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Metabolic recovery of continental antarctic cryptogams after winter

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Abstract

The activation of metabolism after the winter period was investigated in several mosses and lichens in continental Antarctica. Thalli that were still in their over-wintering inactive state in early spring were sprayed artificially and the time-dependent activation of photosystem II (PSII), carbon fixation and respiration was determined using gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence techniques. The investigated lichens recovered PSII activity almost completely within the first few minutes and gross photosynthesis was fully reactivated within a few hours. In contrast, photosynthesis took much longer to recover in mosses, which could indicate a general difference between the green-algal symbionts in lichens and moss chloroplasts. Only small and quickly reversible increased rates of respiration were observed for the foliose lichen Umbilicaria aprina from a more xeric habitat. In contrast, species occurring near persistent meltwater, such as the moss Bryum subrotundifolium and the lichen Physcia caesia, had highly increased respiration rates that were maintained for several days after activation. Calculation of the carbon balances indicated that the activation pattern strongly dictated the length of time before a carbon gain was achieved. It appears that the differences in recovery reflect the water relations of the main growth period in summer.

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Acknowledgements

Antarctica New Zealand, who provided all the transport and logistics, is gratefully thanked for the excellent organisation and support in Christchurch, Scott Base and in the field. In particular, Jim Cowie and the team from the Cape Roberts Drilling Programme are thanked for establishing our camp and ensuring an easy and rapid start to the season and Pete Cleary is thanked for co-ordinating our support and logistics. The study was financed by a special grant from Professor Bryan Gould, Vice-Chancellor, Waikato University, and by a grant of the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” to B.S. (DFG 473/4-3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanical Institute, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24098, Kiel, Germany

    M. Schlensog, S. Pannewitz & B. Schroeter

  2. Biological Sciences, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand

    T. G. A. Green

  3. Teichstrasse 4, 48151, Münster, Germany

    M. Schlensog

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  1. M. Schlensog
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Correspondence to M. Schlensog.

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Schlensog, M., Pannewitz, S., Green, T.G.A. et al. Metabolic recovery of continental antarctic cryptogams after winter. Polar Biol 27, 399–408 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0606-4

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