Studies on the Associates of <i>Conocephalum conicum</i> L. (Dumort.) and <i>Dumortiera hirsuta</i> Sw. (Nees)

doi:10.4236/ajps.2011.23031

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American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2011, 2, 283-286

doi:10.4236/ajps.2011.23031 Published Online September 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ajps)

283

Studies on the Associates of Conocephalum

conicum L. (Dumort.) and Dumortiera

hirsuta Sw. (Nees)

Mudassar Iqbal1*, Fayaz Ahmad Butt1, Anima Langer1, Afroz Alam2

1Department of Botany University of Jammu, Jammu, India; 2Deapertment of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University,

Rajasthan, India.

Email: *[email protected]

Received December 28th, 2010; revised March 16th, 2011; accepted March 28th, 2011.

ABSTRACT

Paper includes info rmation on as sociatio n of 46 populations of Conocephalum conicum L. (Dumort.) and 25 of Dumor-

tiera hirsuta Sw. (Nees) with diverse organisms, including fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms

and an insect.

Keywords: Liverworts, Assoc i ation, Conocephalum conicum, Dumort i era hirsuta

1. Introduction

Bryophytes are known to grow in close association with

organisms as diverse as algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteri-

dophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms among plants

and protozoa, rotifers, nematodes, earthworms, molluscs,

insects and spiders among animals. Direct interaction of

bryophytes includes providing food, shelter and nesting

material for small mammals and invertebrates. Indirectly,

they serve as a matrix for a variety of interaction between

organisms [1].

2. Material and Method

Plants of Conocephalum conicum and Dumortiera hir-

suta were collected along with their associates growing

in diverse habitats, from different sites of tehsil Bhader-

wah of district Doda of Jammu (India) region growing at

altitude between 1230 - 2600 m, the district falls between

32 degree-53' and 34 degree 21' North latitude and 75

degree-1' and 76 degree-47' East longitude. Periodical

explorations were undertaken and field photography was

done for the populations growing in natural habitats.

3. Observations and Discussion

A total of 12 plants and one insect species have presently

been found associated with the two liverwort taxa. Am-

ong these, the most frequent association existed between

Conocephalum conicum and Dumortiera hirsuta them-

selves.

A number of algal taxa are reported to grow in asso-

ciation with bryophytes. In the terrestrial habitat, cyano-

bacteria, especially Nostoc, are common, and green algae

frequent. Nostoc is endophytic in some hepatics, for ex-

ample Blasia (Metzgeriales), and in Anthocerotales, with

which there is an obligate relationship. Since Nostoc is a

nitrogen fixer, its advantage to the bryophytes is apparent.

Frullania tamarisci is also reported as phorophyte for

Stigonema cf. minutum [2]. Observations on plant asso-

ciation of liverworts with other plant taxa were also ear-

lier made by Fardos [3] for Reboulia hemispherica and

reported its occurrence in association with one algal

taxon Lyngbya. Similarly, Kapoor [4] observed filaments

of Anabaena sp. and Vaucheria sp. growing on the dorsal

surface of thalli of Riccia.

Bryophytes are also known to harbor the mycelia of

zygomycetous and other fungi. Both hepatic taxa pres-

ently studied have been observed to grow in association

with Glomus sp. (Figure 1(a)). Fungal hyphae were found

associated with the smooth walled as well as tuberculated

rhizoids. Their frequency, however, was far more in

smooth walled one.

Conocephalum conicum has earlier been reported to

grow mixed with mosses, such as Thuidium delicatulum

and Mirella careyana [5,6]. Association of Conocephalum

conicum with Marchantia sp., Preissia quad rata, Rebou-

lia hemispherica and occasionally with Riccardia pinguis,

Pellia fabbronia na, Mannia rupestris and Clevea hyalina

has also been reported [7]. Report on the colonization of

Studies on the Associates of Con ocephalum conicum L. (Dumort.) and Dumortiera hirsuta Sw. (Nees)

284

a typical liverwort dominated community consisting of

Conocephalum conicum, Dumortiera hirsuta, Pellia en-

divaefolia, Chiloscyphus polyanthus, Phaeoceros hima-

layensis and Eurhynchium striatum is also known [8].

The association of Conocephalum conicum with Dumor-

tiera hirsuta, Wiesnerella denudata, Marchantia subin-

tegra, Marchantia nepalensis, Pellia endivaefolia and

mosses is also well observed [9]. Observations on plant

association of liverworts with other taxa were also earlier

made [3] for Reboulia hemispherica and also reported it

to occur in association with hepatics, (Plagiochasma ap-

pendiculatum, Marchantia polymorpha, Marchantia pal-

mata, Asterella angusta, Chiloscyphus himalayensis),

mosses (Rhodobryum roseum and Fissidens sp.) ferns

(Asplenium dalhousiae and Adiantum capillus venaris),

gymnosperm (Cedrus deodara) and angiosperms (Cyno-

don dactylon, Fragaria indica, Mazus pulmilus, Stellaria

media and Oxalis sp.).

