Moss dominated ecosystems are an important part of the global terrestrial carbon cycle. Over large areas, remote sensing can be useful to provide an improved understanding of these ecosystems. Two boreal mossess (Pleurozium and Sphagnum) were assessed using remote sensing based spectral vegetation indices for estimating biochemical capacity and photosynthetic efficiency by varying net photosynthesis rate via changes in water content. In the laboratory, changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and chlorophyll index coincided with declining photosynthetic capacity due to desiccation. This effect was more dramatic in Sphagnum. The photochemical reflectance index (PRI) did not vary with changes in CO2 supply as anticipated, possibly due to overriding effects of changing water content. The water band index (WBI) was strongly related to water content but this relationship showed an uncoupling in the field. Bi-directional reflectance measurements indicated what WBI was sensitive to sensor, sun, and moss surface slope angles. / xi, 110 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.

Increasing habitat fragmentation and rapid global warming is changing the conditions for species populations and ecological communities around the world. This presents challenges for the maintenance of biodiversity and a dominant paradigm for conservation in fragmented habitats is given by island biogeography and metapopulation (or metacommunity) ecology. In this thesis I approach key concepts (area, connectivity and community assembly) in island biogeography and metacommunity ecology within the context of a dynamic land uplift archipelago. The presented work consists of two interwoven themes: (i) A methodological theme in which statistical approaches are developed to deal with the complexities of multispecies dynamic systems, and (ii) an applied theme dealing with community assembly and island biogeography of bryophytes on young land uplift islands. To describe island connectivity for entire species assemblages, an approach using functional principal component analysis (fPCA) on patch connectivity functions (the connectivity of an island as a continuous function of a variable representing the spatial scale of species dispersal capacities) was developed. In addition, a new statistical method, functional co-inertia analysis (fCoIA), for analyzing co-variation between multivariate species data and continuous functions was developed and applied to the relation between bryophyte species incidences and the island age/area-dynamics. Primarily asexual bryophyte species are dispersal limited and presence probabilities are related to island connectivity. No such patterns were found for species, at least occasionally, producing spores. Our results suggest that bryophyte dispersal is regulated by the contribution of spores to a regional spore rain and that bryophyte species with low spore output at the landscape level may be extra vulnerable under habitat fragmentation and loss. Having specialized asexual propagules increases the presence probabilities on islands, partly compensating for the dispersal limitation in asexual species. This suggests a trade-off between dispersal and establishment capacity, but also points to the importance of local dispersal for maintaining populations under the succession driven spatial turnover of microsites on the islands. Bryophyte colonization is strongly limited by habitat availability when a given habitats is rare, but there seems to exist a threshold over which other processes (e.g. dispersal limitation) become more important. Species with more vagile life history strategies appear to be stronger affected by the area of available habitats than many perennial species

<p>Rich fens are an important, but threatened, habitat type in the boreal landscape. In this thesis I have examined responses of rich fen vascular plants and bryophytes after drainage and restoration. </p><p>The effects of drainage on the rich fen flora were observed in a long time study and the responses were rapid and drastic. During an initial stage a rapid loss of brown mosses was observed, followed by increases of sedges and early successional bryophytes, and later by an expansion of dominants. Initial effects of hydrological restoration showed that rewetting can promote re-establishment of an ecologically functional rich fen flora, but has to be combined with other treatments, such as mowing or surface disturbance. </p><p>After restoration, re-establishment of locally extinct species may be hampered by dispersal limitations. To test if reintroductions could help to overcome dispersal limitations I performed transplantation studies with four common rich fens bryophytes to a rewetted site. The results showed that the species were able to establish, and that survival and growth were promoted by desiccation protection and liming. </p><p>I further examined competition among three of the most common bryophytes in natural boreal rich fens that usually occur mixed in a mosaic pattern but show small but important microtopographical niche separation. The results indicate similar competitive abilities among the species, and no case of competitative exclusion occurred. The results help to explain the coexistence of these species under natural conditions with microtopographic variation and repeated small scale natural disturbances. </p><p>Restoring a functional flora in drained rich fens is a complex task, which requires understanding of underlying causes of substrate degradation in combination with suitable restoration measures. The thesis suggests how the results can be used in practical restoration work, and also stresses the need for monitoring of restoration experiments over longer time. </p>

