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Distributional and ecophysiological study on the Antarctic lichens species pair Usnea antarctica/Usnea aurantiaco-atra

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Abstract

The factors that control lichen distribution in Antarctica are still not well understood, and in this investigation we focused on the distribution, local and continental, and gas exchange of a species pair, closely related lichens with differing reproductive strategies, Usnea aurantiaco-atra (fertile) and Usnea antarctica (sterile, sorediate). The local distributions of these species were recorded along an altitudinal gradient of nearly 300 m at South Bay, Livingston Island, and microclimate was also recorded over 1 year. The photosynthetic responses to temperature, light and thallus water content were determined under controlled conditions in the laboratory. The species were almost identical in their photosynthetic profiles. Locally, on Livingston Island, U. antarctica was confined to low altitude sites which were warmer and drier, whilst U. aurantiaco-atra was present at all altitudes. This contrasts with its distribution across Antarctica where U. antarctica grows 9° latitude further south than U. aurantiaco-atra. Temperature appears not to be the main controller of distribution in these species, but dryness of habitat, which will influence length of activity periods, may be important.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Spanish Polar Committee and to the Marine Technology Unit UTM of CSIC which provided the necessary logistics for field work in February 2012, as well as to the staff of Antarctic Spanish Base on Juan Carlos I (Livingston Island) which provided dedicated support during 2012 field campaign. Special acknowledgement is due to David Hita who successfully executed data downloading in February 2013. We also would like to thank Dr. Mercedes Vivas and Dr. Jose Raggio for their helpful advice regarding laboratory work and physiology data analysis and to Alberto Benavent for his contribution on the map elaboration. This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science (CTM2009-12838-C04-01 and CTM2012-38222-C02-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Clara Laguna-Defior, Ana Pintado, T. G. Allan Green, J. Manuel Blanquer & Leopoldo G. Sancho

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  1. Clara Laguna-Defior
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  2. Ana Pintado
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  3. T. G. Allan Green
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  4. J. Manuel Blanquer
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  5. Leopoldo G. Sancho
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Correspondence to Clara Laguna-Defior.

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Laguna-Defior, C., Pintado, A., Green, T.G.A. et al. Distributional and ecophysiological study on the Antarctic lichens species pair Usnea antarctica/Usnea aurantiaco-atra . Polar Biol 39, 1183–1195 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1832-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1832-7

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