and photosynthetic light-response curves of three lichens, three mosses, and four vascular plants in a subalpine forest in the eastern Tibetan Plateau of China. Trait values were compared among and within each group. The lichens possessed a higher nitrogen concentration than that of mosses. In addition, the two poikilohydric groups exhibited lower concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll, light-saturated assimilation rates, and photosynthetic nutrient use efficiencies, and higher light compensation points than those of vascular plant leaves. Furthermore, variations in photosynthesis-related traits for lichen species reflect their different adaptation strategies to their corresponding environments. In contrast, the differences were weak among the three forest-floor mosses and the three herb species. These results demonstrate that the high abundance of understory lichens and mosses in the high-elevation subalpine forest cannot be explained by the photosynthesis-related traits.

Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on 13C and 15N of aquatic plants from a semiarid wetland

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilia Serrano-Grijalva ◽  
Raul Ochoa-Hueso ◽  
Raquel Sánchez-Andrés ◽  
Santos Cirujano ◽  
Salvador Sánchez-Carrillo
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Aquatic Plants ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
La Mancha

Wetlands provide a great variety of environmental services to society, but they are currently globally threatened by human activities. We evaluated the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the ecological quality of semiarid wetlands from central Spain (La Mancha Húmeda) through the natural abundance of isotopes (13C and 15N) of aquatic plants. We measured water quality and also compiled historical information about land-use and socioeconomic characteristics at local (100 m around the lagoon) and regional (sub-basin) scales. We then related this information to isotopic signatures of three types of aquatic plants: (i) charophytes, (ii) marginal aquatic macrophytes and (iii) vascular plants. Aquatic plants exposed to high levels of nitrogen showed very low δ13C values, consistent with negative physiological effects. Vascular aquatic plants were the group that best reflected the effects of nutrient enrichment in wetlands and lagoons through significant correlations between their δ15N values and total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in water. Demographic factors did not exert a clear influence on aquatic plant isotopic signatures, although we observed inverse correlations between the coverage of natural vegetation at regional scale and δ13C of marginal plants and δ15N of vascular plants. Furthermore, the isotopic signatures of Phragmites australis, present in 96% of the studied la-goons, were not significantly correlated with any of the environmental quality variables evaluated. Although δ13C signatures of Typha dominguensis and Cladium mariscus increased significantly due to changes in water quality, their narrow isotopic variability at the regional scale limits their use as a bioindicators of environmental changes in this wetland system. Finally, we propose the use of δ15N measured in the vascular plant Salicornia sp. as the most suitable bio-indicator of anthropogenic impacts in La Mancha Húmeda region, a highly emblematic system of semiarid Mediterranean wetlands that is unique in the Mediterranean region of Europe.

The effects of logs, stumps, and root throws on understory communities within 28-year-old aspen-dominated boreal forests

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 905-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Lee ◽  
Kelly Sturgess
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Understory Composition ◽  
Colonization Patterns ◽  
Understory Communities

This study examined the role of logs, stumps, and root throws on the understory composition of aspen-dominated boreal forests. Measures of microsite coverage and suitability, and vascular plant composition and abundance were taken from 28-year-old wildfire and harvest sites. Larger logs (>20 cm diameter) with soft surfaces were the most suitable for colonization by vascular plants. These logs covered more than five times the area of stumps or root throws in both harvest and wildfire sites. Detrended correspondence analysis revealed that logs and stumps were colonized by a significantly different assemblage of vascular plants than the forest floor of either disturbance type. Contrary to studies in other forest types, assemblages of plants on root throw pits and mounds were similar to those on the forest floor. Initial colonization patterns on logs and stumps in both wildfire and harvest sites were similar. However, on more decayed logs assemblages of vascular plants were more similar to their respective wildfire or harvest forest floor assemblages. Ordination of species suggested that tree seedlings and shade-tolerant herbs were disproportionately more abundant on logs and stumps.Key words: plant community assemblages, deadwood resources, coarse woody debris, root throws, logs, boreal forest.

scholarly journals Rationale: Photosynthesis of Vascular Plants in Dim Light

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolin Wang ◽  
Yong Wang ◽  
Aifeng Ling ◽  
Zhen Guo ◽  
Muhammad Asim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Carbon Accounting ◽  
Plant Leaves ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
Earth’S Climate

