In this new post, Thinles Chondol – a PhD candidate at the University of South Bohemia – presents her work “Ecological significance of marcescence in Himalayan plants: Why is standing dead phytomass more important in demanding, resource-limited environments?” She shows the importance of marcescence for plant persistence, discusses how looking at your study system can lead to new questions and shares how her love for nature started at a young age.
About the paper
The paper is about the plants inhabiting the high mountains of the Himalayas, where they face extreme temperature fluctuations, moisture stress, and limited nutrient availability. They have a very small favourable period to grow (usually 3-4 months). These harsh conditions have led to various specialized adaptive strategies to endure in such a hostile environment. One such adaptive strategy is marcescence, a phenomenon where plants retain their leaves and stems even after they are dead and no longer photosynthesize. This retention of the dead biomass is ecologically significant, aiding plants in cold periods by providing insulation, trapping moisture during drought conditions, and facilitating nutrient cycling to address nutrient limitations. The findings of this paper reveal that contrasting habitats—arid and cold—exhibit differences in the retention of dead biomass. Plants from arid habitats retain more dead stem biomass, keeping away the grazers and serving to prolong nutrient availability in this nutrient-poor environment, to undergo decomposition by strong UV radiation and by keeping it away from soil microbes. Conversely, plants from cold habitats retain more dead leaves to insulate fragile apical buds from freezing temperatures and to facilitate rapid photosynthesis upon the onset of favourable conditions. Our observations indicate that the presence of dead biomass in plants peaks both before and after winter, further suggesting that it serves as a coping mechanism and survival strategy during the prolonged and harsh winter months.
Ecologists have always been intrigued about how plants can grow in the most extreme environments and have been exploring various strategies they have acquired to survive. These high-elevation plants tend to retain the dead stems and leaves, and previous studies have reported this phenomenon acting as a nutrient buffer, insulation, moisture trap, etc. However, it has not been explored in these highest-altitude plants. Often after months of planning with logistics, researchers may find the dead plant organs to be the least intriguing aspect of their study, particularly when surrounded by the beauty of blooming flowers and lush vegetation. So how did we come up with the idea for this paper? While processing and sorting plants for another study, we observed that a considerable number of them retained dead leaves and stems. This observation prompted my mentor to suggest further investigation into the prevalence and underlying reasons behind the retention of dead plant material.
Our paper looks at the ecological significance of marcescence while also incorporating the relationship with various plant ecophysiological traits. Additionally, we investigated the temporal changes in dead biomass retention, which also proved to be ecologically significant. To our knowledge, this study represents one of the most comprehensive analyses conducted in this region, elucidating how environmental factors, seasonal dynamics of plants, phylogenetic relationships, and plant characteristics influence the persistence of standing dead biomass. Anyone keen to know about the plants growing in extreme environments and their survival strategies should read the paper.
About the research
Understanding the resilience of plants to thrive in such bitter environments has become increasingly important in the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions and escalating human interventions, particularly in previously remote areas like Ladakh or similar habitats. Without a nuanced understanding of the specific characteristics of these habitats, efforts to protect them and enhance their resilience would lack meaningful direction.
Fieldwork of this nature is not without its challenges. However, although sorting through piles of plants into dead leaves, stems, and live organs initially seemed like a strenuous task, it eventually transformed into enjoyable work. I find it fascinating how the dead leaves and stems serve as a special adaptation crucial for the survival of these plants. There are, however, still questions to answer. The complex interplay between plant adaptations, environmental characteristics, and plant traits remains largely elusive, especially in the case of plants inhabiting extreme environments and remote locations. In the context of this study, further in-depth exploration into the implications of marcescence for ecosystem functioning can be undertaken. The next step for this research would be to return to the mountains and explore various morphological, anatomical, and physiological adaptations to get a comprehensive understanding of the survival strategies of these fascinating plants occurring in such challenging environments. Additionally, I am eager to explore plant species from other extreme environments beyond the Himalayas, broadening the scope of my research and deepening my understanding of plant adaptations across diverse ecological settings.
About The Author
My passion for ecology and ecological research has deep roots tracing back to my childhood. Raised in a village amidst the Himalayan mountains of Ladakh, I was connected with nature from a young age. I grew up with my grandparents, and grandfather’s extensive indigenous knowledge of Himalayan plants and animals fascinated me and played a significant role in nurturing my curiosity about the natural world and ecology. As a child, I used to spend countless hours collecting leaves and flowers, enthusiastically attempting to identify them. This early fascination continued to flourish throughout my higher education, ultimately shaping my academic focus on ecology.
I am presently pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, and conducting research with the Department of Functional Ecology at the Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic under the guidance of Dr Jiří Doležal. My research primarily revolves around exploring the adaptations and strategies employed by plants thriving in the high altitudes of the Himalayan mountains. I draw my inspiration and motivation from the excellent researchers and scientists I met during my Ph.D. journey, especially my colleagues at the Institute of Botany. Their unwavering dedication to studying the plants from the harsh and challenging terrain of the Himalayas for over a decade has left a profound impact on me.
My advice to people in my field would be, “Keep exploring, for nature remains a profound mystery; the more we discover, the more we realize the vastness of what we don’t yet understand”.
