Desiccation tolerance in peatland desmids: a comparative study of Micrasterias thomasiana and Staurastrum hirsutum (Zygnematophyceae)

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F25%3A10509170" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/25:10509170 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=JgZsvD6Qxv" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=JgZsvD6Qxv</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00709-025-02061-1" target="_blank" >10.1007/s00709-025-02061-1</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Desiccation tolerance in peatland desmids: a comparative study of Micrasterias thomasiana and Staurastrum hirsutum (Zygnematophyceae)

Original language description

Desmids are valuable bioindicators in peatland ecosystems due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. In temperate and boreal wetlands, seasonal desiccation of aquatic habitats, which is increasing in frequency and severity due to ongoing climate change, is currently considered a key factor structuring the distribution of individual taxa. In this study, the desiccation tolerance of Micrasterias thomasiana and Staurastrum hirsutum isolated from contrasting hydrological environments in the peatland habitats of the Ore Mountains, Czech Republic, is investigated. Using controlled experimental conditions, we subjected both young, actively growing and old, mature cultures to four different desiccation treatments and evaluated morphology and photosynthetic performance. Our results showed that young and old cultures of both species exhibited a very similar photophysiological response. Severe desiccation led to an irreversible decline in the effective quantum yield of photosystem II in both species, resulting in cell death. Mild drought stress allowed the cultures to recover, indicating that the stress severity determines the recovery potential. Finally, prolonged desiccation resulted in irreversible damage in older cultures of both species, emphasizing the limited desiccation resilience of desmids. We observed similarities in morphology with Zygnema &quot;pre-akinetes,&quot; but in contrast to these resilient cells, the old cells of M. thomasiana and S. hirsutum did not survive the harsher desiccation conditions. Long-term mild desiccation revealed a higher resistance of S. hirsutum, probably due to the protective role of its dense mucilage. In nature, these two species usually inhabit localities with low desiccation risk or avoid and mitigate desiccation stress through localized survival strategies.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10606 - Microbiology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA22-20989S" target="_blank" >GA22-20989S: Desmids under the climate change – desiccation and temperature stress in mountainous peat bogs and fens</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Protoplasma

ISSN

0033-183X

e-ISSN

1615-6102

Volume of the periodical

262

Issue of the periodical within the volume

5

Country of publishing house

AT - AUSTRIA

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

1215-1228

UT code for WoS article

001459047500001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105001848804