EVOLUTION OF HEAVY METAL TOLERANCE IN BRYOPHYTES II. AN ECOLOGICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE “COPPER MOSS,” SCOPELOPHILA CATARACTAE (POTTIACEAE)

About six bryophyte species (including both mosses and liverworts) are generally thought to be restricted to copper-enriched substrates and are consequently known as “copper mosses.” One of these, Scopelophila cataractae (Pottiaceae), is known from several sites in southern Arizona and occurs at six localities in the eastern United States. Chemical analyses of substrates from the eastern U.S. localities showed that all but one population grew on copper-enriched soil. The one substrate sample low in copper was very high in iron. Plants from five of the six eastern U.S. localities for S. cataractae were grown experimentally on four soil types ranging from highly to not contaminated, and all grew best on the soil contaminated with copper, lead, and zinc. There was no significant variation in growth between populations on the four soil treatments. This lack of population differentiation is in contrast to flowering plants and may be related to the absence of sexual reproduction in S. cataractae in North America.     

Variability and seasonality of the growth of some corticolous pleurocarpous mosses

Abstract

Field measurements of the elongation of shoots of Hypnum cupressiforme and lsothecium myosuroides reveal considerable variation. Differences in growth rates in the following situations were found to be significant: at different heights on a trunk, on different sides of sloping trunks, on different species of tree and, over a period, on different trees of a single species at a site.

Monthly growth measurements of H. cupressiforme and Platygyrium repens in Wytham Wood, Berkshire, show that H. cupressiforme grows faster, but that the growth patterns of these species are similar. Most of the annual growth for 1970 and 1971 took place during the autumn and winter. Growth between April and August was very slight. The seasonality of the growth of four pleurocarpous mosses at Wychwood, Oxfordshire, was very similar to the species measured at Wytham. Comparison of seasonal growth records with climatic records for stations near Oxford shows a close correlation Qetween growth and wetness. Monthly rainfall minus potential evapotranspiration (Rf–Et) is particularly closely related to monthly shoot growth.

At Roborough, North Devon, growth of H. cupressiforme was measured every 3 months. Considerable growth occurred during autumn and winter. At this site the summers are wetter and this appears to permit an extension of the growing period, considerable growth occurring between May and October.

In 1970 and 1971 summer growth at several localities was compared. Summer growth was again closely related to Rf–Et. The summer growth in wetregions does not seem to be accompanied by a proportionally high winter growth rate. The wetter the climate, the earlier in the year the peak period of bryophyte growth occurs and the more closely the annual pattern of growth correlates with temperature and day length.     

Some PreHminary Observations on the Water Reladons of a Mesophytic Moss,Thamnium alopecurum (Hedw.) B. & S.

Abstract

Measurements of lobe elongation of the thalloid liverworts Pallavicinia lyellii and Pellia epiphylla were made on shaded streambanks at Silwood Park using a photographic technique. The average cumulative growth of Pallavicinia over 12 months from 1 August 1989 was 8.7 mm compared to 24.7 mm for Pellia. Monthly growth increments of Pallavicinia were positively correlated with average air temperature and accumulated temperatures (day-degrees) in each period. Growth of Pellia was unrelated to temperature. Neither species showed a correlation of growth with rainfall amounts or numbers of wet days, probably because thallus hydration is governed predominantly by soil wetness. Pallavicinia appears to coexist with the more vigorous Pellia by tolerating drier niches than can be endured by Pellia. Persistence of Pallavicinia at this site may be due to the presence of both sexes and frequent colonization of fresh surfaces by spores.     

Osservazioni Sull'attività Cambiale Di Nerium Oleander L.

Abstract

Observation on the cambial activity in «Nerium oleander» L. — The cambial activity of «Nerium oleander» has been observed in three localities in Southern Italy: Bari and Lucera, where the oleander is cultivated, and Policoro, in the bed of the river Sinni, where the oleander is spontaneuos. The wood is of the diffuse-porous type. Growth rings corresponding to distinct periods of growth are not distinguishable, as there are no easily distinguishable types of wood (early, intermediate, and late wood). Only occasionally the uniform wood is interrupted by narrow circular bands of a few layers of radially compressed cells. Differences in the behaviour of the cambium have been observed in the three localities. At Policoro there was a long period of activity from the middle of March until November without interruptions. At Bari the cambium was active from the middle of March until the first days of April; after a pause it was active again from the second half of May until die middle of July and again during the second half of September-October and the first ten days of October. In 1957 a slight activity was noticed also during about twenty days in December. At Lucera the active period as compared with Policoro was still shorter than at Bari; in the spring there was a delay in the resumption of activity, while the summer rest period lasted until the middle of October. The cambium was then active again until the first days of November. Some of the differences in the behaviour of the cambium in the three localities could perhaps be explained by climatic or pedologic factors, such as the rich water table in the case of the plant growing in the Sinni bed. In conclusion «N. oleander» seems to be a species adapted to a sub-tropical climate, without distinct growth rings.     

