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.

Annals of Botany
Michael C F Proctor

Abstract

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. 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. 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). Light and desiccation responses of filmy ferns can be seen as an integrated package. At low light and windspeed in humid forests...Continue Reading

References

Aug 12, 2000·Journal of Experimental Botany·K Maxwell, G N Johnson
Sep 8, 2007·The New Phytologist·James E WatkinsStephen S Mulkey
May 1, 2008·Annual Review of Plant Biology·Neil R Baker
Dec 1, 2000·The New Phytologist·G N JohnsonE Sheffield
Dec 1, 2002·The New Phytologist·Michael C F Proctor, Zoltán Tuba

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Citations

Sep 14, 2016·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Weston Testo, Michael Sundue
Apr 1, 2014·Functional Plant Biology : FPB·Joshua L Greenwood, Lloyd R Stark
Jun 6, 2020·Frontiers in Plant Science·Enrique Ostria-GallardoLeón A Bravo
Jun 13, 2021·Journal of Plant Research·Joel H NittaCharles C Davis

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