Biological diversity – from cell to ecosystem Polish Botanical Society Branch in Białystok Biological diversity – from cell to ecosystem Edited by Grażyna Łaska Polish Botanical Society Bialystok 2012 Scientific Editor Dr hab. Grażyna Łaska Reviewers Dr hab. Andrzej Bajguz Dr hab. Iwona Ciereszko, prof. UwB Prof. dr hab. Wiesław Fałtynowicz Prof. dr hab. Czesław Hołdyński Dr Katarzyna Jadwiszczak Dr hab. Bożena Kiziewicz Dr hab. Grażyna Łaska Dr Anna Matwiejuk Publication financed by the Voivodeship Fund for the Environment Protection and Water Management in Białystok Copyright © 2012 by Polish Botanical Society – Branch in Białystok. All rights reserved ISBN 978-83-62069-28-6 Proof-Reading (English language correction): Maria Spychalska Cover design: Publisher Technical Editor: Andrzej Poskrobko Co-Publisher: Agencja Wydawnicza EkoPress Contents Preface .............................................................................................................................................. 7 1. Halina Gabryś, Weronika Krzeszowiec Chloroplast movements induced by light: diversity of mechanisms in various taxa .......................................................................................................................... 9 2. Aneta Adamczuk, Irena Siegień, Iwona Ciereszko Morphogenesis of plants in vitro under stress conditions .............................................. 25 3. Alicja Piotrowska-Niczyporuk, Andrzej Bajguz The role of antioxidants in plant response to oxidative stress ....................................... 41 4. Andrzej Bajguz, Alicja Piotrowska-Niczyporuk Mechanisms of heavy metals detoxification in plants ..................................................... 57 5. Edyta Łukaszuk, Iwona Ciereszko Plant responses to wounding stress ................................................................................... 73 6. Grażyna Łaska The notion of disturbances and progress in ecology ....................................................... 87 7. Aneta Sienkiewicz Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill. in the Knyszyńska Forest a background of abiotic disorders .................................................................................... 103 8. Beata Matowicka, Agnieszka Klebus Rannoch rush Scheuchzeria palustris L. (Scheuchzeriaceae) as a threatened species in the Gorbacz Nature Reserve ............................................................................ 117 9. Katarzyna Jadwiszczak Population history and genetic variation of Betula humilis Schrk. in Poland ........... 133 10. Danuta Drzymulska, Magdalena Fiłoc Changes in flora and vegetation of the Knyszynska Forest mires since the last glaciation ................................................................................................................ 147 5 11. Katarzyna Marcysiak, Małgorzata Mazur, Amelia Lewandowska Range changes in Pleistocene as the source of the intraspecific diversity of arctic-alpine plants in Europe ...................................................................................... 161 12. Aleksander Kołos, Magdalena Sochoń The volume of dead wood in mixed coniferous forests of the Knyszyńska Forest versus nature conservation ................................................... 173 13. Czesław Hołdyński The Romincka Forest – arguments for and against the establishment of a national park ................................................................................................................ 191 14. Bożena Kiziewicz Fungi and fungus-like organisms from the lower course of the Horodnianka river, Podlasie Province ................................................................. 211 15. Zofia Tyszkiewicz Species diversity of fungi in communities in selected types of post-bog soil ...................................................................................... 225 16. Katarzyna Kolanko Differentiation and dynamic tendencies of epiphytic lichen associations of birch (Betula sp.) in the Biebrza National Park .......................................................... 239 17. Anna Matwiejuk Lichens of birch (Betula sp.) on area with differentiated anthropopressure within city limits of Białystok – floristic-ecological study ............................................ 