New national and regional bryophyte records, 37

Abstract

We analyzed the form of the UV-absorption spectra and calculated the bulk UV-absorption capacity of the methanolic extracts (BUVACME) in 15 bryophytes (five liverworts and 10 mosses) from unshaded aquatic habitats of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). BUVACME was obtained as the area under the absorbance curve (AUC) in several ranges of the UV band to allow comparison with the literature data. Both the spectra form and the AUC values depended on the species considered. The spectra showed either no, one or two defined peaks. The peaks were probably due to phenolic derivatives, which could act as both screening compounds and antioxidants. The different AUCs calculated were highly and significantly correlated, and thus it may be unimportant which of these is used. The AUC values of most liverworts were higher than those of most mosses and in particular, the liverworts Noteroclada confluens and Triandrophyllum subtrifidum showed much higher BUVACMEs than those analyzed in any other bryophyte. Thus, the accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds might often increase protection against UV radiation in liverworts, but rarely in mosses. This is in line with the evolutionary differences between these two groups of bryophytes. Except for the two abovementioned liverwort species, BUVACME of aquatic bryophytes from Tierra del Fuego is not particularly different to that found in bryophytes from other zones of the planet.     

Diversity of AM fungi in some tree species from dry land area of central Maharashtra (India)

AM symbiosis reducing damage caused by soilborne pathogen and abiotic stresses and its protection is modulated by soil and other environmental conditions. Drought stress is one of the abiotic stresses in most areas of central Maharashtra (India) and lots of tree species survive in this drought-prone area; the present investigation deals with qualitative and quantitative distribution of AM fungi in rhizosphere soil of three tree species from three localities in the dry land area of central Maharashtra, the mycorrhizal population with respect to its variation in the month of May to October and to study the physicochemical properties of rhizospheric soil.

The spore population was very high in the months of June to September in all three localities studied. The extent of colonisation by AM fungi was moderately high (70–100%). During this season there was positive correlation between AM colonisation and spore population in these months because of moderate rainfall. The species of Gigaspora and Acaulospora were dominant in Acacia arabica and Prosopis specigera rhizospheric soil, whereas the species of Glomus and Sclerocystis were dominant in association with Azadirachta indica. Thirteen dominant AM fungal species were observed in test plants. The uneven distribution of AM fungi in different localities during different seasons may be attributed to the differential physicochemical properties of soil.     

THE PLASMA PROTEINS OF SOME FRESHWATER FISH IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

SUMMARY

The plasma proteins of Cyprinus carpio (carp), Barbus holubi (yellowfish), Labeo umbratus (mudfish) and Labeo capensis (mudfish) were electrophoretically separated on polyacrylamide gels from blood samples obtained from specimens sampled during summer and winter in three different localities. Within a species, differences existed in the summer and winter plasma protein electrophoretograms from the different localities. During winter protein fraction concentration differences were found with a displacement of prominence. The results are compared between different experimental conditions and to previous observations. A genetic trait is present, but there were also alterations as a result of environmental factors.     

A comparison of distribution patterns in British and Irish mosses and liverworts

Abstract

We classified 747 species of British and Irish mosses into 10 clusters, based on their recorded distribution in 10×10 km grid squares (hectads). We generated the clusters in a two-stage process using the CLUSTASPEC program, the method that we had earlier used for British and Irish liverworts and hornworts. The clusters are named after the species with distributions which are most similar to those of the clusters as a whole. Clusters of widespread species (Bryum capillare), southern, lowland species (Rhynchostegium confertum), widespread calcifuges (Pleurozium schreberi), upland species (Blindia acuta), and montane calcifuges (Kiaeria falcata) closely match clusters recognised in the liverworts. The remaining clusters (Tortella flavovirens, Weissia longifolia, Mnium stellare, Encalypta alpina, Mnium lycopodioides) are less similar. The classification of mosses into 15 and 20 clusters generates additional clusters of hyperoceanic and montane mosses which also resemble liverwort clusters. The influence of calcareous bedrock has a more marked effect in determining moss distributions and, unlike the liverworts, the 10 moss clusters include one which is predominantly coastal. Mosses tend to be a less upland group than liverworts; a smaller proportion of their species have northern and western distributions and the lowland clusters are characterised by more extreme environmental conditions. As with the liverworts, geographically restricted clusters of species with predominantly Mediterranean-Atlantic, Arctic-montane and Boreo-arctic Montane world ranges include marked concentrations of threatened species, and species which are not recorded as fruiting in the British Isles.     

