附生蕨类植物的克隆性研究进展

石松类及蕨类植物在高等植物中处于比较特殊的进化与系统发育地位, 同时具有孢子植物(孢子)与种子植物(维管束)的双重特征。附生蕨类植物是蕨类植物中占据独特生境的一个大类群, 其生活史策略及进化历史与其附生生长的森林生态系统紧密相关。大部分附生蕨类植物的克隆生长习性及克隆生活史性状在其生态适应中具有重要作用, 但这方面未引起广泛关注。本文主要综述了中国山地森林中附生蕨类植物的根状茎克隆生长、克隆性与生态适应性、不同克隆生长方式与进化等方面, 并展望了蕨类植物克隆性在森林生态系统过程与功能中的作用, 以及今后如何将蕨类植物生态学研究与气候变化、植被恢复、土地利用变化等全球变化的主流方向进行结合。

Progress on the clonality of epiphytic ferns

Lycophytes and ferns display dual life-history traits including a cryptogam (spore) and spermatophyte (vascular bundle) form, which can be attributed to their specific evolutionary history. Among them, epiphytic ferns occupy unique habitats in forests, and their life-history strategies and evolutionary history exhibit close relationships with forest ecosystems. Most epiphytic ferns are capable of clonal growth. However, it is yet unclear how clonal life-history traits affect the adaptation of epiphytic ferns to forest canopies. Here, we review studies of rhizomatous clonal growth of epiphytic ferns, the relationship of fern clonality with ecological adaptation, the clonal forms of ferns, and the evolution of fern clonality. We then discuss the roles of fern clonality in the processes and functions of forest ecosystem and suggest future directions of how to combine fern ecology to global change studies.