Unusual Water Relations in the CAM Atmospheric Epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides L. (Bromeliaceae)

Martin, Craig E.; Schmitt, Andreas K.

doi:10.1086/337741

Cited by 44 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The large changes in leaf water content reported for Tillandsia ionantha in this study are similar to those observed in the same species by Benzing and Dahle (1971) as well as those reported for Tillandsia usneoides (Martin and Schmitt 1989) and Tillandsia schiedeana (Martin and Adams 1987). Likewise, the water and osmotic potentials measured in T. ionantha throughout the imposed drought treatment are comparable to those reported for this species as well as for other epiphytic bromeliads in other studies (Harris 1918;Biebl 1964;Griffiths et al 1986;Liittge et al 1986;Smith et al 1986&).…”

Section: Comparisons Of Results With Previous Studiessupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Despite quantitative differences in the results, the overall patterns of metabolic responses to drought stress observed in this study are remarkably similar to those reported for T ionantha by Benzing and Dahle (1971), as well as for other species of Tillandsia (Martin and Adams 1987;Martin and Schmitt 1989). Specifically, nocturnal C0 2 uptake rates were unaffected during the initial stages of drought stress (over a wide range of water contents), then decreased significantly after 20 d of the drought treatment.…”

Section: Comparisons Of Results With Previous Studiessupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Nocturnal C0 2 uptake rates were also not substantially affected until water was withheld from individuals of T schiedeana for 23 d (Martin and Adams 1987). In contrast, nocturnal integrated C0 2 uptake in T usneoides decreased considerably after only 4 d without water (Martin and Schmitt 1989). Water content during this time period, however, declined 19%, which is also comparable to the change in relative water content that accompanied a reduction in C0 2 exchange in T. ionantha.…”

Section: Comparisons Of Results With Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…First, most or all atmospheric epiphytes, at least in the genus Tillandsia, are Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants (Martin 1994). Second, these plants are able to withstand relatively large diel and seasonal changes in tissue water content (Penfound and Deiler 1947;Biebl 1964;Benzing and Dahle 1971;Martin et al 1981;Martin and Schmitt 1989). Third, despite prolonged periods of drought stress, water and osmotic potentials of these species are seldom lower than -1.0 MPa (Harris 1918;Biebl 1964;Smith et al 1986a;Griffiths et al 1989;see Martin 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Third, despite prolonged periods of drought stress, water and osmotic potentials of these species are seldom lower than -1.0 MPa (Harris 1918;Biebl 1964;Smith et al 1986a;Griffiths et al 1989;see Martin 1994). Fourth, rates of nocturnal C0 2 exchange remain unaffected well into a drought and remain positive even at considerable water deficits (Benzing and Dahle 1971;Martin and Adams 1987;Griffiths et al 1989;Martin and Schmitt 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physiological and Anatomical Responses to Water Deficits in the Cam Epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha (Bromeliaceae)

Nowak¹,

Martin²

1997

International Journal of Plant Sciences

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Although physiological responses to drought have been examined in several species of epiphytic bromeliads, few have included a comprehensive methodological approach to the study of the carbon and water relations of a single species undergoing drought stress. Thus, physiological and anatomical responses to an imposed drought treatment were examined in the atmospheric Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha. From 0 through 20 d without water, nocturnal malic acid accumulation and C0 2 uptake rates did not change despite a 17% reduction in relative water content. In addition, water potentials averaged -0.40 MPa and, unlike leaf water content, did not decline. The avoidance of further declines in leaf water content was attributed to the restriction of stomatal opening to the night (a characteristic feature of CAM), to low stomatal densities and small stomatal pores, and to a thick boundary layer resulting from a dense foliar trichome cover. The maintenance of high physiological activity during the first 20 d of the drought treatment was most likely a result of the high water potentials in the chlorenchyma, which were attributed, in part, to water movement from the water-storage parenchyma (= "hydrenchyma") to the chlorenchyma. Nocturnal malic acid accumulation and the rate of net C0 2 exchange declined in a linear fashion from 30 to 60 d without water, as did leaf water potential and osmotic potential. During this time, C0 2 recycling increased from ca. 20% to nearly 75%. Though declining throughout this later stage of the drought treatment, metabolic activity remained relatively high, possibly as a result of the observed osmotic adjustment as well as a potentially high cell wall elasticity.