Germinazione E Accrescimento Dell'Abete Bianco (Abies Alba Mill.) In Diverse Condizioni Termiche E Fotoperiodiche

Abstract

Germination and growth of ABIES ALBA mill. in different light and temperature conditions. — The results of a research on white fir from different localities are summarized as follows:

a) Germination of seeds from three italian localities (Tuscany, lat. 43°, 44'; Abruzzo, lat. 41°, 52'; Calabria, lat. 38°, 33') has been tested in several ecological conditions (temperature, light and chilling); it has been found that 22 °C, 8 hrs. of light and a 3 weeks prechilling at 5 °C, are stimulating conditions for all the seeds. The Cala-brian seeds seem the most reactive.

b) Growth in different photoperiodic conditions has been tested on seedlings from the Appennine, from France (lat. 49°, 10') and Poland (lat. 49°, 39'). Growth is evidently stimulated by long-day conditions in all the seeds experimented and growth acceleration touches its maximum in the Calabrian seedlings, provided they germinated at 12°C in the ligth.

It has been concluded that Calabrian Abies behaves as a Biotype, evidently distinguished from all the others, and an ecological explanation of this behaviour has been attemped.     

Phytohormone Profiling across the Bryophytes

BackgroundBryophytes represent a very diverse group of non-vascular plants such as mosses, liverworts and hornworts and the oldest extant lineage of land plants. Determination of endogenous phytohormone profiles in bryophytes can provide substantial information about early land plant evolution. In this study, we screened thirty bryophyte species including six liverworts and twenty-four mosses for their phytohormone profiles in order to relate the hormonome with phylogeny in the plant kingdom.MethodologySamples belonging to nine orders (Pelliales, Jungermanniales, Porellales, Sphagnales, Tetraphidales, Polytrichales, Dicranales, Bryales, Hypnales) were collected in Central and Northern Bohemia. The phytohormone content was analysed with a high performance liquid chromatography electrospray tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS).ConclusionThe apparent differences in conjugation and/or degradation strategies of growth hormones between liverworts and mosses might potentially show a hidden link between vascular plants and liverworts. On the other hand, the complement of stress hormones in bryophytes probably correlate rather with prevailing environmental conditions and plant survival strategy than with plant evolution.     

Exploring the plastid genome disparity of liverworts

Sequencing the plastid genomes of land plants provides crucial improvements to our understanding of the plastome evolution of land plants. Although the number of available complete plastid genome sequences has rapidly increased in the recent years, only a few sequences have been yet released for the three bryophyte lineages, namely hornworts, liverworts, and mosses. Here, we explore the disparity of the plastome structure of liverworts by increasing the number of sequenced liverwort plastomes from five to 18. The expanded sampling included representatives of all major lineages of liverworts including the genus Haplomitrium. The disparity of the liverwort genomes was compared with other 2386 land plant plastomes with emphasis on genome size and GC‐content. We found evidence for structural conservatism of the plastid genomes in liverworts and a trend towards reduced plastome sequence length in liverworts and derived mosses compared to other land plants, including hornworts and basal lineages of mosses. Furthermore, Aneura and Haplomitrium were distinct from other liverworts by an increased GC content, with the one found in Haplomitrium only second to the lycophyte Selaginella. The results suggest the hypothesis that liverworts and other land plants inherited and conserved the plastome structure of their most recent algal ancestors.     

Illuminating the evolutionary history of liverworts (Marchantiophyta)—towards a natural classification

