Hail impact on leaves and endophytes of the endemic threatened <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coccoloba cereifera</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae) |
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Authors: | G Wilson Fernandes Yumi Oki Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa Gabriela Faccion Hélica C Amaro-Arruda |
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Institution: | (1) Ecologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade/DBG, ICB/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), CP 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30161-970, Brazil;(2) Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Centre for Earth Observation Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada |
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Abstract: | There is increasing evidence that some natural disturbances are increasing in frequency and intensity with global change,
but the effects of these changes on plant populations is poorly understood. It is estimated that for every 1°C increase in
the summer mean minimum temperature, there is a 40% increase in hail damage. Severe hailstorms can cause large impacts on
biological communities. In 2008, a strong hailstorm hit the speciose and endemic rupestrian vegetation in Serra do Cipó, Brazil.
This event prompted us to record its effects on the narrowly distributed and threatened species Coccoloba cereifera (Polygonaceae). About 33 to 60% of the leaves on the 246 individuals surveyed were lost. The disturbance also influenced
some of the physiological traits of C. cereifera, increasing the concentration of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoid) and polyphenols in the leaves. The
most pronounced increase of chlorophyll was in young leaves (ca. 60%). Carotenoid content increased by ca. 50% in all leaf
ages, while polyphenols increased tenfold. Contrarily, the endophyte richness decreased drastically after the event (from
104 to 33 species), only 12% of similar species remain. The hail storm strongly influenced all variables evaluated in this
study, i.e., structure, physiology, and associated fungi. These results show that hailstorm had a dramatic and immediate impact
on C. cereifera and may also severely affect other endemic or threatened plant species. Therefore, it is imperative that we broaden our knowledge
on global climate change impacts for the conservation of native species. |
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