Milder winters would alter patterns of freezing damage for epiphytic lichens from the trans-Himalayas.

ABSTRACT: Trans-Himalayan winters are projected to become milder, with shifting precipitation patterns and freeze-thaw cycles; changing stressors for their lichen communities. Lichens from Antarctica and high latitudes are cryoresistant when dry, but susceptible to cell damage if frozen when wet, or subjected to repeated freeze-thaw events. Little is known regarding cryoresistance in high-elevation, mid-latitude lichens. We collected thalli of nine species of epiphytic lichenized fungi, from three regions of the trans-Himalayas; at ≈ 4000 m, 3400 m and 2400 m elevation. We subjected thalli to differing freezing (continuous - 18 °C and - 36 °C or freeze-thaw cycles in natural daylight) and moisture conditions. Even dry thalli suffered some damage. Frozen wet thalli had greater chlorophyll degradation

SUBMITTER: Worthy FR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11574091 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature