| Abstract Detail
Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS Pasiche Lisboa , Carlos Jose [1]. Dispersal of moss protonemata by water. Dispersal aids bryophyte population’s survival by scattering their sexual (spores) and asexual parts to new areas. Spores can travel away from its source from a few meters to a continent away; while asexual parts or propagules (e.g. gametophyte branches, gemmae, bulbils) usually fall close to the source. From the asexual propagules, the protonemata’s dispersal behavior has not been studied; however, its dispersal has been suggested to occur. Therefore, protonemata dispersal, by water (splash drops), was examined here. To do so, capsules from Callicostela belangeriana (Besch.) A. Jaeger and Taxiphyllum taxirameum (Mitten) M. Fleischer were collected from the field, transferred to the laboratory, and cultured axenically in vitro to produce protonemata. Then, the protonemata were submitted to water dispersal by placing them on cardboard and then being splashed by three sequential dyed water drops from a burette at a 1 or 2 meter height. Dispersal distances were measured and then protonemata were placed in vitro, for which survival data were obtained. These experiments demonstrated that moss protonemata can disperse (up to 80 cm) and it is more likely for the protonemata to disperse than stay stationary if hit by splash drops. The majority of the protonemata fell close to the source, first 10 to 12 cm. Also, there was a linear relationship for this pattern; where, the further from the source the lower the protonematal relative frequency. The species used did not seem to influence dispersal, yet the drop height was found to affect the average distance the protonemata were scattered. Drops from 2 meters dispersed on average the protonemata farther distances than 1 meter. After the dispersal event the protonemata had a high survival, water dispersal might aid its establishment. This study suggests that bryophyte dispersal is more dynamic than previously studied. These plants can use each part of their life cycle to ensure population maintenance and survival. Further studies of bryophyte water dispersal should assess how it can influence the population spatial arrangement.
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1 - University Of Puerto Rico, Call Box 9000, Mayaguez, PR, 00681-9000, USA
Keywords:
none specified
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PBR005
Abstract ID:667
Candidate for Awards:None |
