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Higher photosynthetic capacity and different functional trait scaling relationships in erect bryophytes compared with prostrate species

  • Physiological Ecology - Original Research
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Abstract

Ecophysiological studies of bryophytes have generally been conducted at the shoot or canopy scale. However, their growth forms are diverse, and knowledge of whether bryophytes with different shoot structures have different functional trait levels and scaling relationships is limited. We collected 27 bryophyte species and categorised them into two groups based on their growth forms: erect and prostrate species. Twenty-one morphological, nutrient and photosynthetic traits were quantified. Trait levels and bivariate trait scaling relationships across species were compared between the two groups. The two groups had similar mean values for shoot mass per area (SMA), light saturation point and mass-based nitrogen (Nmass) and phosphorus concentrations. Erect bryophytes possessed higher values for mass-based chlorophyll concentration (Chlmass), light-saturated assimilation rate (A mass) and photosynthetic nitrogen/phosphorus use efficiency. Nmass, Chlmass and A mass were positively related, and these traits were negatively associated with SMA. Furthermore, the slope of the regression of Nmass versus Chlmass was steeper for erect bryophytes than that for prostrate bryophytes, whereas this pattern was reversed for the relationship between Chlmass and A mass. In conclusion, erect bryophytes possess higher photosynthetic capacities than prostrate species. Furthermore, erect bryophytes invest more nitrogen in chloroplast pigments to improve their light-harvesting ability, while the structure of prostrate species permits more efficient light capture. This study confirms the effect of growth form on the functional trait levels and scaling relationships of bryophytes. It also suggests that bryophytes could be good models for investigating the carbon economy and nutrient allocation of plants at the shoot rather than the leaf scale.

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Acknowledgments

We extend our greatest appreciation to the Administration Bureau of Dagu Glacier Park and Mr. Huaxiang Tang supporting the field work and Dr. Xiaoli Yan for assisting with bryophyte identification. We also thank Prof. Janice Glime, Prof. H. J. (Heinjo) During, Dr. Fanglan Li, Dr. Zhangming Zhu and Mr. Peishen Wang for their valuable comments that helped to improve the manuscript. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 31400187).

Author contribution statement

ZW and WB conceived and designed the experiments. ZW and XL performed the experiments, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Zhe Wang, Xin Liu & Weikai Bao

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  1. Zhe Wang
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  2. Xin Liu
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Correspondence to Weikai Bao.

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Communicated by Kouki Hikosaka.

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Wang, Z., Liu, X. & Bao, W. Higher photosynthetic capacity and different functional trait scaling relationships in erect bryophytes compared with prostrate species. Oecologia 180, 359–369 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3484-2

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