Biodiversity of the Epiphyllous Algae in a Chamaecyparis Forest of Northern Taiwan
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Botanical Studies (2012) 53: 489-499. PHYLOGENETICS Biodiversity of the epiphyllous algae in a Chamaecyparis forest of northern Taiwan Ching-Su LIN1, Yu-Hsin LIN1, and Jiunn-Tzong WU1,2,* 1Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10660, Taiwan 2Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan (Received March 5, 2012; Accepted June 15, 2012) ABSTRACT. Yellow cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana, is a relic species and one of the most important trees in Taiwan. This is the first study of the epiphyllous algae in a yellow cypress forest. The for- est surrounding Yuan-Yang Lake (YYL) in northern Taiwan was chosen for this study. Algal samples collected from leaves and trunks were isolated and cultivated under laboratory conditions. The species were identified with the aid of 23S rDNA sequence analysis. Six species of green algae, including Chloroidium saccharophi- lum, Ettlia pseudoalveolaris, Klebsormidium flaccidum, Prasiococcus calcarius, Rosenvingiella radicans and Trebouxia sp., and one cyanobacterial species, Leptolyngbya sp., were identified in the forest. This is the first instance of any of them being reported in Taiwan. On yellow cypress leaves, four coccoid species, namely C. saccharophilum, E. pseudoalveolaris, P. calcarius, and R. radicans were found. On broadleaf trees, in con- trast, both the filamentous species, Leptolyngbya sp. and K. flaccidum, and the coccoid species were identified. However, there is no strong host-specificity for these epiphyllous algae. The influence of environmental fac- tors on the microhabitat, distribution and population size of epiphyllous algae in the forest is discussed here. Keywords: Biodiversity; Chamaecyparis; Environmental factor; Epiphyllous algae; Yuan-Yang Lake; Yellow cypress forest. INTRODUCTION tablishing the taxonomy to genus level for taxonomically doubtful strains in environmental samples. The identifica- In forests, the leaf surface (phyllosphere) may be colo- tion of microorganisms in the natural ecosystem is diffi- nized by a range of different organisms, including lichens, cult. Many cases of misidentification of strains, inadequate liverworts, fungi, algae and bacteria (Wylie and Schlicht- culture conditions leading to malformation or loss of criti- ing, 1973; Andreoli and Paoletti, 1993). Epiphyllous algae cal features, and growth intricacies all make it difficult inhabit both leaves and trunks (Schlichting, 1975). Leaf to apply taxonomic principles to environmental samples surfaces provide the ecologically appropriate landscapes (Burja et al., 2001). In recent years, molecular techniques for the organisms that encounter or colonize the leaf sur- have provided excellent complementary data to address face. Due to their considerable diversity, the role that epi- the limitations of taxonomic, physiological and biochemi- phylls play in ecosystem functioning varies widely. The cal approaches in biodiversity assessment (Srivastava et epiphyllous microorganisms might not only act as para- al., 2007). Recently, Sherwood and Presting (2007) identi- sites or symbiotes (Garcia-Guzman and Dirzo, 2004), they fied a set of “universal primers”, about 450 bp in length, may also affect the nutrient cycle and the loss of water by flanking Domain V of the 23S plastid rDNA gene fragment evaporation linked to their host (Bentley and Carpenter, in eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria. Later, Sherwood 1984; Fürnkranz et al., 2008). et al., (2008) demonstrated the amplification of the 23S The nucleic acid sequences of 5S, 16S, 18S or internal rDNA sequences corresponding to algae; this illustrated transcribed spacer (ITS) regions are commonly used in the utility of the 23S rDNA sequence of a primer for anal- studies of microorganisms. Recently, sequence data of 23S ysis of environmental samples. This “universal” primer rDNA become available for a few bacterial, cyanobac- pair allows a more convenient and effective molecular teria and algal species (Ludwig et al., 1995; Anthony et analysis of algae, based on either cultured or environmen- al., 2000; Sherwood and Presting 2007; Sherwood et al., tal samples. In the present study, we employed 23S rDNA 2008). This 23S rDNA sequence is a useful tool for es- sequence analysis for the identification of species. Yuan-Yang Lake (YYL) is a subalpine lake situated in a natural reserve area in northern Taiwan that has been virtu- * Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; ally undisturbed by human activity for a long time (Chen Tel:+886-2-27871073; Fax: +886-2-27871182. and Wu, 1999). It is surrounded by a cloud belt forest of 490 Botanical Studies, Vol. 53, 2012 Taiwan yellow cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formo- et al., 2000). In addition, the forest is characterised by sana), an important timber tree and a relic species. A long- plenty of epiphytic bryophytes, mainly mosses, represent- term ecological research site was established to study this ing the unique