Not logged in
PANGAEA.
Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science

Smith, Ronald I Lewis (1988): Tab. 1: Mean water loss by mosses and lichens at 40%. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.762952, Supplement to: Smith, RIL (1988): 2.5 Aspects of cryptogam water relations at a Continental Antarctic Site. Polarforschung, 58(2/3), 139-153, hdl:10013/epic.29609.d001

Always quote citation above when using data! You can download the citation in several formats below.

RIS CitationBibTeX CitationShow MapGoogle Earth

Abstract:
The loss of water in a desiccating atmosphere (c.40% r.h. at 10°C) and uptake of water from a saturated atmosphere (100% r.h. at 10°C) was recorded at intervals over periods of many hours or days in the dominant mosses and macroiichens occurring near the Australian Casey Station. Wilkes Land, continental Antarctica. While major differences exist in the water holding capacity and rates of water loss between mosses and lichens, the minimum levels attained after prolonged exposure to desiccating conditions are remarkably similar. By contrast, the volume of water absorbed from a saturated atmosphere is very similar in both groups of cryptogams. Morphological and anatomical characters are responsible for many of the differences, both between species, and within species exhibiting different growth features. Thus, significantly larger amounts of water are held by colonies of Bryum algens with a dense tomentum of rhizoids than those with sparse rhizoids; similarly, the rhizinate Umbilicaria aprina held a greater volume of water than the erhizinate U. decussata. The filamentous mat form of Alectoria mimiscula permits a much higher water content to be attained than in the coarser fruticose forms of Usnea sphacelata and U. antarctica. The dense shoot arrangement in Schistidium antarcticum accounts for the high water holding capacity in the hydric turf form whereas the less densely packed shoots and thicker cell walls of the xeric cushion form maintain a lower water content. The rate of water loss (as percentage dry weight) was much faster in the turf form of Schistidium and tomenlose form of Bryum, although this trend was reversed when expressed as percentage of the initial water content. Minimal water contents arc achieved by the lichens in desiccating conditions within 6-12 hours, whereas the mosses take several times longer. The water relations characteristics of these cryptogams are considered in the light of their distribution in the field and of their metabolic activity under prevailing Antarctic conditions.
Coverage:
Latitude: -66.283000 * Longitude: 110.517000
Minimum Elevation: 30.0 m * Maximum Elevation: 30.0 m
Event(s):
Casey_Station * Latitude: -66.283000 * Longitude: 110.517000 * Elevation: 30.0 m * Location: Vincennes Bay, Antarctica * Method/Device: Station (STAT)
Parameter(s):
#NameShort NameUnitPrincipal InvestigatorMethod/DeviceComment
SpeciesSpeciesSmith, Ronald I Lewis
Growth formGrowth formSmith, Ronald I Lewis
Water content, dry massWater dm%Smith, Ronald I LewisCalculated from weight/volumeinitial
Water content, standard deviationWater std dev±Smith, Ronald I Lewisinitial
Water loss per dry weightWater loss dry wgt%Smith, Ronald I LewisTime 1 hr
Water loss per dry weightWater loss dry wgt%Smith, Ronald I LewisTime 6 hr
Water loss per dry weightWater loss dry wgt%Smith, Ronald I LewisTime 12 hr
Water loss per dry weightWater loss dry wgt%Smith, Ronald I LewisTime 24 hr
Water content, dry massWater dm%Smith, Ronald I LewisCalculated from weight/volume
10 Water content, standard deviationWater std dev±Smith, Ronald I Lewis
Size:
127 data points

Data

Download dataset as tab-delimited text — use the following character encoding:


Species

Growth form

Water dm [%]
(initial)

Water std dev [±]
(initial)

Water loss dry wgt [%]
(Time 1 hr)

Water loss dry wgt [%]
(Time 6 hr)

Water loss dry wgt [%]
(Time 12 hr)

Water loss dry wgt [%]
(Time 24 hr)

Water dm [%]
10 
Water std dev [±]
Schistidium antarcticumentire cushion1331821633516513.0
Schistidium antarcticumtall turf5543116152342527.0
Schistidium antarcticumshort turf5651472640701706.0
Bryum algensshorl turf, dense rhizoids71730829447219818.0
Bryum algensshort turf, sparse rhizoids1821516445973514.0
Usnca sphacelatarobust form73436707578161.0
Usnca sphacelatafine form114853868787150.2
Usnca sphacelatashade form103342798585160.2
Usnea antarcticarobust form85652818282153.0
Usnea antarcticafine form83242818282150.4
Alectoria minuscula3512023839797120.4
Umbilicaria decussata130348868889140.7
Umbilicaria aprina2041134889494120.1