A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilis
Cystopteris fragilis L., a desiccation-tolerant fern species growing on a stone wall (Palisades, NY), was studied from April to September 2024 to document leaf phenological development during a season favorable for growth. The first leaves (ca. 5–7 cm in length) emerged in April. Mature,...
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2025-01-01
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| author | O. Roger Anderson |
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Cystopteris fragilis L., a desiccation-tolerant fern species growing on a stone wall (Palisades, NY), was studied from April to September 2024 to document leaf phenological development during a season favorable for growth. The first leaves (ca. 5–7 cm in length) emerged in April. Mature, sori-bearing leaves (15–30 cm in length) appeared in June and persisted until late September, when the majority either dehisced or became dry and decumbent. In June, leaves had a mean specific leaf area of 269.97 ± 12.93, a mean chlorophyll concentration index of 3.56 ± 0.35, and a mean maximum photosynthesis rate of 3.90 ± 0.28 µmol m−2 s−1. Mean stomatal length was 41 ± 0.60 µm, and mean width was 26 ± 0.37 µm. Mean stomatal density in mature leaves was 4,000 ± 200. By September, the mean maximum photosynthesis rate had decreased to 2.30 ± 0.20 µmol m−2 s−1. With respect to leaf fluorescence data, there was a small but statistically nonsignificant decline in mean Fv/Fm during September. Among the more significant findings is the relatively major change in the physiological parameters of this species during autumn, particularly the decline in electron transport variables (ETo/RC and ψ0) in autumn compared with summer (p < 0.05), coupled with a somewhat lower efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm). These changes may contribute to the decline in the photosynthesis rate observed during the transition into dormancy of this desiccation-tolerant species. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ca4eccc0a8ff4bfb8ab291a7a5d15cae2025-08-20T02:09:28ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Biology2837-40102025-01-013110.20935/AcadBiol7483A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilisO. Roger Anderson0Biology and Paleo Environment, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA. Cystopteris fragilis L., a desiccation-tolerant fern species growing on a stone wall (Palisades, NY), was studied from April to September 2024 to document leaf phenological development during a season favorable for growth. The first leaves (ca. 5–7 cm in length) emerged in April. Mature, sori-bearing leaves (15–30 cm in length) appeared in June and persisted until late September, when the majority either dehisced or became dry and decumbent. In June, leaves had a mean specific leaf area of 269.97 ± 12.93, a mean chlorophyll concentration index of 3.56 ± 0.35, and a mean maximum photosynthesis rate of 3.90 ± 0.28 µmol m−2 s−1. Mean stomatal length was 41 ± 0.60 µm, and mean width was 26 ± 0.37 µm. Mean stomatal density in mature leaves was 4,000 ± 200. By September, the mean maximum photosynthesis rate had decreased to 2.30 ± 0.20 µmol m−2 s−1. With respect to leaf fluorescence data, there was a small but statistically nonsignificant decline in mean Fv/Fm during September. Among the more significant findings is the relatively major change in the physiological parameters of this species during autumn, particularly the decline in electron transport variables (ETo/RC and ψ0) in autumn compared with summer (p < 0.05), coupled with a somewhat lower efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm). These changes may contribute to the decline in the photosynthesis rate observed during the transition into dormancy of this desiccation-tolerant species.https://www.academia.edu/127066119/A_seasonal_phenological_study_of_the_temperate_fern_Cystopteris_fragilis |
| spellingShingle | O. Roger Anderson A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilis Academia Biology |
| title | A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilis |
| title_full | A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilis |
| title_fullStr | A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilis |
| title_full_unstemmed | A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilis |
| title_short | A seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern Cystopteris fragilis |
| title_sort | seasonal phenological study of the temperate fern cystopteris fragilis |
| url | https://www.academia.edu/127066119/A_seasonal_phenological_study_of_the_temperate_fern_Cystopteris_fragilis |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT orogeranderson aseasonalphenologicalstudyofthetemperateferncystopterisfragilis AT orogeranderson seasonalphenologicalstudyofthetemperateferncystopterisfragilis |