The phylogenetic relationships of liverworts were reconstructed using the sequence data of four genome regions including rbcL, rps4 and trnL‐F of the chloroplast and 26S large subunit ribosomal rRNA gene of the nucleus, and 90 characters of morphological, ultrastructural and developmental aspects. The taxa sampled consisted of 159 species including 135 liverworts (108 genera, 54 families and 29 suborders), 13 mosses, two hornworts, seven vascular plants and two charophyte algae. Analyses based on maximum parsimony using both direct optimization (POY) and static alignment (NONA), as well as Bayesian inference (MrBayes) were done. All the data sets were analyzed simultaneously. Our study confirms that liverworts compose a monophyletic group which consists of three classes. The class Treubiopsida including both Treubia and Haplomitrium is resolved as the earliest diverging liverwort lineage. Blasia and the complex thalloids are assigned to the Marchantiopsida, under which Blasiidae and Marchantiidae are divided. Marchantiidae include Sphaerocarpales and Marchantiales. The simple thalloid and leafy liverworts form the Jungermanniopsida, which is further divided to subclasses Pelliidae subclassis nov., Metzgeriidae and Jungermanniidae. Metzgeriidae here is defined to include only Metzgeriaceae, Aneuraceae and Vandiemeniaceae, and is the sister group to the leafy liverworts. The leafy liverworts Jungermanniidae include the orders Pleuroziales, Porellales and Jungermanniales. It is assumed that the Porellales and the Jungermanniales have split early, at least in the Jurassic period. In the Porellales, the diversification rate may have remained relatively constant for long periods of time but speeding up only recently within some of the families, associated with an explosive radiation of angiosperms. The Jungermanniales are most probably a recently diversified group which has attained the greatest profusion of structure and the most remarkable diversity of leaf development and protective devices for maturing sporophytes. A detailed classification scheme for liverworts is presented. © The Willi Hennig Society 2006.     

广西中越边境喀斯特地区叶附生苔类植物物种多样性研究

为了解日益恶化的喀斯特环境下叶附生苔类植物的分布状况,对广西中越边境喀斯特地区叶附生苔类植物多样性展开调查。结果表明,广西中越边境喀斯特地区有叶附生苔类植物5科15属43种,其中,九洲疣鳞苔(Cololejeunea yakusimensis)、巴氏薄鳞苔(Leptolejeunea balansae)、斯氏唇鳞苔(Cheilolejeunea streimannii)、麦氏细鳞苔(Lejeunea micholitzii)、巨齿细鳞苔(L.kodamae)和纤细细鳞苔(L.exilis)为广西苔藓植物新记录。该地区叶附生苔类植物区系具有热带性质和东亚分布特点。与邻近地区比较,该地区叶附生苔类植物与贵州茂兰的亲缘关系和区系关系最紧密。该地区叶附生苔类植物分布随海拔增加呈增加趋势。那坡老虎跳保护区、龙州和宁明弄岗保护区以及靖西龙邦镇风水林是叶附生苔类植物分布最丰富的地区,因此,建议应对这些地区的叶附生苔类植物进行优先保护。     

Reproductive and dietary parameters in wild greater galago populations

Information concerning habitat, body size, reproductive status, and diet was recorded from 348 greater galagos, captured at six different localities in Tanzania and southern Africa between 1953 and 1955. The localities extended from Pemba Island in the north to Chikwawa, Malawi, in the south and varied broadly in the same order in degree of climatic aridity— from well-watered clove and coconut plantations to seasonally very dry woodland. Animals from the three northern localities fell within the geographic range of Galago garnettii,while the rest were assumed to be G. crassicaudatus.Statistical analysis of body size parameters confirmed this allocation. Data on fetal occurrence, vaginal and labial condition, and lactation indicate a restricted breeding season for both species, with peak proportions in estrus in August in G. garnettiiand in May-July in G. crassicaudatus.Gut content data indicate a variety of foods, with a preponderance in the northern localities of soft fruit such as mango, pawpaw, and coconut pulp; gum was a major carbohydrate source in the southernmost localities. Contrary to expectations, tooth damage, in the form of both loss and breakage, was much more prevalent in G. garnettiithan in G. crassicaudatus.The teeth most commonly lost were the upper incisors— perhaps because of the high acid and sugar content of a frugivorous diet. The high incidence of breakage of the lower incisors and upper canines indicates the inclusion of hard-shelled food sources in the diet of G. garnettii.     

Differences in morphology and reproductive traits of Galerucella nymphaeae from four host plant species

The water lily beetle Galerucella nymphaeae L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) exploits different hosts, including Nuphar lutea Sm. and Nymphaea alba L. (both Nymphaeaceae), as well as Polygonum amphibium L. and Rumex hydrolapathum Hudson (both Polygonaceae). The present study investigates whether within-species differences in morphological and reproductive traits are associated with differences in host species exploitation. A total of 1103 adult beetles were collected from 11 localities in The Netherlands, one of which contained all four hosts and three other localities contained hosts from both families (sympatric localities). Adults originating from Nuphar and Nymphaea were on average darker in colour and larger in size and had disproportionally bigger mandibles than beetles originating from Polygonum and Rumex across the 11 localities. Head capsules of first instar larvae from Nymphaeaceae hosts were between 17% and 28% larger than those of larvae from Polygonaceae hosts. Furthermore, beetles from Nuphar and Nymphaea laid larger sized eggs, but fewer eggs per clutch than beetles originating from Polygonum and Rumex. Although host related variation was less pronounced at the sympatric localities than in the allopatric localities, differences in larval and adult size were still highly significant at the sympatric localities. It is not clear whether the observed differences are genetically based, as opposed to host induced. However, leaf toughness varied among species in a way suggesting that leaf toughness may be partly responsible for host related differences in G. nymphaeae.     

