Abstract
Bryophytes face challenges due to global climate change which is leading to in-depth research in monitoring and studying their photosynthetic activity. The aim of this preliminary experiment was to study the seasonal variation trend in the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, Fv/Fm (ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence), photochemical fluorescence quenching (qP), photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPS II), fluorescence quenching (qN), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), in the moss cushions of Syntrichia ruralis [Hedw.] collected from semi-arid sandy dunes for two slopes i.e., north-east (NE) and south-west (SW) direction. Our results showed a seasonal and small-spatial scale variation trend in all chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. These variations are due to different seasonal conditions referring to different degrees of environmental stress. ΦPS II and qP values were maximum in winter and in spring seasons while Fv/Fm, NPQ and qN were maximum in summer. Based on the different exposition of dunes, the SW slope showed increased values of the effective quantum yield of PS II and qP in comparison to the NE slope due to the optimal microclimate conditions for their expansion. These results may refer to the future changing in diversification and coverage of the Syntrichia species in semi-arid sandy grassland due to more effective metabolism in the beneficial microclimatic conditions.
Highlights
Cryptogamic species collectively form biological soil crusts that perform an important ecological function i.e., production in dry grasslands [1]
Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were taken on desiccation-tolerant bryophyte S. ruralis showed recovery of Fv/Fm within three days in the rehydrated state between NE and SW slopes respectively
An independent sample t-test was performed to calculate the significant values of two slopes with respect to fluorescence parameters
Summary
Cryptogamic species (such as algae, fungi, lichens, and bryophytes) collectively form biological soil crusts that perform an important ecological function i.e., production in dry grasslands [1]. Desiccation tolerance is a relatively common phenomenon among lichens and bryophytes, which helps in their survival under water-deficit conditions by recovering their metabolic activity upon rehydration. ‘Blackspots’ of desiccated moss carpet of S. ruralis are visible in summer. It contributes 18–20% to the total cover found between the scattered tufts of dominant grasses (Festucetum vaginatae danubiale association) and plays an important role in the function of this community [6]. In hot and dry areas, due to a shortage of water, bryophytes adapt various survival strategies and grow in the more protected microhabitats such as at the bases of grass tussocks, on tree trunks and in rock crevices. Few experiments were conducted to study the photosynthetic behavior of S. ruralis moss after re-moistening in time [7]
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