How have the alpine dwarf plants in Yakushima been miniaturized? A comparative study of two alpine dwarf species in Yakushima, Blechnum niponicum (Blechnaceae) and Lysimachia japonica (Primulaceae)

Shinohara, Wataru; Murakami, Noriaki

doi:10.1007/s10265-006-0016-5

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This difference translates to an overall decrease in flower height of 0.88 cm per 100 m increase in altitude. An altitudinal reduction in flower or inflorescence height above ground has been reported in other alpine species [7,58] and is likely to be globally common given that in general plant stature decreases with altitude in the alpine life-zone [45,66,67,84]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

et al. 2016

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The tendency for flower longevity to increase with altitude is believed by many alpine ecologists to play an important role in compensating for low pollination rates at high altitudes due to cold and variable weather conditions. However, current studies documenting an altitudinal increase in flower longevity in the alpine habitat derive principally from studies on open-pollinated flowers where lower pollinator visitation rates at higher altitudes will tend to lead to flower senescence later in the life-span of a flower in comparison with lower altitudes, and thus could confound the real altitudinal pattern in a species´ potential flower longevity. In a two-year study we tested the hypothesis that a plastic effect of temperature on flower longevity could contribute to an altitudinal increase in potential flower longevity measured in pollinator-excluded flowers in high Andean Rhodolirium montanum Phil. (Amaryllidaceae). Using supplemental warming we investigated whether temperature around flowers plastically affects potential flower longevity. We determined tightly temperature-controlled potential flower longevity and flower height for natural populations on three alpine sites spread over an altitudinal transect from 2350 and 3075 m a.s.l. An experimental increase of 3.1°C around flowers significantly decreased flower longevity indicating a plastic response of flowers to temperature. Flower height in natural populations decreased significantly with altitude. Although temperature negatively affects flower longevity under experimental conditions, we found no evidence that temperature around flowers explains site variation in flower longevity over the altitudinal gradient. In a wetter year, despite a 3.5°C temperature difference around flowers at the extremes of the altitudinal range, flower longevity showed no increase with altitude. However, in a drier year, flower longevity increased significantly with altitude. The emerging picture suggests an increase in flower longevity along the altitudinal gradient is less common for potential flower longevity than for open-pollination flower longevity. Independently of any selection that may occur on potential longevity, plastic responses of flowers to environmental conditions are likely to contribute to altitudinal variation in flower longevity, especially in dry alpine areas. Such plastic responses could push flowers of alpine species towards shorter life-lengths under climate change, with uncertain consequences for successful pollination and plant fitness in a warming world.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

et al. 2016

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“…Prints of fresh leaf surfaces were made using celluloid disks and SUMP liquid (Kenis, Osaka, Japan) for microscopic observation (Shinohara and Murakami 2006).…”

Section: Determination Of Tissue Water Content (Twc)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Foliar trichome- and aquaporin-aided water uptake in a drought-resistant epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha Planchon

Ohrui

Nobira

Sakata

et al. 2007

Planta

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The atmospheric epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha is capable of surviving drought stress for 6 months or more without any exogenous water supply via an as of yet to be determined mechanism. When plants were soaked in water for 3 h, leaves absorbed a remarkably large amount of water (30-40% on the basis of fresh weight), exhibiting a bimodal absorption pattern. Radiolabeled water was taken up by the leaves by capillary action of the epidermal trichomes within 1 min (phase 1) and then transported intracellularly to leaf tissues over 3 h (phase 2). The removal of epidermal trichome wings from leaves as well as rinsing leaves with water significantly lowered the extracellular accumulation of water on leaf surfaces. The intracellular transport of water was inhibited by mercuric chloride, implicating the involvement of a water channel aquaporin in second-phase water absorption. Four cDNA clones (TiPIP1a, TiPIP1b, TiPIP1c, and TiPIP2a) homologous to PIP family aquaporins were isolated from the leaves, and RT-PCR showed that soaking plants in water stimulated the expression of TiPIP2a mRNA, suggesting the reinforcement in ability to rapidly absorb a large amount of water. The expression of TiPIP2a complementary RNA in Xenopus oocytes enhanced permeability, and treatment with inhibitors suggested that the water channel activity of TiPIP2a protein was regulated by phosphorylation. Thus, the high water uptake capability of T. ionantha leaves surviving drought is attributable to a bimodal trichome- and aquaporin-aided water uptake system based on rapid physical collection of water and subsequent, sustained chemical absorption.

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“…Argument could arise over whether this species is phenotypically, rather than genotypically, small and that its reduced size could be a response to drought, nutrient shortage, high light stress, or low temperatures (Körner & Pelaez Menendez-Riedl, 1989) and, under more favourable conditions, it would grow larger. Dwarfism has been documented from different alpine areas (e.g., Shinohara & Murakami, 2006;Körner, 2003) but, in the case of L. mitsyae, no larger specimens have been found, either at lower elevations close to the study area or in the local herbaria (CUZ, LPB, USM). It is thus likely, based on current knowledge, that this species is at its ecological optimum but that it occupies a very narrow ecological niche that is maintained by heavy grazing and harsh conditions and that, under more favourable conditions, it would be outcompeted by other forbs.…”

Section: Version Of Recordmentioning

confidence: 89%

The world’s smallest Campanulaceae: Lysipomia mitsyae sp. nov.

Sylvester

Quandt

Ammann

et al. 2016

TAXON

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Botanists and plant morphologists have long been fascinated by how certain species can exhibit such reduced morphologies that even their identification to genus-or family-level becomes difficult. Such was the case with Lysipomia mitsyae sp. nov., an exceptionally small plant discovered in the Peruvian Andes which bears lobelioid characteristics but differs in size by an order of magnitude from the current smallest members known from the entire Campanulaceae and lacks diagnostic characters allowing it to be reliably placed to genus-level. Molecular analyses of trnL-F, composed of a representative Lobelioideae sampling, place the samples within the genus Lysipomia, requiring that amendments be made to the description of the genus. Supplementary ITS analyses of a representative generic sampling indicate a close relationship to Lysipomia sphagnophila and L. multiflora. We here describe the world's smallest Campanulaceae, Lysipomia mitsyae sp. nov., and discuss its phylogenetic and systematic relationships to the other members of the genus. Its highly reduced morphology, which has given it status as the smallest Campanulaceae and, quite possibly, the world's smallest eudicot, is discussed in the light of current knowledge on the physiological and anatomical constraints on alpine plant growth and survival.

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How have the alpine dwarf plants in Yakushima been miniaturized? A comparative study of two alpine dwarf species in Yakushima, Blechnum niponicum (Blechnaceae) and Lysimachia japonica (Primulaceae)

Cited by 9 publications

References 19 publications

Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

Foliar trichome- and aquaporin-aided water uptake in a drought-resistant epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha Planchon

The world’s smallest Campanulaceae: Lysipomia mitsyae sp. nov.

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