Environmental pressures on stomatal size may drive plant genome size evolution: evidence from a natural experiment with Cape geophytes

Background and Aims The idea that genome (size) evolution in eukaryotes could be driven by environmental factors is still vigorously debated. In extant plants, genome size correlates positively with stomatal size, leading to the idea that conditions enabling the existence of large stomata in fossil plants also supported growth of their genome size. We test this inductive assumption in drought-adapted, prostrate-leaved Cape (South Africa) geophytes where, compared with their upright-leaved geophytic ancestors, stomata develop in a favourably humid microclimate formed underneath their leaves. Methods Stomatal parameters (leaf cuticle imprints) and genome size (flow cytometry) were measured in 16 closely related geophytic species pairs from seven plant families. In each pair, representing a different genus, we contrasted a prostrate-leaved species with its upright-leaved phylogenetic relative, the latter whose stomata are exposed to the ambient arid climate. Key Results Except for one, all prostrate-leaves species had larger stomata, and in 13 of 16 pairs they also had larger genomes than their upright-leaved relatives. Stomatal density and theoretical maximum conductance were less in prostrate-leaved species with small guard cells (1 pL). Giant stomata were observed in the prostrate-leaved Satyrium bicorne (89–137 µm long), despite its relatively small genome (2C = 9 Gbp). Conclusions Our results imply that climate, through selection on stomatal size, might be able to drive genome size evolution in plants. The data support the idea that plants from ‘greenhouse’ geological periods with large stomata might have generally had larger genome sizes when compared with extant plants, though this might not have been solely due to higher atmospheric CO2 in these periods but could also have been due to humid conditions prevailing at fossil deposit sites

Performance evaluation of concrete bridge deck affected by chloride ingress: simulation-based reliability assessment and finite element modeling

Modeling is presented for the effect of cracks on chloride ingress into bridge decks with epoxy-coated reinforcing steel. A finite element diffusion model is used in conjunction with a Monte Carlo probabilistic method to address the inherited randomness of input variables. Field data from New York and Pennsylvania bridge decks under service are used to derive the distributions of diffusion coefficients and concrete cover depths under common specifications and construction practices for bridges in the northeastern United States