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Bryophyte Influence on terrestrial and Epiphytic Fern Gametophytes

McCarthy, Mirabai Rachel
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1193256414

Abstract Details

2007, Master of Science, Miami University, Botany.
The climate and structural complexity of tropical forests enable vertical habitat differentiation between epiphytic and terrestrial communities. Because fern spores are copiously released one might expect to find species growing in both habitats, yet taxa are typically confined to one particular habitat type. The goal of this study was to better understand how development of epiphytic and terrestrial fern species is restricted by habitat, by observing gametophyte growth on various substrates. Experiments revealed that terrestrial gametophytes were malformed, significantly reduced in size and did not reach sexual maturity or failed to germinate when sown directly on top of, or in close proximity to epiphytic bryophyte substrates. In contrast, epiphytic species developed uniformly regardless of distance to bryophyte substrates. These observations indicate that epiphytic bryophytes have a negative impact on terrestrial gametophyte development, perhaps through allelopathy, and this interaction appears to represent a limiting factor for the establishment of terrestrial species in epiphytic communities.
Ralph Hickey (Advisor)
54 p.
EPIPHYTIC; GAMETOPHYTES; FERN; TERRESTRIAL; BRYOPHYTE; TERRESTRIAL AND EPIPHYTIC; hepatic

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Citations

  • McCarthy, M. R. (2007). Bryophyte Influence on terrestrial and Epiphytic Fern Gametophytes [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1193256414

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McCarthy, Mirabai. Bryophyte Influence on terrestrial and Epiphytic Fern Gametophytes. 2007. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1193256414.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McCarthy, Mirabai. "Bryophyte Influence on terrestrial and Epiphytic Fern Gametophytes." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1193256414

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1193256414
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.