Life Sciences Commons^™

Substrate Type Affects The Drying Speed And Desiccation Tolerance Of Fern Gametophytes, Jordyn D. Regier, Mayra J. Hernandez, Camille K. Sicangco, Stephen D. Davis, Helen I. Holmlund

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Although most ferns require abundant water to thrive, some ferns can survive in habitats with limited water. Previous studies have examined the adaptations that allow xeric ferns to thrive in mediterranean-type ecosystems such as southern California. However, the large fern sporophyte only represents one stage of the fern life cycle; the independent gametophyte phase must also survive water stress, including the six-month summer drought periods of the Santa Monica Mountains. Some fern gametophytes have been reported to be desiccation tolerant (capable of recovery from near-complete drying), and this trait is believed to be dependent on the plant’s drying speed. In …