Riccia rhenana Lorb. ex. K.Mill. in Britain

Abstract

A single, small moss leaf has been found among very small amounts of contents extracted from the Tyrolean Iceman's colon. It belongs to the species Neckera complanata Hedw., a woodland moss of low to moderate altitudes. The leaf was accidently ingested and not consumed as food.     

细叶小羽藓营养成分的测定分析

该研究以细叶小羽藓为材料,测定了基本营养成分总糖、粗脂肪、粗蛋白、灰分的含量,采用气相色谱、氨基酸自动分析仪分别检测了脂肪酸和氨基酸的组分含量,并通过化学分析法和扫描电镜明确了细叶小羽藓矿质元素含量及分布情况。结果表明:细叶小羽藓中主要成分是糖类,占16.11%,粗蛋白质、灰分含量分别为11.20%、23.34%。氨基酸组成均衡,必需氨基酸(EAA)占氨基酸总量(TAA)的27.70%,必需氨基酸与非必需氨基酸的比值(EAA/NEAA)为0.38;限制性氨基酸为组氨酸,比值系数分(SRC)为12.96;药用氨基酸占总氨基酸的62.12%;天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、精氨酸、亮氨酸等含量相对较高。不饱和脂肪酸与饱和脂肪酸的比值为0.74,不饱和脂肪酸花生四烯酸(AA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)相对含量较高。富含矿物质,茎叶元素均匀分布,其中Al、Ca、Fe、K、Mg等元素含量很高。综上认为,细叶小羽藓是一种含糖量较多、矿质丰富、低脂、低蛋白的苔藓,作为生物资源具有开发潜力。     

Neckera enrothiana (Neckeraceae,Musci), a new species from Sichuan,China

Abstract

A new species in the moss family Neckeraceae, Neckera enrothiana M.C. Ji is described and illustrated from the Sichuan Province, China. It is characterized by the combination of relatively small plants, entirely non-undulate and non-decurrent leaves, and by its lacking or very short costa. It is compared with the somewhat similar and widely distributed N. complanata (Hedw.) Hueb. and N. besseri (Lob.) Jur., as well as with the Asian N. goughiana Mitt.     

Hieraciumpallidum subsp. aetnense (Asteraceae), a new subspecies from Sicily (Italy), with notes on the taxonomy of H. pallidum Biv.

Hieracium pallidum subsp. aetnense Gottschl., Raimondo & Di Grist. is described and illustrated. H.pallidum is considered as an intermediate species between H. schmidtii and H. racemosum (“schmidtii>racemosum”) and is placed in H. sect. Grovesiana. By consequence, H.lanudae Gottschl. is transferred to H. pallidum as H. pallidum subsp. lanudae (Gottschl.) Gottschl., Raimondo & Di Grist. A key for the three recognised subspecies of H. pallidum is provided.     

Notes on mosses from Ceylon and India, 8. Another moss with three names in three continents

Abstract

Entodon dregeanus (Hornsch.) C.M., from Africa arid E. plicatus C.M., from southern India and Ceylon, are reduced to the synonymy of E. macropodus (Hedw.) C.M., an American species.     

Phylogenetic relationships between Bryum and supposedly closely related genera

Abstract

The phylogeny of the genus Bryum was studied using cladistic analyses under the maximum parsimony criterion of evolution of anatomical and morphological characters. Three analyses were made with 32 Bryum species plus 20 species from genera supposedly closely related to Bryum, and with Amblyodon dealbatus (Sw. ex Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp., Meesia uliginosa Hedw., and Leptostomum macrocarpum (Hedw.) Bach. Pyl., as outgroups. It is here suggested that under earlier systematic concepts the genus Bryum is paraphyletic. A clade with Bryum billarderi Schwägr., B. capillare Hedw., B. donianum Grev., B. russulum Broth. & Geh., Rhodobryum giganteum (Schwägr.) Paris, and R. keniae (Müll. Hal.) Broth. are circumscribed by spathulate stem leaves that are crowded in the stem apex, suggesting that the rosulate species of Bryum are more closely related to Rhodobryum than to the rest of Bryum. Stem leaf costae without stereids and spores that mature in the winter are synapomorphies for a clade with Anomobryum julaceum (P. Gaertn. et al.) Schimp. and Bryum argenteum (Hedw.). The tropical species B. cellulare Hook. and B. flaccum Wilson ex Mitt. appear in a clade with Plagiobryum zieri (Dicks. ex Hedw.) Lindb. and Synthetodontium pringlei Cardot. In one analysis, B. limbatum Müll. Hal., Epipterygium tozeri (Grev.) Lindb., Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wilson, and Roellia roellii (Broth. ex Röll) H.A. Crum came out in a clade with Mniobryum atropurpureum (Wahlenb.) I. Hagen, Mnium hornum Hedw., Pohlia cruda (Hedw.) Lindb., P. longicollis (Hedw.) Lindb., and Pseudopohlia didymodontia (Mitt.) A.L.Andrews. It is here suggested that gametophytic features, such as the orientation and anatomy of the stem leaves and the appearance of vegetative propagules, are important for the internal relationships within the studied ingroup, whereas characters related to the sporophyte, especially those of the peristome, may obscure phylogenetic relationships. Most of the subgenera and the sections of Bryum, as defined by earlier authors, appear to be paraphyletic. However, due to the low stability of most clades it is suggested that analyses including anatomical, morphological, and molecular data are needed.     

