Search Results (2)

The aim of this study was to determine the environmental conditions, individual architectures, and photosynthetic efficiencies of three sundew species: Drosera rotundifolia, D. anglica, and D. intermedia, found in well-preserved peatlands and sandy lake shores in NW Poland. Morphological traits and chlorophyll a fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were measured in 581 individuals of Drosera. D. anglica occupies the best-lit and warmest habitats, and also those that are the most heavily hydrated and the richest in organic matter; its rosettes are larger under conditions of higher pH, less organic matter, and less well-lit habitats. D. intermedia occupies substrates with the highest pH but the lowest conductivity, the poorest level of organic matter, and the least hydration. It is highly variable in terms of individual architecture. D. rotundifolia occupies habitats that are the most diverse, and that are often poorly lit, with the lowest pH but the highest conductivity. It is the least variable in terms of individual architecture. The value of the Fv/Fm ratio in Drosera is low (0.616 ± 0.137). The highest photosynthetic efficiency is achieved by D. rotundifolia (0.677 ± 0.111). It is significant for all substrates, indicating its high phenotypic plasticity. The other species have lower and similar Fv/Fm values (D. intermedia, 0.571 ± 0.118; D. anglica, 0.543 ± 0.154). Due to its very low photosynthetic efficiency, D. anglica avoids competition by occupying highly hydrated habitats. D. intermedia has adapted to the occupation of highly variable habitats in terms of hydration, while D. rotundifolia is primarily adapted to variable light conditions. Full article

Protecting endangered plant species is crucial to maintaining biodiversity. Currently, there is a rapid decline in the populations of many moisture-loving plant species throughout Poland. These include the entire genus Drosera, so this paper attempts to determine the main reasons for the decline of Drosera intermedia and Drosera anglica in the Łęczna-Włodawa Lake District. For this purpose, the habitat conditions, climatic factors of the sites, as well as the vegetation of their current and historically abundant occurrence were compared, and it was shown that an important reason for the receding of sundews may be changes associated with rising temperatures in the study area. In the case of Drosera anglica, a clear preference was observed for colonising sites associated with the shoreline of lakes, more hydrated and almost devoid of companion plants. For Droseraintermedia, on the other hand, it was revealed that it acclimatises to mid-forest peatlands, rich in magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and manganese, with moderate carbon content, medium levels of groundwater and air temperature, and low concentrations of organic matter. In addition, it was noted that sundew sites are characterised by lower diversity indices but a greater number of rare and protected species and significantly lower concentrations of iron and potassium. Full article