Influence of plant size on the ecophysiology of the epiphytic fern Asplenium auritum (Aspleniaceae) from Costa Rica

摘要: • Premise of the study: A central goal plant ecophysiological studies is to generate patterns physiological behavior that are applicable a species, which can be complicated when size considered. Studies indicate influence numerous parameters, especially in vascular epiphytes. The few have included ferns their analyses suggest less important than angiosperms. This study investigates this apparent disparity by examining relationship between and an array parameters epiphytic fern Asplenium auritum, role determining responses water stress.• Methods: Plants were classified according measured for variety functional traits, including maximum photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water-use efficiency, density, chlorophyll content, a/b ratio, specific leaf area, whole drying rates, desiccation tolerance. Results all traits compared across classes determine size-related differences.• Key results: Plant significantly influenced most examined, notably recovery from desiccation. We report first evidence size-mediated shifts tolerance plants: small individuals tolerated loss, whereas larger avoided desiccation.• Conclusions: Our findings more previously thought ferns, particularly regard relations. Desiccation may allow young sporophytes establish stressful environments subsequently lost older individuals.