O presente estudo propõe-se em investigar os componentes das crostas biológicas de solo (CBS) visando compreender o comportamento e as inter-relações das CBS em areais do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), no extremo meridional do Brasil. Pode ser entendido como uma análise exploratória de CBS existentes em nos areais do bioma Pampa, no sudoeste do RS, através de levantamento florístico e de características do solo. A pesquisa visa contribuir para estudos sobre o papel desse componente biótico na pedogênese e estabilidade da superfície de solos em áreas com processos de arenização. As amostras foram coletadas em maio de 2014 e 2015 em três locais, sendo duas por sítio, nos municípios de Alegrete e São Francisco de Assis. O sítio analisado em Alegrete se constitui de um areal recoberto por plantio de eucalipto, já os sítios em São Francisco de Assis se caracterizam por areais que sofrem processos de ravinamento, um sem interferência humana e o outro com ravina estabilizada artificialmente. As costas biológicas foram coletadas com placa de Petri invertida para garantir uma profundidade máxima de 2 cm e o mesmo volume para todas as amostras. A subsuperfície do solo também foi amostrada para análises texturais e químicas. A análise do material biológico foi realizada em estereoscópio e microscópio óptico (400-1.000x) onde verificou-se que a composição florística é constituída por 13 táxons de cianobactérias destacando-se espécies filamentosas, 2 táxons de líquens e um táxon de briófitas. Os resultados mostram que a sequência de sucessão se mostrou desde estágios primários – com manchas de cianobactérias – a táxons mais evoluídos com musgos de grande espessura. Foram observadas diferentes morfologias para as CBS, seguindo os padrões taxonômicos suave, rugoso, pinacular e ondulado. As amostras de solo sub-superficiais, confirmaram a textura arenosa e baixa fertilidade dos Neossolos Quartzarênicos Órticos nos sítios de estudo. Uma conclusão geral a partir dos estudos prévios, dos materiais analisados e das observações em campo corrobora afirmações de pesquisas que alertam para a elevada suscetibilidade dos solos destes locais do Rio Grande do Sul a processos erosivos hídricos e eólicos. / This study aims to investigate the biological soil crusts (BSC) components in order to understand the behaviour and the interrelations of BSC in some areais (sand deposits with no vegetation cover) of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), the southernmost Brazilian State. It can be understood as an exploratory analysis of existing BSC in Pampa geographic sites in southwestern RS through floristic survey and soil characteristics. The research aims to contribute to studies on the role of the biotic component in pedogenesis and stability of the soil surface in sites under sandification processes. The samples were collected in May 2014 and 2015 in three locations, two per site, in Alegrete and São Francisco de Assis. The analysed site in Alegrete constitutes a sandy terrain covered with eucalyptus plantation (29°42'35.48''S and 55°25'13.47"W), while the sites in São Francisco de Assis are characterized by sands that suffer processes of ravine, one without human intervention (29°30'54.98"S and 55°07'23.07"W) and the other with artificially stabilised ravine (29°23'58.85"S and 55°13'37.60"W). The biological crusts were collected with inverted Petri dish to ensure a maximum depth of 2 cm and the same volume for all samples. The soil subsurface was also sampled for textural and chemical analysis. The analysis of biological material was carried out in the stereoscope and optical microscope (400-1000x) where it was found that the floristic composition consists of 13 taxa of cyanobacteria highlighting filamentous species, 2 taxa of lichens and 1 taxon of bryophytes. The sequence of succession showed from early stages - with spots of cyanobacteria – to most advanced taxa with thick mosses. Different morphologies were observed for BSC, following the taxonomic patterns smooth, rough, pinacular and wavy. The subsurface soil samples confirmed the sandy texture and low fertility of the Psamments in the study sites. general conclusion from previous studies of the analysed materials and field observations corroborates research statements that warn of the high susceptibility of soils from these sites in Rio Grande do Sul to water and wind erosion, so this study recommends adoption of maximum care of soil conservation for whatever the intended use of the studied areas.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1977. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 150-160. / Ph.D.

