Atlantic bryophytes in Scotland

Summary

A brief overview is given of the importance of Scotland for Atlantic bryophytes within Europe and worldwide. The life strategies of Atlantic species are discussed and the main habitats of Atlantic bryophytes listed. A consideration of the use of distribution data to identify ‘hotspots’ and sites for conservation is made. Grimmia britannica A.J.E. Smith and Marsupella profunda Lindb. are added to the list of Atlantic species in Britain and Ireland.     

Grimmia serrana (Bryopsida,Grimmiaceae), a new species from California,U.S.A.

Abstract

Grimmia serrana, a new endemic species for California, is described and illustrated. The new species is readily distinguished by the presence of multi-stratose marginal bands that are rounded in cross-section. The leaf morphology displayed by Grimmia serrana is unique within the genus. The distribution of Grimmia serrana is along the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada and in the northern Coast Range.     

紫萼藓科植物一新种--曹氏紫萼藓北大核心CSCD

描述了新疆天山山脉紫萼藓科(Grimmiaceae)紫萼藓属(Grimmia)一新种——曹氏紫萼藓(Grimmia caotongiana D.P.Zhao,S.Mamtimin&S.He)。该新种与无齿紫萼藓(Grimmia anodon Bruch&Schimp.)最为相似,不同之处在于新种茎叶和雌苞叶均无白色毛尖,叶中部边缘背卷;近中肋细胞通常无色透明,且细胞壁比边缘细胞明显加厚。该研究对新种——曹氏紫萼藓进行了详细的特征描述,并提供了植物体形态显微解剖彩色照片以及相近种的分类学讨论。     

Taxonomic notes on Cheilothela (Lindb.) Broth. and Dicranella (C. Muell.) Schimp.

Abstract

The widespread occurrence of a number of bryophytes on British saltmarshes is reported. The communities in which bryophytes are most frequently found are discussed. These communities are more common on marshes on the west coast of Britain. Differences between moss assemblages on salt marshes in England and Wales and in Scotland are emphasised and the greater range of habitat preference demonstrated by Grimmia maritima in Scotland is commented upon.     

On the identities of some neglected species of Grimmiaceae from Îles Kerguelen

Taxonomic status of five species of Grimmia Hedw. (G. minuta Müll.Hal., G. suborthotrichacea Müll.Hal., G. defoliata Müll.Hal., G. genuflexa Müll.Hal., and G. orthotrichacea Müll.Hal.) is appraised. All these species correctly belong within the genus Bucklandiella Roiv. They are actually inseparable from one another and represent a single species for which B. orthotrichacea (Müll.Hal.) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra is chosen as the final name. The remaining four names are considered its synonyms, all but G. genuflexa being new. All the names are lectotypified and some details of the leaves of G. minuta and G. defoliata are illustrated.     

Bryophyte flora and vegetation of serpentine sites in the French Massif Central

Eight major serpentine sites in the French Massif Central have been bryofloristically surveyed and their specific assemblages studied by performing systematic relevés. Seventy bryophyte taxa are reported from these serpentine areas. Archidium alternifolium, Bryum gemmilucens, Cephaloziella stellulifera, Grimmia dissimulata, Racomitrium fasciculare, R. lanuginosum and Riccia subbifurca are dominant and characteristic species. Soil and rock communities harbour typical combinations of specialized and ubiquitous taxa. The occurrence of saxicolous species (Grimmia) on the ground may be a typical feature of serpentine communities. The scarcity of liverworts is underlined, as is the complexity of the controlling factors. Lack of competition and periodic submergence are probably ecological factors of prime importance. Successional pathways are certainly insufficiently known, especially as far as bryophytes are concerned. The causes of negligible succession on skeletal soils would benefit from renewed studies. Grazing of serpentine grasslands, generally considered the most relevant management tool, should be evaluated further.     

Notes On Strand Plants. II. Cakile Maritima,Scop

Summary

Buxbaumia aphylla is a rare and enigmatic moss in Britain where it is found regularly and in sizeable populations only on colliery debris (‘bings’) in central Scotland. Its habitat preferences and ecology are described from a range of sites. It has persisted in quantity in several localities for over 20 years, but in other apparently suitable sites it is absent. Destruction and landscaping of bings are seen as the major threat to the species in Scotland.     

