Response of different plant functional types to environmental variability on Marion Island : quantifying diurnal patterns over a seasonal cycle using the photochemical reflectance index
Date
2018-03
Authors
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marion Island forms part of the Prince Edward Island group, situated near the latitude of 47° South. Seasonal and temporal variability in climate on Marion Island has been described as muted, due to the thermal buffering of the surrounding ocean. This is thought in turn to lead to an extended growing season. However, empirical in situ measurements of net primary production (NPP), are lower than estimations based on annual temperature and precipitation.
The aim of this study was to explore which potentially limiting environmental factors exert control over photosynthetic behaviour at a range of sub-annual temporal scales, in order to better understand what limits production in plant functional types (PFTs) typical of Marion Island. The three main PFTs selected for study were lower plants, cushion plants and grasses.
Spectral reflectance sensors were used in situ to investigate the diurnal and seasonal patterns of physiological stress and inferred photosynthetic behaviour. The Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) is calculated from a ratio of reflected versus incoming light wavebands, that are influenced by a change in carotenoid ratios, indicating photosynthetic efficacy through the activity of the xanthophyll cycle. The xanthophyll cycle is closely linked to photosystem II and thus an important component of the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) process that acts as a photo-protection mechanism.
PRI measurements require careful interpretation in the absence of any independent confirmatory measurements. Repeated ancillary measurements of leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf chlorophyll content via independent instrumentation provided support for the PRI measurements as an indicator of physiological stress. This approach was also used to confirm that the point monitoring of individual canopies was representative of surrounding vegetation.
Contrary to the assumption that climate variability is muted, fine temporal scale monitoring revealed remarkably high temporal climate variability on Marion Island. Although seasons sensu stricto could not be clearly defined, a shift in climate can be seen between “winter” and “summer” months, most notably by a replacement of cold, calm days by warm, windy days. PRI data revealed that different PFTs (and to an extent, individual species) showed somewhat distinct optimum growing seasons, with the seasonal shift in climate affecting PFTs differently.
The three main PFTs showed distinct PRI patterns. Lower plants showed the deepest daily PRI depression, almost regardless of environmental conditions, confirming for thefirst time over an entire annual cycle their previously proposed low light adaptive characteristics. Cushion plants only showed a midday PRI depression on days withhigh temperatures, revealing their optimal adaptation to cooler diurnal conditions. Grasses had the highest PRI values, responding positively on days with higher temperatures, and revealing their more efficient performance under warmer and brighter conditions, in distinct contrast to the other two PFTs.
Environmental drivers of stress varied significantly between PFTs. Lower plants were strongly influenced by moisture regimes and experienced significant stress during days of decreased habitat moisture levels. Cushion plants experienced less stress in colder temperatures, and responded positively to environmental variables that decreased canopy temperatures. Plant responses to changes in environmental variables were also clearly reflected in the seasonal PRI measurements. Grasses showed a decreases in stress during the “summer” months, while cushion plants experienced significantly more stress during the “summer” months. The lower plant species did not have a significant decrease or increase in PRI measurements between the different “seasons”.
There is therefore no common or general driver of diurnal or seasonal stress response across different PFTs and species on Marion Island. This suggests that distinct PFTs would respond differentially as the climate regime continues to shift on Marion Island due to anthropogenic climate change. The in situ approach shows great promise for unlocking a deeper understanding of the environmental controls on this extraordinary ecosystem. The techniques described in this thesis would provide an extremely valuable set of tools to achieve this relatively inexpensively, while also providing a detailed picture of how this ecosystem is responding to climate change.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Marion-eiland vorm deel die Prince Edward-eiland groep, wat geleë is op die 40° suidbreedtelyn. Variasie in klimaat op die eiland is voorheen beskryf as gedemp, as gevolg van die temperatuur buffer wat die omliggende suidelike oseaan bied. Verwagte plant produksie waardes, wat gebaseer is op temperatuur en reënval, is baie hoër as produksie waardes wat gemeet is op die eiland. Tydens die studie is ondersoek ingestel om die daaglikse en seisoenale patrone van plant stres, produksie en fotosintese te ontdek en te bepaal wat hierdie patrone dryf en produksie op die eiland beperk. Daar is op drie hoof plant funktionele groepe gefokus: laerplante, kussingplante en grasse. Afstandwaarneming stel mens in staat om ʼn idee te kry van fotosintetiese aktiwiteite sonder om in direkte kontak te kom met die plant. Die fotochemiese-weerkaatsings indeks (FWI) kan ʼn waardevolle indikator wees van plant fisiologiese verandering sowel as ander ekofisiolologiese aktiwiteite soos die zantofiel siklus. Die zantofiel siklus is gekoppel aan die tweede fotosisteem. Dit is