Light dominates the earth’s climate and ecosystems via photosynthesis, and fine changes of that might cause extensive material and energy alternation. Dim light (typically less than 5 μmol photons m–2 s–1) occurs widely in terrestrial ecosystems, while the frequency, duration, and extent of that are increasing because of climate change and urbanization. Dim light is important for the microorganism in the photosynthetic process, but omitted or unconsidered in the vascular plant, because the photosynthesis in the high-light adapted vascular leaves was almost impossible. In this review, we propose limitations of photosynthesis in vascular plant leaves, then elucidate the possibility and evidence of photosynthesis in terms of energy demand, stomatal opening, photosynthetic induction, and photosynthesis-related physiological processes in dim light. This article highlights the potential and noteworthy influence of dim light on photosynthesis in vascular plant leaves, and the research gap of dim light in model application and carbon accounting.

scholarly journals Community-level functional traits of alpine vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens after long-term experimental warming

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristel van Zuijlen ◽  
Kari Klanderud ◽  
Oda Sofie Dahle ◽  
Åshild Hasvik ◽  
Maria Skar Knutsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Experimental Warming ◽  
Plant Nitrogen ◽  
Vegetation Height

We measured community-level traits of vascular plants, lichens and bryophytes in an alpine Dryas octopetala heath in Finse, Norway, after nearly two decades of experimental warming by open top chambers. We hypothesized that under warming 1) vascular plant traits would shift from resource conservative towards more resource acquisitive, and 2) lichen and bryophyte traits would shift to those associated with drier conditions, due to increased evapotranspiration. Both hypotheses were not supported, as vascular plant nitrogen concentration decreased while carbon to nitrogen ratio increased with warming, indicative of a less resource acquisitive strategy, and lichen specific thallus area and water holding capacity (WHC) were unresponsive. Bryophyte specific shoot length increased, and carbon concentration and WHC tended to decrease under warming, concurrent with increased vegetation height and litter cover indicating stronger competition from vascular plants. Intraspecific variation was most important for vascular plant and lichen traits, while species turnover was the main driver of bryophyte trait variation. This indicates that bryophytes may be affected more strongly by future warming than vascular plants and lichens in our study system. We highlight the importance of studying traits of different primary producer groups simultaneously, as they may respond differently to the same environmental changes.

Differentiation of new coenomorph in context of the Belgard’s ecomorph system development

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Baranovski
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
System Development ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Tabular Form ◽  
Ecological Scales ◽  
The One ◽  
Different Levels

Nowadays, bioecological characteristics of species are the basis for flora and vegetation studying on the different levels. Bioecological characteristics of species is required in process of flora studying on the different levels such as biotopes or phytocenoses, floras of particular areas (floras of ecologically homogeneous habitats), and floras of certain territories. Ramensky scale is the one of first detailed ecological scales on plant species ordination in relation to various environmental factors; it developed in 1938 (Ramensky, 1971). A little later (1941), Pogrebnyak’s scale of forest stands was proposed. Ellenberg’s system developed in 1950 (Ellenberg, 1979) and Tsyganov’s system (Tsyganov, 1975) are best known as the systems of ecological scales on vascular plant species; these systems represent of habitat detection by ecotopic ecomorphs of plant species (phytoindication). Basically, the system proposed by Alexander Lyutsianovich Belgard was the one of first system of plant species that identiified ectomorphs in relation to environmental factors. As early as 1950, Belgard developed the tabulated system of ecomorphs using the Latin ecomorphs abbreviation; he also used the terminology proposed in the late 19th century by Dekandol (1956) and Warming (1903), as well as terminology of other authors. The article analyzes the features of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs on vascular plants. It has certain significance and advantages over other systems of ecomorphs. The use of abbreviated Latin names of ecomorphs in tabular form enables the use shortened form of ones. In the working scheme of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs relation of species to environmental factors are represented in the abbreviated Latin alphabetic version (Belgard, 1950). Combined into table, the ecomorphic analysis of plant species within association (ecological certification of species), biotope or area site (water area) gives an explicit pattern on ecological structure of flora within surveyed community, biotope or landscape, and on environmental conditions. Development and application by Belgrard the cenomorphs as «species’ adaptation to phytocenosis as a whole» were completely new in the development of systems of ecomorphs and, in this connection, different coenomorphs were distinguished. Like any concept, the system of ecomorphs by Belgard has the possibility and necessity to be developed and added. Long-time researches and analysis of literature sources allow to propose a new coenomorph in the context of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs development: silvomargoant (species of forest margin, from the Latin words margo – edge, boundary (Dvoretsky, 1976), margo – margin, ad margins silvarum – along the deciduous forest margins). As an example of ecomorphic characterization of species according to the system of ecomorphs by Belgard (when the abbreviated Latin ecomorph names are used in tabular form and the proposed cenomorph is used), it was given the part of the table on vascular plants ecomorphs in the National Nature Park «Orelsky» (Baranovsky et al). The Belgard’s system of ecomorphs is particularly convenient and can be successfully applied to data processing in the ecological analysis of the flora on wide areas with significant species richness, and the proposed ecomorph will be another necessary element in the Belgard’s system of ecomorphs. 