(a) (b) (c) (d)

(e) (f) (g) (h)

(i) (j) (k)

Figure 1. Association of Conocephalum conicum with (a) Glomus. sp.; (b) Dumortiera hirsute; (c) Marchantia palmate; (d) Chi-

loscyphus kashyapii; (e) Dryopteris radactopinnata; (f) Athyrium attenatum and Woodwardia unigemmata; (g) Cedrus deodara;

(h) Circium arvensis; (i) Pilea umbrosa; (j) Salix alba; (k) Componot sp.

Studies on the Associates of Con ocephalum conicum L. (Dumort.) and Dumortiera hirsuta Sw. (Nees)285

Conocephalum conicum has presently been observed

to grow in association with other hepatics, such as Du-

mortiera hirsuta, Marchantia palmata, Pellia endivaefo-

lia (Figure 1(c)) and Chiloscyphus kashyapii (Figure

1(d)); pteridophytes; Dryopteris radactopinnata, Athy-

rium attenatum (Figure 1(e)) and Woodwardia unigem-

mata (Figure 1(f)); on the rotten log of Cedrus deodara

(gymnoperm) (Figure 1(g)) and angiosperms like Cir-

cium arvensis (Figure 1(h)), Pilea umbrosa (Figure 1(i))

and Salix alba (Figure 1(j)) taxa, and an insect (Compo-

notus sp.) (Figure 1(k)) belonging to hymenoptera order.

Thalli of Dumortiera hirsuta grew found in association

with hepatics like Cono cephalum conicum (Figure 2(a)),

Marchantia palmata, Chiloscyphus kashyapii (Figure

2(a)), Pellia endivaefolia (Figure 2(b)) and moss a

Rhodobryum roseum (Figure 2(c)). Two Pteridophytes

namely Woodwardia unigemmata and Dryopteris radac-

topinnata (Figure 2(c)) were also found associated with

it. Angiosperm associates of Dumortiera hirsuta were

Salix alba, Urtica dioica (Figure 2(c)), Impatiens edg-

worthi (Figure 2(d)), Valleriana jatomansi and Pilea

umbrosa (Figure 2(e)).

Of the various plant associates recorded presently for

the two plant species the best association was among

Conocephalum conicum and Dumortiera hirsuta them-

selves. The reason behind such a strong association be-

tween these two thalloid liverworts is their ability to oc-

cupy the same microsites. Microhabitats and habitat

structure are the basic requirement for plants to flourish

in an ecological niche, which is almost same and coop-

erative for these thalloid liverworts. Data available for

plant associates of the two taxa are summarized in the

following Table 1.

The diversity patterns of among the associated organ-

ism groups along the investigated geographical gradient

come out to be influenced by both climatic and manage-

ment related factors (habitat fragmentation). There is no

uncertainty that an increase in the habitats in the forests

will increase diversity. The composition of substratum,

microclimatic conditions and the habitat position are key

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e)

Figure 2. Plant associates of (a) Dumortiera hirsute; (b) Marchantia palmata, Chiloscyphus kashyapii and Pellia endivaefolia; (c)

Rhodobrium roseum, Woodwardia unigemmata, Dryopteris radactopinnata, Salix alba, Urtica dioica; (d) Imtatiens edgworthi; (e)

Valleriana jatomansi and Pilea umbrosa.

Studies on the Associates of Con ocephalum conicum L. (Dumort.) and Dumortiera hirsuta Sw. (Nees)

286

Table 1. Different associates of Conoc e phalum conic um and Dumortiera hirsute.

Sl. No Associates Conocephalum conicum Dumortiera hirsuta

1. Fungus

Glomus sp.

2. Bryophytes

Conocephalum conicum

Dumortiera hirsuta + -

Marchantia palmata + +

Pellia endivaefolia + +

Chiloscyphus kashyapii + +

Wiesenerella denudata - +

Rhodobryum roseum - +

3. Pteridophytes

Woodwardia unigemmata

Dryopteris radactopinnata + +

Athyrium attenatum + -

4. Gymnosperm

Cedrus deodara

5. Angiosperms

Salix alba

Circium arvensis + -

Pilea umbrosa + -

Impatiens edgeworthi - +

Valleriana jatomansi - +

Urtica dioica - +

6. Insect

Componotus sp. + -

Note: Both Conocephalum conicum and Dumortiera hirsuta have a number of common plant associates among non flowering plant groups

(Glomus sp., Marchantia palmata, Chiloscyphus kashyapii, Pellia endivaefolia, Woodwardia unigemmata and Dryopteris radactopinnata) and

only one flowering plant species (Salix alba) was common between the two indicating that the substratum requirement and habitat preference for

these common plants growing in association with one another is same. This clearly indicates that the two hepatics studied presently have similar

microhabitat requirements.

variables influencing species composition. It can be con-

cluded that the studied taxa are an important factor in

maintaining forest integrity and they are helpful as one

conservation endpoint that integrates desirable character-

istics such as natural biodiversity, stand structure and

continuity. Bryophytes have been proposed as surrogates,

because they are important components of forest integrity.

4. Acknowledgements

We thank the Head, Department of Botany, University of

Jammu, Jammu for providing necessary library and la-

boratory facilities.

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