| Title | Adaptation of epiphytic bryophytes in the understorey attributing to the correlations and trade-offs between functional traits |
| Author | Chen, Xi |
| Publication | JOURNAL OF BRYOLOGY |
| Year | 2016 |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Corresponding Author | Liu, WY |
| Abstract | This study explores adaptive strategies of epiphytic bryophytes in the understorey by investigating the photosynthetic characteristics, pigment concentrations and nutrient stoichiometry, as well as other functional traits of three trunk-dwelling bryophytes in a subtropical montane cloud forest in SW China. The results showed that their light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (A(nmax-L)), light saturation point (I-sat), light compensation point (I-c) and dark respiration rate (R-d) were ca 0.55, 106.72, 4.17 and 0.25 mu mol m(-2) s(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the samples demonstrated photosynthetic down-regulation under high irradiance. These photosynthetic characteristics can be explained by higher total chlorophyll concentrations, specific leaf area, chlorophyll per unit leaf N (Chl/N), lower ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b (Chl a/b) and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency. We suggest that the bryophytes adapted to the shaded understorey microhabitats through a series of correlations and trade-offs between functional traits. |
