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Current Advances in Fern Research pp 467–480Cite as

Ecomorphology of Stomata in Temperate Ferns Under Contrasting Environments

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Abstract

Stomata are crucial structures for plants to better adapt themselves to the environment, in relation to many ecological variables. In this sense, it is widely accepted that (a) stomatal size is much more genetically fixed than density, which can be dynamically modified in new leaves to adjust them to changing conditions and (b) density is expected to increase with light and to decrease with water availability. These statements come from research done mainly for the angiosperms and gymnosperms, whilst ferns remain highly understudied. The main objective of this work is to investigate the relationship between morphological traits of fern stomata and light and water environments. We selected 15 species of different ecological preferences, representing contrasted habitats of light and water. Fifteen to twenty individuals of each species were sampled, and from each one, we chose three different adult fronds. One measurement of density and five measurements of stomata length were done under OM in each frond. The functional variable potential conductance index (PCI) has been calculated from length and density and used as a proxy of transpiration area. This study allows extending the knowledge of ecomorphology of stomata in temperate fern species. Generally speaking, these ferns behave in similar ways to other known plant groups: length has more genetic significance, whilst density is usually modified depending on the environment. However, temperate ferns seem to modify density by modifying ordinary epidermal cells instead of size of stomata, a fact that is known only for a small number of angiosperms. Species that inhabit low water availability environments (exposed rocks, crevices and cliffs) developed significant shorter stomata, but at higher densities and with higher potential conductance, species from low light availability environments (shadowed rocks and forests) have longer stomata and lower density. These results increase the knowledge on how temperate ferns can adapt their bodies to occupy different ecological niches.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been partially funded by Universidad Complutense Research Groups Programme (“Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Cryptogamic Plants”, UCM 910801) and by the EU-ERASMUS mobility programme. We thank the curator of MACB herbarium for her willingness to facilitate us the use of the material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences I, Universidad Complutense, Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Cryptogamic Plants Research Group, UCM, Madrid, Spain

    Jose Maria Gabriel y Galán, Andrea Seral, Francisco B. Cuevas-Fernández & Pablo Fernández

  2. Department of Applied Mathematics (Biomathematics), Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Murciano

  3. Neural Plasticity Research Group, IdISSC” and “Neuro-computing and Neuro-robotics Research Groups, , UCM, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Murciano

  4. Department of Biology and Environment, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    María do Rosario Anjos & Teresa Pinto

Authors
  1. Jose Maria Gabriel y Galán
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  2. Andrea Seral
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Correspondence to Jose Maria Gabriel y Galán .

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  1. Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, Oviedo University, Oviedo, Spain

    Helena Fernández

Appendix 22.1

Appendix 22.1

Samples used in the study, with voucher information. All samples came from Spain except those specifically quoted. The information included is ordered by country/Spanish province, followed by location, MACB (Madrid Ciencias Biológicas) herbarium number and, in parenthesis, the individuals.