Spatial distribution of functional traits of bryophytes along environmental gradients in an Atlantic Forest remnant in north-eastern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Background: Functional trait-based approaches have been used to identify patterns of plant species diversity and composition related to environmental variability/changes. Bryophytes are rapidly affected by perturbations and thus their traits and distribution are expected to show well-defined relationships with environmental variability.

Aim: To quantify the impacts of fragmentation on the diversity and structure of epiphytic bryophytes to vertical and horizontal environmental gradients in an Atlantic Forest remnant.

Methods: Six functional traits related to water relations and light tolerance were recorded and one of them, the leaf lobule area in liverworts, was selected for morphometric measurements along the gradients analysed. Functional diversity and composition metrics of bryophytes along gradients were compared.

Results: Functional diversity changed little along the vertical and horizontal gradients. Conversely, the functional composition of traits changed markedly. Traits related to water storage, such as the presence and area of lobules, and to protection against excess light incidence, such as dark pigments, were more numerous in the canopy and at the fragment edge.

Conclusions: Functional composition is more correlated with the vertical and horizontal gradients than functional diversity. The lobule of liverworts stood out as the most relevant trait to explain the adaptive strategies of bryophytes.     

巨菌草不同生长时期对砒砂岩地区土壤理化性质及细菌群落结构的影响

[目的]揭示巨菌草种植前及其不同生长时期对砒砂岩地区土壤基本理化性质及细菌群落结构的影响,为更好应用巨菌草改良砒砂岩地区土壤提供理论依据。[方法]运用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术,在门、属水平上比较砒砂岩地区巨菌草不同生长时期对土壤细菌结构及多样性的影响。[结果]巨菌草种植后,三块样地的含水量在巨菌草分蘖期最低,在成熟期达到最高,土壤有机含量有所增加,土壤pH值变化不明显。细菌菌群结构：各样地的土壤细菌在巨菌草种植前及其生长的四个时期,门水平上的优势菌群均为放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）;在属水平上,含量最高的是未分类（unidentified）的细菌。Alpha多样性及群落组成丰度分析表明,三块样地种植巨菌草后,其细菌多样性和物种丰度均比种植前高,农田地土壤细菌多样性和物种丰度在巨菌草拔节期达到峰值,在分蘖期土壤细菌数量最大,比种植前土壤细菌数量高出8倍多,达2.09×10⁷ CFU/g干土,山顶地土壤细菌多样性和物种丰度在巨菌草分蘖期达到峰值,河滩地土壤细菌多样性在巨菌草苗期达到峰值,其丰富度在拔节期达到最大。[结论]砒砂岩地区土壤细菌群落结构在巨菌草不同生长时期相似,巨菌草能明显促进砒砂岩地区土壤细菌菌群多样性和丰富度,能有效提高土壤有机质含量,但砒砂岩地区各样地土壤细菌多样性、数量和有机质含量达到峰值的时期不同。     

Lunularic acid,a common endogenous growth inhibitor of liverworts

Summary By gas-liquid chromotography and thin layer chromatography, an endogenous growth inhibitor of Lunularia cruciata has been detected in seven other representatives of the class of liverworts. All liverworts so far examined have been found to contain lunularic acid. Evidence for the identity of the previously isolated, but unidentified, endogenous growth inhibitor of Marchantia polymorpha and lunularic acid is presented.     

Pollinosis in trentino (Northern Italy). Aerobiological and clinical research

Summary A study to evaluate and define the atmospheric pollen concentration in Trentino was carried out through the aerobiologic sampling in three localities chosen according to their different climatic conditions.1375 patients with pollinosis living in Trentino were studied retrospectively over the period ranging from 1986 to 1988 and selected according to the area they came from.Results have proved that the most allergenic pollen types are the following: Poaceae, Urticaceae (Parietaria), Compositae (Artemisia) and the tree pollen of Betulaceae and Corylaceae (Alnus, Betula, Corylus), and that pollinosis caused by such pollen, types has different features and frequencies according to the different localities.As far as symptoms are concerned, our data shows that rhinoconjuntivitis is more frequent in those patients who are allergic toParietaria while asthma results being more frequent in patients who are allergic to tree pollen.