Laboratory evaluation of predation on mosquito larvae by Australian mangrove fish

A series of laboratory experiments compared predation rates of three native eastern Australian mangrove fish species (Psuedomugil signifer, Hyseleotris galii, Pseudogobius sp.) and the exotic Gambusia holbrooki on 2^nd and 4^th instar Aedes vigilax larvae, in order to determine their potential as mosquito control agents in mangrove forests. All four species preyed on significant numbers of both 2^nd and 4^th instar larvae. All showed a similar pattern of larval consumption, gorging on larvae in the first hour of each experiment, before reducing to a relatively constant background feeding rate. Gambusia holbrooki showed the highest larval consumption rates, but is unsuitable as a mosquito control agent due to it being an exotic pest species in Australia. Of the three native species, P. signifer showed the greatest potential as a mosquito control agent, having consumption rates comparable to G. holbrooki, and was the only species that did not show a significant reduction in larval consumption in the night experiments.     

A tribute to Dr Royce E. Longton

Abstract

The relationships within the Bryaceae, with emphasis on the genus Bryum, were studied based on morphological and anatomical characters and using cladistic methods. The analysis was performed with thirty-six species representing the different parts of the family, and with Funaria hygrometrica Hedw., Mnium hornum (Dicks.) Lindb., and Tayloria lingulata Hedw. as outgroups. The Bryaceae, and the subfamilies Bryoideae, Mielichhoferioideae, and Pohlioideae, as defined by several earlier authors appear to be paraphyletic. The genus Bryum seems to be paraphyletic, because Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wils., Osculatia columbica De Not., and Rhodobryum giganteum (Schwaegr.) Paris, appear as ingroups within this genus when the tree is rooted with Funaria. Mnium hornum came out as the sister taxon of a clade including Pohlia cruda (Hedw.) Lindb. and P. longicollis (Hedw.) Lindb., whereas P. drummondii (Müll. Hall.) A.L. Andrews, appears not to be closely related to the other two Pohlia species studied here, making this genus paraphyletic. Mielichhoferia mielichhoferiana (Funck.) Loeske, appears as the sister taxon of Schizymenium bryoides Harv., suggesting that both these genera are paraphyletic. Overall, the stabilities of the clades are low and it is suggested that combined analyses of morphological, anatomical, and molecular data are needed to get better resolved and more stable trees.     

中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组的分类学研究

采用经典分类学研究方法,对河北师范大学植物标本馆(HBNU)等国内多个标本馆保存的中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组(Pohlia Hedw.section Cacodon Lindb.ex Broth.)及其近缘类群植物标本共计130余号进行了分类学分析鉴定,并对所确定的中国产直蒴组物种的芽胞大小、形状及叶原基数量和长度等形态学特征进行比较分析,以期为中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组的分类学研究提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)经鉴定中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组植物共有8种——夭命丝瓜藓[Pohlia annotina(Hedw.)Lindb.]、糙枝丝瓜藓[P.camptotrachela(Ren.Card.)Broth.]、林地丝瓜藓[P.drummondii(Müll.Hal.)Andr.]、疣齿丝瓜藓[P.flexuosa Harv.]、纤毛丝瓜藓[P.hisae T.J.Kop.et J.X.Luo]、异芽丝瓜藓[P.leucostoma(BoschSande Lac.)M.Fleisch.]、念珠丝瓜藓[P.lutescens(Limpr.)H.Lindb.]和卵蒴丝瓜藓[P.proligera(Kindb.ex Breidl.)Lindb.ex Arnell]。(2)中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组植物的重要鉴别特征是在假根或叶腋处生有芽胞,而且芽胞形状以及叶原基形状和数量在直蒴组中存在差异,如念珠丝瓜藓具有假根生芽胞,而疣齿丝瓜藓具有两型芽胞。(3)对所鉴定的中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组8种植物的识别特征、生境及其与相近种的关系进行了详细描述,并绘制了形态特征墨线图。     