253 Preface The book presents results of studies concerning biological diversity in a wide sense, analysed at different levels of organisation of biological life, from the cell to the ecosystem. The protection of biodiversity and its sustainable use, in the light of the Convention on Biological Diversity, is a complex problem. It involves a comprehensive analysis of all kinds of transformations taking place in the areas of genetics, physiology, biochemistry, flora, demography and phytosociology performed in the aspect of interdisciplinary research as well as the search for mechanisms and determination of directions of measures needed to prevent the loss of biodiversity. The authors of the papers collected in this monograph have analysed the diversity of fungi, lichens, vascular plants in land and freshwater ecosystems in the aspects of their genetic, population, biocenotic and phytocenotic variations, taking into account the effects of many natural, abiotic and anthropogenic disturbances and mechanisms of plant acclima- tisation to variable environmental stresses. The analysis has been made against a back- ground of functioning of biotic and abiotic elements of the natural environment and in the light of their sustainable and rational use. The monograph presents problems related to the diversity of water and soil fungi, ecological-floristic and phytosociological analysis of lichens in the areas subjected to different anthropopressure, genetic and population variation of the taxons of significance to EU member states, mentioned in Enclosure II of the Habitat Direc- tive, and comprehensive analysis of protection of many taxons and valuable habitats men- tioned in Enclosure I of the Habitat Directive, taking into account their role for the func- tioning of Natura 2000 network. Of great interest are also the results concerning the antis- tress role of plant hormones and different responses of plants aimed at prevention of the effects of oxidation stress, deficiency or excess of mineral components and mechanical damage. The monograph is a result of integration of many measures undertaken to sustain balance in the natural environment and continuity of basic natural processes at all levels of life organisation. It is intended as a contribution to protection of natural heritage and preservation of biodiversity for future generations. Grażyna Łaska 7 Chloroplast movements induced by light: diversity of mechanisms in various taxa Halina Gabryś / Weronika Krzeszowiec Department of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University Gronostajowa 7, 30–387 Krakow, Poland e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The light-controlled relocation of chloroplasts is widespread among photosynthetic organisms enabling them to optimize energy capture under limiting light conditions and to minimize potential photodamage in excess light. Chloroplasts move passively, driven by forces operating outside the organelles. The photoreceptors involved in light signal percep- tion and transduction are encoded in the nuclear genome and localized at the cell memb- rane. Different strategies for light-induced chloroplast movements have evolved in various phyla. Some traits are characteristic only of mosses, ferns and water plants. Firstly, the responses of chloroplasts are coupled with cytoplasmic streaming in these organisms, at least at some stages of development. Secondly, apart from blue/UV, red/far red light is also active in controlling the movements. The long wavelengths are absorbed by phyto- chrome(s) and/or by a hybrid photoreceptor, neochrome. Thirdly, microtubules have been shown to contribute to the motile system in the protonemal cells of Physcomitrella patens, apart from the typically involved microfilaments. In contrast, a uniform mechanism seems to operate in higher terrestrial plants. No evidence has been provided for a relationship between cytoplasmic streaming and light-induced chloroplast responses in these plants. Movements are induced only by blue/UV light via the activation of phototropins. While the participation of the actin cytoskeleton in the movement mechanism is unequivocal, the mode of actin involvement remains debatable. According to one hypothesis, the motive force comes from myosin(s) associated with the chloroplast surface interacting with actin filaments. An alternative model puts forward specific short actin filaments as elements entirely responsible for chloroplast movements. Key words: cytoplasmic streaming, cytoskeleton, blue light, red light, photoreceptor 9 1. Introduction Chloroplasts hold a special place among plant organelles as they are the site of photosynthesis – the transformation of light energy into chemical energy. In the vast majority of plants chloroplasts do not occupy a stable position in the cell but are capable of movement alongside its periphery. Light is the major environmental cue that controls these movements and, as a result, the distribution of chloroplasts. According to light direction, colour and intensity, chloroplasts migrate to defined areas of the cell. They accumulate in weakly illuminated regions and avoid regions exposed to strong light. The accumulation response helps to maximize light har- vesting under energy-limiting conditions (Zurzycki 1955;