Ecophysiological responses of the biocrust moss Syntrichia caninervis to experimental snow cover manipulations in a temperate desert of central Asia

Abstract

AbstractGlobal warming has given rise to variations in winter weather patterns, including changes in snow cover and soil hydrothermal properties. Biocrust mosses are a major component of desert ecosystems and are relatively sensitive to environmental change, yet the knowledge of possible ecophysiological responses of biocrust mosses to variations in annual snow cover is limited. The aim of this study was to understand how Syntrichia caninervis responds to simulated snow cover alterations in a temperate desert. Ecophysiological indicators of S. caninervis affected by snow manipulation were investigated in early winter (December), mid‐winter (January and February) and snow melt (March). Three levels of snow manipulations were complete removal of snow (−S), ambient snow cover (control, S), and double layer of snow (+S). Two‐way repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that most of the ecophysiological indices measured were significantly affected by the snow manipulation treatments, the actual time period of the snow cover and the interaction between both snow manipulation and time period. Soluble protein decreased with reduced snow cover especially during periods of snow melt. In contrast, antioxidant enzyme activity and malonydialdehyde (MDA) increased with reduced snow cover, but an exception to this trend was observed for peroxidase in early winter and MDA during snow melt. The results may indicate that biocrust moss has the ability to adapt to changes in snow cover by adjusting the physiological activities.