Populations of Dicranoloma billardierei (Brid) Par., D. dicarpum (Nees.) Par., D. menziesii (Tayl.) Par. and D. platycaulon (C. Muell) Dix, from two pockets of cool temperate rainforest within the Yarra Ranges National Park (Cement Creek and Myrtle Loop), were sampled for a period of two years to establish their reproductive biology. The population dynamics within quadrats of D. billardierei, D. menziesii and D. platycaulon at Cement Creek also was investigated over a two year period, through the seasonal recording of shoot loss and/or gain, The four species of Dicranoloma were dioicous and sexually dimorphic, with dwarf males epiphytic on the female plants. Antheridia were initiated before archegonia and required ca, 6 months to reach maturity, compared with 1 to 2 months for archegonia. More archegonia than antheridia occurred per inflorescence and were more variable Fertilization occurred during winter in D. billardierei and summer/ autumn in D. menziesii and D. platycaulon. The duration of the sporophyte cycle of D. menziesii was 12 months, shorter than that of D. billardierei and D. platycaulon which lasted for a period of 18 months to 2 years. In the latter two species an overlap of sporophyte generations occurred. This was particularly pronounced in D. billardierei as sporophytes remained in the swollen venter maturation stage for a period of 6 months. The duration of the sporophyte cycle could not be ascertained as few fruiting stems of D. dicarpum were found. All four species of Dicranoloma regenerated from fragments cultured in the laboratory, and only two of the species showed evidence of production of asexual propagules in the field. Dicranoloma dicarpum was found to produce gemmae, an observation which had not been recorded before, and most of the leaves on stems of D. platycaulon had detached subulas. Shoot loss was minimal in all four species, and when it did occur, (eg D. billardierei) it was attributed to disturbance by animals. Within quadrats there was an increase in shoot density which resulted from the development of innovation(s) and/or side branches rather than from the recruitment of new plants from spores or the regeneration of asexual propagules. The four species of Dicranoloma investigated were robust, perennial mosses and formed an important component of the bryophytes found within the study area. Dicranoloma menziesii was the predominant species establishing on a variety of substrata, particularly as an epiphyte on Nothofagus cunninghamii The other species were more selective in their choice of substratum. Dicranoloma platycaulon was found exclusively on the trunks of myrtle beech and D. billardierei on fallen logs and exposed roots. Dicranoloma dicarpum which was not common, grew as an epiphyte on myrtle beech and on rocks.

Rich fens are an important, but threatened, habitat type in the boreal landscape. In this thesis I have examined responses of rich fen vascular plants and bryophytes after drainage and restoration. The effects of drainage on the rich fen flora were observed in a long time study and the responses were rapid and drastic. During an initial stage a rapid loss of brown mosses was observed, followed by increases of sedges and early successional bryophytes, and later by an expansion of dominants. Initial effects of hydrological restoration showed that rewetting can promote re-establishment of an ecologically functional rich fen flora, but has to be combined with other treatments, such as mowing or surface disturbance. After restoration, re-establishment of locally extinct species may be hampered by dispersal limitations. To test if reintroductions could help to overcome dispersal limitations I performed transplantation studies with four common rich fens bryophytes to a rewetted site. The results showed that the species were able to establish, and that survival and growth were promoted by desiccation protection and liming. I further examined competition among three of the most common bryophytes in natural boreal rich fens that usually occur mixed in a mosaic pattern but show small but important microtopographical niche separation. The results indicate similar competitive abilities among the species, and no case of competitative exclusion occurred. The results help to explain the coexistence of these species under natural conditions with microtopographic variation and repeated small scale natural disturbances. Restoring a functional flora in drained rich fens is a complex task, which requires understanding of underlying causes of substrate degradation in combination with suitable restoration measures. The thesis suggests how the results can be used in practical restoration work, and also stresses the need for monitoring of restoration experiments over longer time.