In memory of Vera Antonovna Martynenko (1936-2018)

2018 ◽  
pp. 149-154
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Ussr Academy ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Komi Republic ◽  
Great Contribution ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Natural Flora

Vera Antonovna Martynenko (17.02.1936–06.01.2018) — famous specialist in the field of studying vascular plant flora and vegetation of the Far North, the Honored worker of the Komi Republic (2006), The Komi Republic State Scientific Award winner (2000). She was born in the town Likhoslavl of the Kali­nin (Tver) region. In 1959, Vera Antonovna graduated from the faculty of soil and biology of the Leningrad State University and then moved to the Komi Branch of USSR Academy of Science (Syktyvkar). From 1969 to 1973 she passed correspondence postgraduate courses of the Komi Branch of USSR Academy of ­Science. In 1974, she received the degree of candidate of biology (PhD) by the theme «Comparative analysis of the boreal flora at the Northeast European USSR» in the Botanical Institute (St. Petersburg). In 1996, Vera Antonovna received the degree of doctor of biology in the Institute of plant and animal ecology (Ekaterinburg) «Flora of the northern and mid subzones of the taiga of the European North-East». The study and conservation of species and coenotical diversity of the plant world, namely the vascular plants flora of the Komi Republic and revealing its transformation under the anthropogenic influence, was in the field of V. A. Martynenko’ scientific interests. She made great contribution to the study of the Komi Republic meadow flora and the pool of medi­cinal plants. She performed inventorying and mapping the meadows of several agricultural enterprises of the Republic, revealed the species composition and places for harvesting medicinal plants and studied their productivity in the natural flora of the boreal zone. The results of her long-term studies were used for making the NPA system and the Red Book of the Komi Republic (1998 and 2009). Vera Antonovna participated in the research of the influence of placer gold mining and oil development on the natural ecosystems of the North, and developed the method of long-term monitoring of plant cover. Results of these works are of high practical value. V. A. Martynenko is an author and coauthor of more than 130 scientific publications. The most important jnes are «Flora of Northeast European USSR» (1974, 1976, and 1977), «Floristic composition of fodder lands of the Northeast Europe» (1989), «The forests of the Komi Republic» (1999), «Forestry of forest resources of the Komi Republic» (2000), «The list of flora of the Yugyd va national park» (2003), «The guide for vascular plants of the Syktyvkar and its vicinities» (2005), «Vascular plants of the Komi Republic» (2008), and «Resources of the natural flora of the Komi Republic» (2014). She also was an author of «Encyclopedia of the Komi Republic» (1997, 1999, and 2000), «Historical and cultural atlas of the Komi Republic» (1997), «Atlas of the Komi Republic» (2001, 2011). V. A. Martynenko made a great contribution to the development of the botanical investigations in the North. Since 1982, during more than 10 years, she was the head of the Department of the Institute of Biology. Three Ph. D. theses have been completed under her leadership. Many years, she worked actively in the Dissertation Council of the Institute of biology Komi Scientific Centre UrB RAS.  The death of Vera Antonovna Martynenko is a heavy and irretrievable loss for the staff of the Institute of Biology. The memory of Vera Antonovna will live in her numerous scientific works, the hearts of students and colleagues.