Adiantum capillus-veneris L. ASTURIAS: Cangas de Onís, MACB 36194 (ind. 9–12). CASTELLÓN: Peñíscola, MACB 104250 (ind. 1–8). VALENCIA: Tuéjar, MACB 43430 (ind. 13–16). Asplenium marinum L. ASTURIAS: Luarca, MACB 36191 (ind. 8), MACB 107532 (ind. 13–16); Gozón, MACB 3646 (ind. 10, 11); Castropol, MACB 55943 (ind. 12), MACB 107533 (ind. 17–19). GUIPÚZCOA: Donostia, MACB 36078 (ind. 6). LA CORUÑA: Corme, MACB 24302 (ind. 1); Porto do Son, MACB 43332 (ind. 2); Cayón, MACB 4373 (ind. 3); Malpica, MACB 26154 (ind. 5). PONTEVEDRA: La Guardia, MACB 4773 (ind. 4); Bueu, MACB 18655 (ind. 7); Islas Cies, MACB 36119 (ind. 9). Asplenium scolopendrium L. ASTURIAS: Brieves, MACB 104248 (ind. 1–7). LEÓN: Villasecino, MACB 107538 (ind. 8–18). Asplenium trichomanes L. ASTURIAS: Luarca, MACB 107542 (ind. 17–20). BURGOS. Crespos, MACB 107543 (ind. 13–16). GUADALAJARA: río Bornova, MACB 22462 (ind. 3). LEÓN: Santalavilla, MACB 62938 (ind. 1). MADRID: Torrelodones, MACB 104525 (ind. 5–12). PALENCIA: Velilla del rio Carrión, MACB 30953 (ind. 2). SALAMANCA: Linares de Riofrío, MACB 1768 (ind. 4). Asplenium viride Huds. ASTURIAS: Teverga, MACB 107544 (ind. 9–15). GUIPÚZCOA: Aralar, MACB 43217 (ind. 5–7). HUESCA: Aínsa, MACB 36183 (ind. 4). PALENCIA: Velilla del Río Carrión, MACB 39484 (ind. 8). VIZCAYA: Zeanuri, MACB 62929 (ind. 1–3). Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth. ASTURIAS: Luarca, MACB 107531 (ind. 8–15). ÁVILA: Candeleda, MACB 53208 (ind. 1–2); El Barranco, MACB 57772 (ind. 5–7). CÁCERES. Viandar de la Vera, MACB 59103 (ind. 3). TERUEL: Orihuela, MACB 43319 (ind. 4). Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw. ASTURIAS: Somiedo, MACB 104249 (ind. 1–15). Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Berhn. BURGOS: Sierra de la Demanda, MACB 56770 (ind. 1–4). LA RIOJA: Ezcaray, MACB 57500 (ind. 5); Villoslada de Cameros, MACB 107545 (ind. 9–16). LEÓN: Truchillas, MACB 44460 (ind. 6–7). TENERIFE: Tágara, MACB 36110 (ind. 8). Dryopteris affinis (Lowe) Fraser-Jenk. ITALY. TOSCANA: Massa, MACB 58804 (ind. 3). LUACCA: Versilia, MACB 58807 (ind. 4); Massa y Carrara, MACB 58801 (ind. 5). Massa, MACB 58802 (ind. 6). SPAIN. ASTURIAS: Valgrande, MACB 31115 (ind. 11). CANTABRIA: Resconorio, MACB 31010 (ind. 12); Cosgaya, MACB 109253 (ind. 13–20); Torcollano, MACB 62921 (ind. 7). LA CORUÑA: Betanzos, MACB 92416 (ind. 1); Somozas, MACB 92391 (ind. 2); Cerdedo, MACB 43412 (ind. 9); Caveiro, MACB 77197 (ind. 8). ORENSE: Vilarino de Conso, MACB 59119 (ind. 10). Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott. ITALY. TOSCANA: A Cansoli, MACB 58812 (ind. 4). SPAIN. ÁLAVA: Vitoria, MACB 59150 (ind. 2). CANTABRIA: Cosgaya, MACB 109257 (ind. 5–15). CIUDAD REAL: Puebla de Don Rodrigo, MACB 66633 (ind. 3). LÉRIDA: Vall Ferrera, MACB 62915 (ind. 1). Osmunda regalis L. ASTURIAS: Luarca, MACB 104246 (ind. 1–9). CANTABRIA: Liendo, MACB 107332 (ind. 12–15). CÁCERES: Villanueva de la Vera, MACB 109360 (ind. 10–11). Polystichum aculeatum (L.) Roth ex Mert. FRANCE. HAUTE GARONNE: Pirineos, MACB 42766 (ind. 19). ITALY. LUACCA: Garfagnana, MACB 58833 (ind. 18). SPAIN. ALAVA: Alto Iturrieta, MACB 18834 (ind. 1). BURGOS: Los Altos, MACB 56768 (ind. 5–6); Monte Cervera, MACB 59157 (ind. 12–14). GRANADA: Güejar-Sierra, MACB 62969 (ind. 2); Sierra Nevada, MACB 9546 (ind. 20). HUESCA: Panticosa, MACB 19040 (ind. 3). LEÓN: Salamón, MACB 43327 (ind. 4); Palacios del Sil, MACB 74457 (ind. 7–11); La Cueta, MACB 59213 (ind. 15). NAVARRA: Irañeta, MACB 43218 (ind. 16–17). Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth. ASTURIAS: Somiedo, MACB 104247 (ind. 1–11). CANTABRIA: Camaleño, MACB 109629 (ind. 12–20). Polystichum setiferum ( Forssk.) T. Moore ex Woyn. LA CORUÑA: Abaña, MACB 92414 (ind. 2); Caaveiro, MACB 60505 (ind. 4). CANTABRIA: Luena, MACB 55630 (ind. 3); Cosgaya, MACB 109256 (ind. 5–15). LEÓN: Balboa, MACB 60520 (ind. 1). Struthiopteris spicant (L.) Weiss. FRANCE. BRETAGNE: Monfort, MACB 109254 (ind. 1–10). SPAIN. ÁLAVA: Ulibarri-Olleros, MACB 30899 (ind. 15–16). CIUDAD REAL: Navas de Estena, MACB 36083 (ind. 12–13). LEÓN: Burón, MACB 17528 (ind. 11). LUGO: Murás, MACB 30875 (ind. 14).

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Gabriel y Galán, J.M. et al. (2018). Ecomorphology of Stomata in Temperate Ferns Under Contrasting Environments. In: Fernández, H. (eds) Current Advances in Fern Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75103-0_22

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