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Article

Exploring Intraspecific Trait Variation in a Xerophytic Moss Species Indusiella thianschanica (Ptychomitriaceae) across Environmental Gradients on the Tibetan Plateau

by
Xiaotong Song
1,2,
Jiqi Gu
1,2,3,
Yanhui Ye
4,
Mengzhen Wang
1,2,
Ruihong Wang
5,6,
Heping Ma
5,6 and
Xiaoming Shao
1,2,4,*
1
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
2
Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
3
State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
4
Resources & Environment College, Tibet Agriculture & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
5
Institute of Tibet Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
6
Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Ministry of Education, Nyingchi 860000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2024, 13(7), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070921
Submission received: 18 February 2024 / Revised: 12 March 2024 / Accepted: 13 March 2024 / Published: 22 March 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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Abstract

Investigating intraspecific trait variability is crucial for understanding plant adaptation to various environments, yet research on lithophytic mosses in extreme environments remains scarce. This study focuses on Indusiella thianschanica Broth. Hal., a unique lithophytic moss species in the extreme environments of the Tibetan Plateau, aiming to uncover its adaptation and response mechanisms to environmental changes. Specimens were collected from 26 sites across elevations ranging from 3642 m to 5528 m, and the relationships between 23 morphological traits and 15 environmental factors were analyzed. Results indicated that coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 5.91% to 36.11%, with gametophyte height (GH) and basal cell transverse wall thickness (STW) showing the highest and lowest variations, respectively. Temperature, elevation, and potential evapo-transpiration (PET) emerged as primary environmental drivers. Leaf traits, especially those of the leaf sheath, exhibited a more pronounced response to the environment. The traits exhibited apparent covariation in response to environmental challenges and indicated flexible adaptive strategies. This study revealed the adaptation and response patterns of different morphological traits of I. thianschanica to environmental changes on the Tibetan Plateau, emphasizing the significant effect of temperature on trait variation. Our findings deepen the understanding of the ecology and adaptive strategies of lithophytic mosses.
Keywords: plant adaptations; morphological traits; phenotypic plasticity; bryophyte ecology; alpine ecosystem plant adaptations; morphological traits; phenotypic plasticity; bryophyte ecology; alpine ecosystem

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Song, X.; Gu, J.; Ye, Y.; Wang, M.; Wang, R.; Ma, H.; Shao, X. Exploring Intraspecific Trait Variation in a Xerophytic Moss Species Indusiella thianschanica (Ptychomitriaceae) across Environmental Gradients on the Tibetan Plateau. Plants 2024, 13, 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070921

AMA Style

Song X, Gu J, Ye Y, Wang M, Wang R, Ma H, Shao X. Exploring Intraspecific Trait Variation in a Xerophytic Moss Species Indusiella thianschanica (Ptychomitriaceae) across Environmental Gradients on the Tibetan Plateau. Plants. 2024; 13(7):921. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070921

Chicago/Turabian Style

Song, Xiaotong, Jiqi Gu, Yanhui Ye, Mengzhen Wang, Ruihong Wang, Heping Ma, and Xiaoming Shao. 2024. "Exploring Intraspecific Trait Variation in a Xerophytic Moss Species Indusiella thianschanica (Ptychomitriaceae) across Environmental Gradients on the Tibetan Plateau" Plants 13, no. 7: 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070921

APA Style

Song, X., Gu, J., Ye, Y., Wang, M., Wang, R., Ma, H., & Shao, X. (2024). Exploring Intraspecific Trait Variation in a Xerophytic Moss Species Indusiella thianschanica (Ptychomitriaceae) across Environmental Gradients on the Tibetan Plateau. Plants, 13(7), 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070921

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