Additions and clarifications to the flora of “Castel” nature reserve (the Southern Coast of the Crimea)

2020 ◽  
pp. 112-127
Author(s):  
L. E. Ryff
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Southern Coast ◽  
Crimean Peninsula ◽  
Annotated List ◽  
The Crimea ◽  
Protected Natural Area ◽  
Biological Flora

The aim of the work is to supplement and clarify the annotated list of vascular plants of “Castel” nature reserve on the Southern coast of the Crimea. Methods. The work is based on the results of long standing field research, which was carried out by the traditional route-reconnaissance method, analysis of YALT herbarium materials and data from literary and Internet sources. Arealogical and biomorphological characteristics of species are given according to "Biological Flora of the Crimea" by V.N. Golubev, biotope coding according to EUNIS habitat classification. The nomenclature of taxa corresponds to the " Spontaneuos flora of the Crimean peninsula" by A.V. Yena and to international databases Euro+Med PlantBase, The Plant List, Catalog of Life. Results. An additional annotated list of vascular plants of “Castel” nature reserve has been compiled, including 152 species, subspecies and cultivars from 97 genera of 38 families, of which 53 genera and 11 families have also not been cited for this territory before. Arealogical, biomorphological, biotopic and sozological characteristics of the taxa are given. As a result of a critical analysis of the list previously published by E.S. Krainyuk, four species were redefined, two species were proposed to be excluded from the flora of the specially protected natural area, several taxa are considered doubtful. Conclusions. The list of vascular plant taxa in “Castel” nature reserve has been supplemented with 11 families, 53 genera, and 152 species, subspecies, and cultivars; several species from the previously compiled list have been proposed to be excluded or considered doubtful. Thus, the flora of the protected area includes at least 425 species from 68 families. For the first time, the biotopic characteristic of the flora of the reserve was established.

scholarly journals Where we Come from and where to Go: Six Decades of Botanical Studies in the Mediterranean Wetlands, with Sardinia (Italy) as a Case Study

Wetlands ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Cuena-Lombraña ◽  
Mauro Fois ◽  
Annalena Cogoni ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Temporary Ponds ◽  
Evolutionary Strategies ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Research Themes ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Water Saturated

AbstractPlants are key elements of wetlands due to their evolutionary strategies for coping with life in a water-saturated environment, providing the basis for supporting nearly all wetland biota and habitat structure for other taxonomic groups. Sardinia, the second largest island of the Mediterranean Basin, hosts a great variety of wetlands, of which 16 are included in eight Ramsar sites. The 119 hydro- and hygrophilous vascular plant taxa from Sardinia represent the 42.6% and 37.9% of the number estimated for Italy and Europe, respectively. Moreover, around 30% of Sardinia’s bryological flora, which is made up of 498 taxa, is present in temporary ponds. An overview at regional scale considering algae is not available, to our knowledge, even though several specific studies have contributed to their knowledge. In order to find the most investigated research themes and wetland types, identify knowledge gaps and suggest recommendations for further research, we present a first attempt to outline the work that has been hitherto done on plants in lentic habitats in Sardinia. Three plant groups (algae, bryophytes and vascular plants), and five research themes (conservation, ecology, inventory, palaeobotany and taxonomy) were considered. After a literature review, we retained 202 papers published from 1960 to 2019. We found that studies on vascular plants, as plant group, were disproportionately more numerous, and inventories and ecology were the most investigated research themes. Although efforts have recently been made to fill these long-lasting gaps, there is a need for updating the existing information through innovative methods and integrative approaches.

scholarly journals Carbon for nutrient exchange between Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric CO2

Mycorrhiza ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace A. Hoysted ◽  
Jill Kowal ◽  
Silvia Pressel ◽  
Jeffrey G. Duckett ◽  
Martin I. Bidartondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Root Endophyte ◽  
Isotope Tracers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fungal Associates ◽  
Endophyte Fungi

AbstractNon-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO2] (a[CO2]) than ambient; however, nothing is known about how changes in a[CO2] affect MFRE function in vascular plants. We measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using 33P-orthophosphate, 15 N-ammonium chloride and 14CO2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated a[CO2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Transfers of 33P and 15 N from MFRE to plants were unaffected by changes in a[CO2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plants to MFRE under elevated a[CO2]. Our results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in a[CO2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under different abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of plant-fungal symbioses in ecosystems.

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