Synopsis of Grimmia Hedw. in New Zealand,including Grimmia wilsonii sp. nov.

Abstract

The New Zealand Grimmia Hedw. specimens from AK, AKU, BM, CHR, OTA and WELT have been revised and a bryological field trip to the New Zealand Southern Alps was made to study specimens in their natural habitats. As a result of the revision and the field trip, G. anodon, G. austrofunalis, G. orbicularis and G. tortuosa were added to the moss flora. A key is presented, the species are briefly discussed and Grimmia wilsonii H.C. Greven sp. nov. is described and illustrated.     

Photoinhibition in the Antarctic moss Grimmia antarctici Card when exposed to cycles of freezing and thawing

Freezing and thawing of the endemic moss species Grimmia antarctici Card, caused photoinhibition. When snow cover was removed from moss in the field, resulting in exposure to fluctuating temperatures and light conditions, photoinhibition, measured as a reduction in the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence (F_v/F_m), was observed. The extent of photoinhibition was highly variable and appeared to be reversible during periods of warmer temperatures. A series of controlled laboratory studies found that the light conditions that prevail between freezing and thawing events influenced the recovery from photoinhibition observed during freezing and thawing, with low light conditions facilitating the greatest rates of recovery. After four cycles of freezing and thawing, recovery from photoinhibition in hydrated moss was achieved within 12 h of transfer to 5°C and 15 μmol quanta m^?2 s^?1. These results favour the hypothesis that photoinhibition observed during freezing represents a protective process involving the down-regulation of photo-system II when photosynthetic carbon assimilation is limited by low temperatures.     

The bryophytes of Greece: new records and observations

Abstract

New records of 38 hepatics and 87 mosses are reported from Greece. Leiocolea heterocolpos, Cephaloziella calyculata, Dicranella schreberiana, Hennediella stanfordensis, Weissia levieri, Grimmia alpestris and Grimmia torquata are believed to be new to the country. Claviform propagules formed by the excurrent nerve of the leaf are reported from a collection of Trichostomopsis australasiae.     

A Lakeland Habitat for Cryptothallus mirabilis v. Malmborg

Abstract

Study of plants from Scotland recently referred to Bryoerythrophyllum jamesonii (Tayl.) Crum shows that they are distinct from B. jamesonii and allied S. American and Asiatic taxa and are therefore described as a new species, Bryoerythrophyllum caledonicum Long sp. nov. The history of this species in Scotland is outlined, with a discussion of differences between it and its allies.     

Chromosome studies in some British and Irish bryophytes,II

Abstract

Grimmia curviseta, a new species from Tenerife (Spain, Canary Islands) is characterized by autoecious gametoecia, the upper and perichaetial leaves with long hyaline denticulate hair-point, the leaves unistratose with bistratose margins and the nearly always gymnostomous capsule on an arcuate seta.     

Two-hundred-years old shoots of the epiphytic moss Brotherella henonii preserved in a bark pocket of the conifer Cryptomeria japonica

Abstract

Schistidium flaccidum (De Not.) Ochyra is recorded as new to Britain from Snowdon, Wales. It may be distinguished from the other British species of the genus by its poculiform capsule, absence of peristome and small, dense tufts. Notes are given on its separation from Grimmia anodon, which it resembles more closely.     

James Stirton's new Racomitrium taxa revised

Abstract

Lectotypes are selected of six mosses described by James Stirton. Grimmia sublunda, G. calvescens and G. papillulata are synonyms of Racomitrium sudeticum; R. heterostichum var. amblyphyllum and R. divergens are synonyms of R. heterostichum; Grimmia fuscoviridis is a synonym of Racomitrium ellipticum; and R. consocians is a synonym of R. ericoides.     

Characterization of ten polymorphic microsatellite loci for the threatened species Grimmia curviseta Bouman (Grimmiaceae,Musci)

Grimmia curviseta Bouman is a moss species endemic to the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, which has a very restricted distribution across the summit areas of Tenerife and La Palma islands. Using massive sequencing, we developed ten polymorphic microsatellite markers for this species. The pattern of microsatellite alleles per locus provides preliminary evidence that G. curviseta is allodiploid. The average number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 7, and observed heterozygosities varied from 0.022 to 1.000. A significant genetic differentiation was observed between the Tenerife and La Palma populations, suggesting that there are some limitations to dispersal. This set of microsatellites constitutes a valuable tool to investigate patterns of genetic diversity across the distribution range of G. curviseta, information that may eventually be used to establish conservation strategies for the species. Owing to the cross-amplification with the closely related species Grimmia montana Bruch & Schimp., our study also demonstrates the utility of these markers for population-level genetic analyses in the genus Grimmia.     