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Section: Comparisons Of Results With Previous Studiessupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Comparisons Of Results With Previous Studiessupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Comparisons Of Results With Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physiological and Anatomical Responses to Water Deficits in the Cam Epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha (Bromeliaceae)

Nowak¹,

Martin²

1997

International Journal of Plant Sciences

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Ecosystem services provided by bromeliad plants: A systematic review

Ladino

Bautista

Varón

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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The unprecedented loss of biological diversity has negative impacts on ecosystems and the associated benefits which they provide to humans. Bromeliads have high diversity throughout the Neotropics, but they have been negatively affected by habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, invasive species, and commercialization for ornamental purpose. These plants provide direct benefits to the human society, and they also form microecosystems in which accumulated water and nutrients support the communities of aquatic and terrestrial species, thus maintaining local diversity. We performed a systematic review of the contribution of bromeliads to ecosystem services across their native geographical distribution. We showed that bromeliads provide a range of ecosystem services such as maintenance of biodiversity, community structure, nutrient cycling, and the provisioning of food and water. Moreover, bromeliads can regulate the spread of diseases, and water and carbon cycling, and they have the potential to become important sources of chemical and pharmaceutical products. The majority of this research was performed in Brazil, but future research from other Neotropical countries with a high diversity of bromeliads would fill the current knowledge gaps and increase the generality of these findings. This systematic review identified that future research should focus on provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that have been currently overlooked. This would enhance our understanding of how bromeliad diversity contributes to human welfare, and the negative consequences that loss of bromeliad plants can have on communities of other species and the healthy functioning of the entire ecosystems.

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Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L. (Spanish moss) water storage and leachate characteristics from two maritime oak forest settings

et al. 2014

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Along subtropical and tropical coastlines, Tillandsia usneoides L. (Spanish moss) can heavily cover tree crowns, altering the volume, timing and chemical composition of rainwater reaching soils as throughfall. It is well-established that throughfall amount, dissolved ion and dissolved organic matter (DOM) enrichment, as well as the chemical character of DOM, can influence a host of ecological processes -e.g. litter decomposition and fine root patterns. However, no study known to the authors has holistically examined the water storage capacity, dissolved ions and DOM derived from T. usneoides. This study examined 60 T. usneoides samples from two maritime live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) forest settings for water absorbency, maximum water storage capacity, dissolved solutes (Na + , NH 4, dissolved organic carbon, total dissolved nitrogen) and DOM optical properties using ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Thirty samples were collected from each study site: downtown Savannah (SAV) and St. Catherine's Island (SCI), GA, USA. Results show that T. usneoides coverage can increase canopy water storage more markedly (up to 3 mm) than most other epiphyte communities, tree leaf forms or bark structures previously studied. Ion wash off/leaching was greater for N species from SAV samples; yet, base cation macronutrients (Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ ) and sea salts (Na + , Cl À ) were more enriched from SCI samples. Spectrophotometry revealed that T. usneoides leachates contained DOM with low-specific UV absorbance at 254 nm per unit carbon (SUVA 254 ) and high percentage of protein-like fluorescent material compared with literature values for other throughfall and vegetation leachates. In other natural waters, these optical characteristics indicate highly biolabile DOM, suggesting that T. usneoides DOM may also be highly biolabile (i.e. highly relevant to soil microbial functions, like mineralization). Cluster analysis linked fluorescent DOM (FDOM) to ion concentrations of primarily anthropogenic source (F À , SO 4 2À ). Correlation analyses including both sites' data indicated that log-transformed FDOM intensities indirectly relate ( p < 0.01, r = À0.5) -and enrichment of major sea salt ions directly relate (Na + : p < 0.000001, r = 0.83; Cl À : p < 0.000001, r = 0.80) -to T. usneoides maximum water absorbency.

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Unusual Water Relations in the CAM Atmospheric Epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides L. (Bromeliaceae)

Cited by 44 publications

References 8 publications

Physiological and Anatomical Responses to Water Deficits in the Cam Epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha (Bromeliaceae)

Physiological and Anatomical Responses to Water Deficits in the Cam Epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha (Bromeliaceae)

Ecosystem services provided by bromeliad plants: A systematic review

Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L. (Spanish moss) water storage and leachate characteristics from two maritime oak forest settings

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