Title Organization and Functioning Patterns of Lycopodium L. and Diphasiastrum Holub Populations with an Emphasis on Gametophytes and Juvenile Sporophytes in Dry Pine Forests /
Translation of Title Pataiso (Lycopodium L.) ir padraikos (Diphasiastrum Holub) gametofitų ir juvenilinių sporofitų populiacijų struktūra bei funkcionavimas sausuose pušynuose.
Authors Rimgailė-Voicik, Radvilė
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Pages 109
Keywords [eng] Lycopodium ; Diphasiastrum ; gametophytes ; juvenile sporophytes ; club moss
Abstract [eng] The life cycle of club mosses involves an alternation between two generations: asexual sporophyte and sexual gametophyte. However, knowledge about diversity and density of different gametophyte species remains relatively poor. The main objective was to study organization and functioning patterns of Lycopodium and Diphasiastrum populations with an emphasis on gametophytes and juvenile sporophytes emerging in dry pine forests of southern Lithuania. Our research revealed establishment of numerous and prosperous juvenile club moss populations. We discovered that Lycopodium gametophytes dominate in juvenile club moss populations of dry pine forests in southern Lithuania and gametophytes are not randomly distributed in the humus horizon. Asynchronous development and heterogenous composition are inherent to subterranean club moss gametophyte populations while low genetic polymorphism is typical for Lycopodium clavatum and L. annotinum populations. Juvenile club moss populations in Lithuania are related to increased cover of Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin. This novel research presents the first spatial structure analysis of club moss gametophyte and juvenile sporophyte populations. Detailed juvenile club moss population characteristics are presented. The relationships among juvenile club moss populations, soil parameters and vegetation cover are addressed and primary data on population genetic structure are presented. Additionally, this research presents the first instance of Diphasiastrum gametophytes in Lithuania.
Dissertation Institution Vilniaus universitetas.
Type Doctoral thesis
Language English
Publication date 2017