Sex expression and growth rates in natural populations of the desert soil crustal mossSyntrichia caninervis |
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| Authors: | Lloyd R Stark Brent D Mishler DNicholas McLetchie |
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| Institution: | aDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Nevada, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 454004, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-4004, U.S.A;bUniversity Herbarium Jepson Herbarium and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Bld., #, 2465, Berkeley, CA, 94720-2465, U.S.A;cCenter for Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, 101 Morgan Bld, Lexington, KY, 40506-0225, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | The low elevation Mojave Desert cryptobiotic crust is dominated by the mossSyntrichia caninervis. In 16 populations of this moss, stem height and population were significantly associated with sex expression, with longer stems expressing sex more frequently and producing more perichaetia. The above-ground age of stems ranged up to 10 years, with a mean growth rate across populations of 0.36 mm year−1. The overall stem sex ratio, as a proportion of the total number of stems, was 0.30♀: 0♂: 0.70 non-expressing. The probability of expressing sex in a given season was 0.09. The absence of sexual reproduction (no sporophytes) and likely absence of the male sex from the area indicate that the non-expressing plants are female individuals. The slow growth rates, low rates of sex expression, absence of male plants, and absence of sexual reproduction in this crustal species may help explain why re-establishment of mosses on desert soils can take decades. |
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| Keywords: | cryptobiotic soil crusts sex expression dioecy bryophyte desert sex ratio growth rates Syntrichia caninervis |
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