ʼn komponent van nie-fotochemiese onderdrukking proses wat dien as ʼn fotobeskermmings meganisme. Hierdie proses kan die fotosintetiese aktiwiteit in ʼn plant verminder. Die ontplooiing van in situ sensors kan nuttig wees, met die aanvulling van klimaat en omgewings data, om plant produksie te bepaal. FWI meetings kan dikwels misleidend wees.. Heerhalende aanvullende meetings van chlorofil flourensie en blaar chlorofil inhoud, deur onafhanklinke instrumente, verskaf ondersteuning dat die meeting van individuele plantbedekking verteenwoordig is van die omligende plantegroei. Hierdie studie het gewys data FWI meetings ʼn goeie aanwyser is van fisiologiese stress. Die hoë temporale resolusie metings, het ʼn hoë variasie in klimaat gewys, veral wanneer die klimaat gekarakteriseer was op ʼn kleiner tydskaal. Variasie in klimaat is dus nie so gedemp as wat voorheen beskryf is nie. Die verskillende plant funksionele groepe het duidelike FWI patronne getoon. Laer plante het die diepste middag FWI depressie gehad, ongeag die omgewingstoestande. Kussingsplante het slegs ʼn middag FWI depressie op dae met hoë temperature getoon. Grasse het die hoogste FWI waardes gehad en het positief gereageer op dae met verhoogde temperature. Omgewingsdrywers van stress wissel aansienlik tussen verskillende plant funksionele groepe. Laerplante het beduidende stres ervaar gedurende dae van verminderde habitatvog. Kussingsplante het minder stres in kouer temperature ervaar, en het positief gereageer op omgewingsveranderlikes wat plantbedekking temperature verlaag het. Die plante se reaksies op veranderinge in omgewingsveranderlikes is weerspieël in die seisoenale FWI metings. Die grasse het gedurende die “somer” maande mider stres ervaar, terwyl kussingsplante gedurende die “somer” aansienlik meer stres ervaar het. Die laerplante het nie ʼn beduidende afname of toename in FWI metings tussen die verskillende “seisoene” gehad nie. Daar is dus geen algemene omgewings drywer van daaglikse of seisoenale stres patrone oor verskillende plant funktionele groepe en spesies nie. Dit dui daarop dat verskillende plant funktionele groepe anders sal reageer soos die klimaatverandering voortgaan op Marion eilnd weens menslike klimaatsverandering.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Marion-eiland vorm deel die Prince Edward-eiland groep, wat geleë is op die 40° suidbreedtelyn. Variasie in klimaat op die eiland is voorheen beskryf as gedemp, as gevolg van die temperatuur buffer wat die omliggende suidelike oseaan bied. Verwagte plant produksie waardes, wat gebaseer is op temperatuur en reënval, is baie hoër as produksie waardes wat gemeet is op die eiland. Tydens die studie is ondersoek ingestel om die daaglikse en seisoenale patrone van plant stres, produksie en fotosintese te ontdek en te bepaal wat hierdie patrone dryf en produksie op die eiland beperk. Daar is op drie hoof plant funktionele groepe gefokus: laerplante, kussingplante en grasse. Afstandwaarneming stel mens in staat om ʼn idee te kry van fotosintetiese aktiwiteite sonder om in direkte kontak te kom met die plant. Die fotochemiese-weerkaatsings indeks (FWI) kan ʼn waardevolle indikator wees van plant fisiologiese verandering sowel as ander ekofisiolologiese aktiwiteite soos die zantofiel siklus. Die zantofiel siklus is gekoppel aan die tweede fotosisteem. Dit is ʼn komponent van nie-fotochemiese onderdrukking proses wat dien as ʼn fotobeskermmings meganisme. Hierdie proses kan die fotosintetiese aktiwiteit in ʼn plant verminder. Die ontplooiing van in situ sensors kan nuttig wees, met die aanvulling van klimaat en omgewings data, om plant produksie te bepaal. FWI meetings kan dikwels misleidend wees.. Heerhalende aanvullende meetings van chlorofil flourensie en blaar chlorofil inhoud, deur onafhanklinke instrumente, verskaf ondersteuning dat die meeting van individuele plantbedekking verteenwoordig is van die omligende plantegroei. Hierdie studie het gewys data FWI meetings ʼn goeie aanwyser is van fisiologiese stress. Die hoë temporale resolusie metings, het ʼn hoë variasie in klimaat gewys, veral wanneer die klimaat gekarakteriseer was op ʼn kleiner tydskaal. Variasie in klimaat is dus nie so gedemp as wat voorheen beskryf is nie. Die verskillende plant funksionele groepe het duidelike FWI patronne getoon. Laer plante het die diepste middag FWI depressie gehad, ongeag die omgewingstoestande. Kussingsplante het slegs ʼn middag FWI depressie op dae met hoë temperature getoon. Grasse het die hoogste FWI waardes gehad en het positief gereageer op dae met verhoogde temperature. Omgewingsdrywers van stress wissel aansienlik tussen verskillende plant funksionele groepe. Laerplante het beduidende stres ervaar gedurende dae van verminderde habitatvog. Kussingsplante het minder stres in kouer temperature ervaar, en het positief gereageer op omgewingsveranderlikes wat plantbedekking temperature verlaag het. Die plante se reaksies op veranderinge in omgewingsveranderlikes is weerspieël in die seisoenale FWI metings. Die grasse het gedurende die “somer” maande mider stres ervaar, terwyl kussingsplante gedurende die “somer” aansienlik meer stres ervaar het. Die laerplante het nie ʼn beduidende afname of toename in FWI metings tussen die verskillende “seisoene” gehad nie. Daar is dus geen algemene omgewings drywer van daaglikse of seisoenale stres patrone oor verskillende plant funktionele groepe en spesies nie. Dit dui daarop dat verskillende plant funktionele groepe anders sal reageer soos die klimaatverandering voortgaan op Marion eilnd weens menslike klimaatsverandering.
Description
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Plant functional types -- Prince Edward Islands -- Marion Island, Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI), Climate -- Prince Edward Islands -- Marion Island, Marion Island (Prince Edward Islands) -- Environmental conditions, UCTD