Performance and bio complexity of the criptogamic cover in arid and polar regions
The present thesis titled ‘Performance and bio-complexity of the criptogamic cover in arid and polar regions’ aims to understand how lichens and bryophytes modulate their physiological response pattern in order to maximize the fitness in the Tabernas Desert (south of Spain), and Livingston Island (m...
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| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad Complutense de Madrid
2022
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.ucm.es/id/eprint/77998/ https://eprints.ucm.es/id/eprint/77998/1/T43723.pdf |
| Summary: | The present thesis titled ‘Performance and bio-complexity of the criptogamic cover in arid and polar regions’ aims to understand how lichens and bryophytes modulate their physiological response pattern in order to maximize the fitness in the Tabernas Desert (south of Spain), and Livingston Island (maritime Antarctica). Lichens and bryophytes are widely spread in the most climatic extreme regions across the world due to their ability to cope with harsh environmental conditions. Their survival in these regions seems to be linked to physiological and phenotypical plasticity. Due to the symbiotic nature of lichens, adaptation strategies have to be assessed with a multidisciplinary approach, considering the bionts identity as important as morphology and micro-topography, since both might notably influence their physiologic performance. Unravelling how biotic and abiotic factors determine the adaptation strategies of species according to the local conditions is crucial for understanding the potential effects of climate change on biomes as vulnerable as polar and drylands. |
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