Abstract. The objectives of this thesis are to evaluate (1) the influence of slope aspect on boreal plant responses to clear-cutting and (2) the effects of post-harvest extraction of bioenergy (logging residues or slash) on plant composition, richness and performance in clear-cuts. Such insight is essential for understanding changes in species composition and richness in response to clear-cutting and application of intensified harvesting systems. The focus is on productive and managed spruce dominated forests and focal organisms are mosses, liverworts (i.e. bryophytes) and vascular plants. Space-for-time substitution studies were performed in south- and north-facing slopes located in 10 forests and 10 adjacent clear-cut stands in central Sweden. Differences between forests and clear-cuts were interpreted as effects of clear-cutting. The results show that the response of all three focal groups differed between aspects. More species were lost in south-facing slopes and clear-cutting reduced species richness of liverworts as well as of bryophytes and vascular plants associated with sheltered habitats. By contrast, clear-cutting caused no reduction in any group and more species were added in north-facing slopes. As a result north-facing clear-cuts generally had higher species richness than their forest counterparts. The disparate patterns in species’ response between aspects were most likely caused by initial microclimatic differences and a greater microclimatic change in south-facing slopes, in response to clear-cutting. A paired comparative study of conventionally harvested (i.e. slash left) and slash-harvested clear-cut stands was performed 5-10 years after clear-cutting in south-central Sweden. Both the species composition and the richness of mosses and liverworts were affected by slash harvest, whereas the composition of vascular plants was not. Slash harvest also reduced richness of mosses and liverworts associated with forests and organic substrates (e.g. dead wood and litter). Species richness of vascular plants and bryophytes associated with inorganic substrates (i.e. mineral soil) was unchanged. Differences between conventionally harvested stands and slash-harvested stands were most likely a result of reduced cover of organic material reducing substrate availability and shelter in the latter. Increased mechanical disturbance in slash-harvested stands that destroys remnant forest vegetation and favours pioneers may also play a role. A bryophyte transplant experiment was performed in seven clear-cuts in central Sweden and monitored over one vegetation period. The results show that logging residues (or slash) and forest edges may shelter ground-dwelling bryophytes by buffering the clear-cut microclimate. In conclusion, both slope aspect and extraction of forest bioenergy affect plant survival in clear-cut boreal forests. As surviving plant populations facilitate re-colonisation, north-facing slopes and conventionally harvested clear-cuts (i.e. slash left) may potentially recover faster than south-facing slopes and slash-harvested clear-cuts.

No description available.

DNA content varies significantly over land plants, and is known to correlate with various aspects of plant form and function. In the present study, two measures of DNA content were examined in taxa across the land plant phylogeny: genome size (or C-value) and endopolyploidy (or endoreduplication index, EI). Additionally, the relationships between DNA content and various morphological and ecological traits were assessed. DNA content was determined for 64 liverwort species from 33 families. There was a large range in 1C-values from 0.27 to 20.46 pg, but no endopolyploidy was observed. There was no correlation between genome size and breeding system (monoecy vs. dioecy). Genome size and degree of endopolyploidy were determined for 74 moss species from 21 families. Genome sizes were constrained in this group, with 1C-values ranging from 0.25 to 1.21 pg. Endopolyploidy was high in all species except from the Sphagnaceae. Additionally, 1C-value was negatively correlated with desiccation tolerance but was not correlated with breeding system. DNA content variation was determined in 31 monilophyte (fern) species (including three horsetails) and 6 lycophyte (clubmoss) species. There was a wide range in 1C-values from 2.79 to 26.90 pg, and there was no indication of endopolyploidy in any of the species. Multivariate analyses were used to explore the relative contribution of traits and phylogenetic placement to DNA content varation in 41 angiosperm species. Six measures of DNA content (2C-value, 1Cx-value, leaf EI, stem EI, petal EI and root EI) were assessed. Phylogeny explained more of the variation observed in the six measures of DNA content than 21 ecological and morphological traits. However, many of the traits were able to explain some of the variation in DNA content, both with and without phylogeny included as a covaraite. One trait that was consistently correlated with DNA content was the association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In a controlled experiment, the EI in root cells colonized by AM fungi significantly increased compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. This thesis increases our knowledge regarding the extent and significance of variation in DNA content in land plants.