Bryophyte photosynthesis in sunflecks: greater relative induction rate than in tracheophytes

Abstract

Bryophyte photosynthesis in sunflecks: greater relative induction rate than in tracheophytes Jiri K u b a s e k 1'2 , T o m a s H a j e k 2,3, J a n ic e M . G lim e 4 1G lobal Change Research Centre, ASCR, Brno, Czech R epublic, d e p a r tm e n t o f E xperim ental Plant Biology, Faculty o f Science, U niversity o f S outh B ohem ia, Branisovska 31, CZ-370 05 Ceske B udejovice , Czech Republic, in s t it u t e o f B otany o f ASCR, D ukelska 135, CZ-379 82 Trebon, Czech Republic, d e p a r tm e n t o f B io lo g ica l Sciences, M ichigan T echnolog ical U niversity, 219 H u b b e ll St., H oughton, Ml 49931, USA Photosynthetic kinetics in ch an g in g light intensity is conside re d pivotal for the survival of understorey tracheophytes; however, it is virtually unknown for bryophytes because bryophytes and trache o ph yte s have contrasting p h ysio-e co lo gical strategies. A natom y su gg e sts that relative rate of photosynthetic induction is faster in b ryo ph yte gam eto ph yte s due to the abse n ce of stom ata, w hose slow response m ay lim it photosynthesis of tra che o ph yte leaves in ch an g in g light intensity. We m easured steady-state and d yna m ic C 0 2 excha n ge in 10 bryo ph yte species. We perform ed an in-depth survey of the m oss Hypnum cupressiforme sam pled from sun and shade sites. O ur key results are: (1) B ryophyte photosynthesis after 110 © B r it is h B r y o lo g ic a l S o c ie ty 2014 DO I 1 0 .1 1 7 9 /1 7 4 3 2 8 2 0 1 4 Y .0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 6 P u b lis h e d o n lin e 7 A p r il 2014 J o u rn a l o f B ry o lo g y 2014 VOL. 36 n o . 2 K u b ase k e t al.

Structure and functional properties of the orthotropic and the plagiotropic shoots of Climacium dendroides and Polytrichum commune (Bryophyta)

“…Our data are consistent with the results obtained on other bryophytes in similar micro-climatic conditions in forest communities (Kubasek et al, 2014).…”

Comparing the responses of bryophytes and short‐statured vascular plants to climate shifts and eutrophication

“…() found that moderate N deposition levels were associated with increased bryophyte growth, suggesting that nutrient enrichment, even relatively high level, may not always have direct toxic, counterproductive effect on bryophytes. Many bryophytes also show a marked degree of shade tolerance (Marschall & Proctor ; van der Wal, Pearce & Brooker ) and are able to rapidly photosynthesize under light pulses (Kubasek, Hájek & Glime ), thus increasing their opportunities to survive in moderately dense vascular plant understories (created by fertilization alone; Eskelinen & Harrison ) where competition for light is likely to be more intense. Due to their small size and high colonization ability (Vanderpoorten & Goffinet ), bryophytes are likely to survive even in extremely small microhabitats and may be less affected by competition by tall vascular plants.…”

Higher photosynthetic capacity and different functional trait scaling relationships in erect bryophytes compared with prostrate species

“…Therefore, erect bryophytes growing in the forest understory must invest a greater proportion of their nitrogen into their chloroplast pigments to improve their light-harvesting abilities and thus offset the effect of self-shading. In contrast, the prostrate species creep along the substrate and their shoot structures are more efficient at collecting the weak light in the forest understory and utilising temporal heterogeneity in light levels (such as sunflecks) (Bates 1998;Kubásek et al 2014;Niinemets and Sack 2006). In summary, the growth form of a bryophyte has a strong effect on its light interception pattern and nutrient distribution, thereby affecting its functional trait relationships.…”