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Effect of Soil Moisture on Morpho-Anatomical Leaf Traits of Ranunculus acris (Ranunculaceae)

Kołodziejek J., Michlewska S.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2015

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Vol. 63, nr 3

400--413

EN

Leaf morphological and anatomical differences between two collection sites in central Poland were examined in tall buttercup Ranunculus acris. We hypothesized that the availability of soil moisture would affect leaf morphological and anatomical traits. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of soil moisture content on: leaf size, epidermal features and on a number of stomatal characteristics in populations of R. acris species. The plants were investigated at sites differing in soil moisture conditions (a dryer upper site and a wetter lower site). Relatively semi-dry and wet sites were identified by plant communities and soil moisture content. We found out that morphological and anatomical leaf traits of R. acris were significantly related to soil moisture content. Leaves from plants growing in the wet site were 26% smaller in size than those from the semi-dry site. The population with smaller leaf area had larger leaf perimeter and higher dissection index. The stomatal index of the leaves sampled in the semi-dry site was higher than that of the leaves sampled in the wet site. Greater leaf thickness in the semi-dry site was primarily the result of increased spongy parenchyma thickness. On the abaxial leaf surface epidermal cell density was significantly higher at the wet site implying more epidermal cells. On the adaxial leaf surface, however, epidermal cell density decreased when plants were exposed to the elevated soil moisture. The results may indicate that soil moisture content influences leaf anatomy and morphology of R. acris. Thus, all these leaf morphoanatomical traits provide a basis for R. acris to reduce water loss from leaves and to balance water use efficiency under reduced precipitation. The present study demonstrates that R. acris can maximize growth in habitats with a wide range of soil moisture availability and such information can be crucial for developing management strategies and predictive models of its spread.

2

Functional traits and plasticity of plants in ecological research and education

Masarovičová E., Májeková M., Vykouková I.

Chemistry-Didactics-Ecology-Metrology

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2015

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R. 20, NR 1-2

59--65

EN

Plant functional traits are any morphological, physiological and phenological features, which indirectly affect plant fitness through their three basic components of plant individual performance - growth, reproduction and survival. These features represent also a keystone for plant functional groups, which are similar in three aspects - function on the level of organism, response to environmental factors and effect on ecosystems. Functional approach in ecology and vegetation study enables to evaluate plant communities on the base of species function in a community, and to relate functional structure of plant communities to particular environmental gradients. Species plasticity has many aspects that mirror species adaptations to the environmental conditions and which then also translate into functional structuring of plant communities. This approach is thus a novel and exciting mode how to carry on plant ecology, both in research and education at universities.

PL

Charakterystyczna funkcjonalność roślin zależy od ich cech morfologicznych, fizjologicznych i fenologicznych, które pośrednio wpływają na kondycję roślin poprzez trzy podstawowe elementy ich indywidualnego rozwoju, tj. wzrost, reprodukcję i przetrwanie. Cechy te stanowią również podstawę funkcyjnych grup roślinnych, które są podobne w trzech aspektach - funkcje na poziomie organizmu, odpowiedź na czynniki środowiskowe i wpływ na ekosystemy. Podejście funkcjonalne w ekologii i w badaniach roślin umożliwia ocenę zbiorowisk roślinnych w oparciu o funkcje gatunków w społeczności i odniesienie funkcjonalnej struktury zbiorowisk roślinnych do poszczególnych gradientów środowiskowych. Plastyczność gatunków ma wiele aspektów, które odzwierciedlają ich przystosowanie do warunków środowiskowych, a które następnie przekłada się także na funkcjonalną strukturę zbiorowisk roślinnych. Takie podejście jest więc nowym i interesującym sposobem rozumienia ekologii roślin, znajdującym zastosowania zarówno w badaniach, jak i w edukacji uniwersyteckiej.

3

Effects of post-cutting changes in site conditions on the morphology and phenology of naturally regenerated beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Barna M., Schieber B., Cicak A.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2009

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Vol. 57, nr 3

461-472

EN

We studied the response in growth and phenology of naturally regenerated beech seedlings to changed ecological conditions over 14 and 19-years after cutting with different intensity. Five different types of stand densities were modelled: plot C - control plot - no cut, L - low intensity cut, M - medium intensity cut, H - high intensity cut and CC - clear cut, with 1, 8, 22, 53 and 100% of relative irradiation, and 66, 68, 78, 92 and 100% of through fall, respectively. We were focussing on tree height growth and leaf area. Our phenological observations were aimed at onset and course of two spring vegetative phenophases: bud-burst and leaf unfolding. Already in two-year-old beech seedlings we found significant differences in height growth; the differences in mean leaf area, however, were observed later. From the viewpoint of phenotypic plasticity, the height growth in beech seedlings represented more sensitive response to the environment than the leaf area. According to leaf area size and height growth in the beech seedlings on control plot, the stress conditions were indicated, primarily from the lacking light. With stand opening, the development of recruitment was getting better, and beginning with plot M the increase of seedlings height and leaf area became continuously related to the amount of radiation. The results of phenological observations showed that the spring phenophases in the seedlings start first on control plot. The start of spring phenophases on the clearcut was always observed the latest, even in comparison with the parent stand. Correlation analysis confirmed a significant correlation (P <0.05, r = -0.61) between the mean air temperature in March and April and start of the phenophase leafing in the individual years. Analysis of long-term research showed that the trend of leafing's onset observed in course of 18 years was significant (P <0.05), manifested a shift towards earlier dates.