基于GIS和MaxEnt比较中国砂藓属与紫萼藓属植物地理分布

基于19个生物气候因子和紫萼藓属(Grimmia) 172个、砂藓属(Racomitrium) 181个国内分布记录,应用MaxEnt模型和ArcGis 9.3软件,定量预测了紫萼藓属与砂藓属植物在“属”水平上在我国各省区的生境适应性特点.预测结果表明,紫萼藓属植物在浙江(0.7099,综合生境适宜性指数,下同)、江苏(0.6212)、北京(0.5987)、天津(0.5648)、云南(0.5532)、辽宁(0.5515)、台湾(0.5422)、安徽(0.5398)和吉林(0.4945)有较高的气候适应性,而砂藓属植物在浙江(0.889)、上海(0.6564)、香港(0.5897)、台湾(0.5858)、贵州(0.5354)、湖北(0.5039)、云南(0.4885)、重庆(0.4871)、江苏(0.4793)和安徽(0.4552)具有较高的生境适宜性.对砂藓属与紫萼藓属的分布预测范围进行比较发现,砂藓属植物在香港、重庆、贵州、广东、广西、湖北、海南和台湾的生境适应性比紫萼藓属的总体上要高,而在江西、福建和湖南,两属的分布概率比较接近,其余省区则紫萼藓属植物的生境适宜性比砂藓的要高.紫萼藓属植物属于典型的温带性种类,其分布主要在高海拨的寒冷地段.     

Rare charophytes in Scotland's coastal saline lagoons

Summary

Recently collected data comparing the distribution and performance of the rare lagoonal charophyte Lamprothamnium papulosum across a number of UK coastal lagoon sites, including nine sites in the Western Isles, is presented. The surveys revealed that the species occurred over a wide range of salinities but was absent from sites with high phosphorus concentrations. The sites in the Western Isles held the most extensive populations and were least threatened by nutrient pollution. The discovery of two other endangered and vulnerable charophytes of brackish water, Tolypella nidifica and Chara baltica, at two of the Western Isles sites further highlights the importance of Scotland's saline lagoon resource. The use of the autoecological data on salinity and nutrient conditions for supporting Biodiversity Action Plan implementation for Lamprothamnium papulosum and for saline lagoon conservation in general is considered. Status summaries for all the charophyte species of brackish water recorded in Scotland are also provided.     

毛尖紫萼藓抗旱相关基因Gp-LEA的克隆与表达分析

以毛尖紫萼藓干旱cDNA文库中获得的一段与LEA基因同源性较高的EST序列为基础,采用RACE技术分离该基因cDNA全长序列,命名为Gp-LEA。Gp-LEA基因的cDNA全长814bp,开放阅读框456bp,编码含151个氨基酸蛋白质。生物信息学分析结果显示,Gp-LEA蛋白为稳定蛋白,分子质量为16.612kD,理论等电点（pI）为5.06,含有LEA₂功能结构域,不属于跨膜蛋白且不存在信号肽。系统发生分析表明,Gp-LEA基因编码蛋白与花旗松LEA蛋白亲缘关系最近。荧光定量PCR分析显示,Gp-LEA基因在复水和快速干旱模式下均能表达。推测Gp-LEA基因在毛尖紫萼藓的复水和干旱过程中起着重要作用。     

Uptake of lead by two populations of Grimmia doniana

Abstract

Analyses of populations of Grimmia doniana from Old Red Sandstone walls (Brecon Beacons, Breconshire) and vitrified lead slag (Charterhouse, Somerset) showed the former to have a low and the latter a high lead content. Lead in material from the field was shown to be ionically bound to an extracellular site. Uptake of lead from solutions of lead nitrate was by a passive physical process, without penetration of the cytoplasm. No difference in lead uptake capacity was detected between the two populations. The results are discussed in terms of a natural non-specific lead tolerance mechanism occurring in Grimmia doniana.