physiognomy of the ecosystem (Liu and unique environment in 1992 by the government (Chang et Hsu, 1973). al., 2002). The annual air temperature at YYL ranges between 5 Most previous studies of the YYL site have concentrat- and 17.5°C, with an average of about 13°C. The annual ed on the floristic diversity of the community (Liao et al., rainfall is ca. 4,000 mm, but varies according to the num- 2003) or on the relation of changes in floristic composition ber and strength of the summer typhoons. The forest is to seasonality, soil conditions (Huang et al., 2005) and en- strongly influenced by the East Asia monsoon. The rainfall vironmental factors (Wu et al., 2001). There have been no in summer is short but moderate to heavy, while in winter studies of epiphyllous algae and its role in the ecosystem. it is long-lasting but light. The relative humidity is usu- As a matter of fact, there is very little information avail- ally higher than 80% (Hwang et al., 1996; Wu et al., 2001; able in the literature on the ubiquitous epiphyllous algae Liao et al., 2003; Lai et al., 2006). in the subtropical forest. The YYL is a unique site for such a study, because of its long-lasting high humidity, which Sampling is a particularly suitable environment for the growth of The epiphyllous algae that grow on four of the domi- epiphyllous algae. The purpose of this study is to estimate nant tree species in the cypress forest were sampled in the diversity of epiphytic algae grown on the leaves of the April, June, August, and October in 2008 and 2009. Two dominant vascular plants in the yellow cypress forest of species of coniferous trees, Chamaecyparis obtusa var. the YYL area. It aims to understand the existing circum- formosana and Calocedrus formosana (Florin) Florin, and stances and the diversity of the epiphyllous algae on both two species of broadleaf trees Eurya crenatifolia (Yamam.) coniferous and broadleaf trees. Kobus. and Illicium philippinense Merr were sampled. To avoid contamination from other algae populations that MATERIALS AND METHODS grow near the ground, a step ladder was used to sample the leaves from the upper part of the targeted trees. An Study Site appropriate amount of leaf pieces were cut, placed in ster- The Yuan-Yang Lake Natural Reserve Area (YYL) is ile plastic boxes, and immediately stored in the portable located in the Chi-lan Mountains of north-eastern Taiwan icebox. They were transferred to the laboratory for further (24°35’ N, 121°24’ E) (Figure 1). It is a typical subtropi- processing. cal mountainous cloud forest, with an area of 374 ha and an altitude range of 1650-2432 m (Table 1) (Hwang et al., Isolation, cultures, and morphological observa- 1996; Chou et al., 2000). It is composed of a mixed co- tions niferous-broadleaf forest that extends from the lakeside to In the lab, a small piece of leaf with visible greenish or the east slope of the Hsueh-shan Mountain Range. Within brown spots was excised under sterile conditions and cul- this forest, two major vegetation communities can be rec- tured in both a liquid and an agar (1.5%) medium of NC ognized: a coniferous-hardwood community, dominated (Kuhl, 1962) or BG11 (Stanier et al., 1971). The condi- by Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. & Zucc. var. formosana tions were 25°C and 12:12 h light-dark cycle illuminated (Hayata) Rehder (Taiwan yellow cypress) and Rhodo- with cool-white fluorescent light (20 µmol m-2 s-1). During dendron formosanum Heiml; and a swamp community incubation, the small colonies that grew on the agar were characterised by Miscanthus transmorrisonensis Hayata, transferred to a liquid medium in 250 mL sterile flasks un- Schoenoplectus mucronatus (L.) Palla subsp. robustus der the same conditions for further study. (Miq.) T. Koyama and Sparganium fallax Graedner (Chou Algae were examined under an AxioStar microscope (Zeiss, Germany) equipped with transmitted light, phase contrast and differential interference contrast (DIC, No- marski) illumination and an AxioCam digital camera (Japan). The isolates were maintained in the Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Previous stud- ies such as those of Anagnostidis and Komárek (1988), John et al., (2002) and Rindi et al. (2004, 2007, 2008) were used for morphological identification. DNA extraction and PCR amplification The DNA of the algae was extracted using the phenol- chloroform protocol (Saunders, 1993). Amplification was carried out by means of PCR as described by Sherwood Figure 1. The map of Taiwan, showing the site of Yuan-Yang and Presting (2007), using PCR primers pair p23SrV_f1 Lake area. (5’ GGA CAG AAA GAC CCT ATG AA 3’) and p23SrV_ (Promega), 26.0 μL of H (Promega), 26.0 μL 2.0 μL (20 mM) of each 0.2 dNTP, μL of mM), (0.4 primer each of μL 2.0 solution, BSA 1.0% of μL tification Phylogenetic affiliations and morphotype iden 10X PCR 4.0 buffer, of μL 2.0 mM MgCl ny), mixture using a solution of consisting 50 of μL 5.0 μL gradient S thermal cycler (Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germa Mastercycler Eppendorf an in performed was amplification r1 (5’ TCA GCC CCC TGT AG TAG TAT 3’).