Resistance to Xylem Cavitation in Evergreen Ferns Correlates with Seasonal Dehydration Levels, Not Mechanical Strength
Document Type
Research Poster
Publication Date
7-28-2017
Abstract
Ferns in the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California display a range of responses to severe drought. In this study, we further characterized the traits that may contribute to fern survival in a mediterranean-type climate. Due to anatomical differences between ferns and angiosperms, we predicted that ferns would exhibit no correlation between stipe mechanical strength and vulnerability to water stress-induced cavitation of stipe xylem. However, we predicted that ferns would show a correlation between seasonal water stress (minimum water potential) and cavitation resistance. Our results support these hypotheses; however, we must increase our sample size of evergreen fern species in order to confirm the relationship between minimum seasonal water potential and vulnerability to cavitation of stipe xylem.
Recommended Citation
Holmlund, Helen I.; Sauer, Kaitlyn E.; Gillespie, Breahna M.; Pittermann, Jarmila; and Davis, Stephen D., "Resistance to Xylem Cavitation in Evergreen Ferns Correlates with Seasonal Dehydration Levels, Not Mechanical Strength" (2017). Pepperdine University, Biology. Paper 10.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/usr_biology/10