New and noteworthy records of mosses from Italian national and regional Parks

Some remarkable mosses, as a result of the study of both recent collections and a review of herbarium specimens, are reported in this paper. They are: Anomodon rugelii (Müll.Hal.) Keissl., new record from southern Italy, a moss very rare in the Mediterranean region and considered threatened in many European countries; Blindia acuta (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. and Dichodontium palustre (Dicks.) M. Stech, both new records from Sicily, are very rare mosses in Italy. Moreover, a new locality in Sicily for the little-known species Tortula bolanderi (Lesq. & James) M. Howe is reported.     

A note on the moss genus Codriophorus P. Beauv.

The moss genus Codriophorus P. Beauv., established by Palisot de Beauvois in 1822, consisted of two species, namely C. acicularis (Hedw.) P. Beauv. and C. pulvinatus (Hedw.) P. Beauv., neither of which were designated as the type. The nomenclatural history of this generic name is briefly outlined and C. acicularis (Hedw.) P. Beauv. is here chosen as its lectotype. Accordingly Codriophorus must be considered synonymous with Racomitrium Brid. and specifically with Racomitrium sect. Stenotrichum (Chevall.) Bednarek-Ochyra and subsect. Papillosa (Kindb.) Bednarek-Ochyra. Codonophorus P. Beauv. ex Desv. of 1824 is an orthographic variant of Codriophorus.     

Tortella bambergeri (Schimp.) Broth. in the British Isles

Abstract

The moss Tortella bambergeri (Schimp.) Broth. is added to the described British bryophyte flora. It differs from fragile-leaved forms of T. tortuosa (Hedw.) Limpr. in having the apical quarter of the costa with quadrate, papillose abaxial cells and in having the peristome teeth twisted by a half turn instead of one and a half turns. Other identification features are discussed, and the habitat and distribution of T. bambergeri in Britain are described. Most records are from sandstone boulders in western Britain.     

Distribution of carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in a moss community-soil system developed on a cold desert in Antarctica

The distributions of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in a moss community-soil system developed on a naked region in Rundvågskollane (69⁰50'S, 39⁰09'E), East Antarctica, were investigated in order to analyze the flow of matter in an Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem.

1. The moss community was formed from many moss blocks of different sizes and was composed ofBryum pseudotriquetrum (Hedw.) Gaertn., Meyer et Scherb.,Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. andGrimmia lawiana J. H. Willis. The surface of the community was covered with cyanobacteria.
2. It was estimated that nitrogen fixed by cyanobacteria flowed from these organisms to the moss and that little nitrogen was transported within the moss body.
3. A large amount of phosphorus existed in the soil. The moss community had a high phosphorus content although the amount itself was relatively little due to the small phytomass.
4. It seems that absorption of phosphorus from soil is difficult for moss, because of the paucity of water necessary for the movement of phosphorus and the suppressed growth of moss due to the arid conditions.

     

A new check-list of the mosses of Turkey

Abstract

The check-list includes a list of genera, species, subspecies and varieties of Turkish mosses. It is composed of 726 species, subspecies and varieties representing 164 genera and 42 families. Accompanying the lists are a systematic arrangement of the genera, species and varieties and lists of synonyms, excluded species and of annotations. Three mosses, Pseudoleskeella rupestris (Berggr.) Hedenäs & L. Söderstr., Isothecium myosuroides Brid. var. brachythecioides (Dixon) C.E.O. Jensen, Eurhynchium hians (Hedw.) Sande. Lac. var. rigidum (Boulay) J.-P. Frahm are recorded as new for the moss flora of Turkey.     

Lectotypification of Buxbaumia aphylla Hedw. and B. aphylla var. viridis DC. (Buxbaumiaceae)

Abstract

The two species of Buxbaumia Hedw. known to occur in Europe were both originally discovered on this continent and were the earliest in the genus (as presently delimited) to be described. Already widely known, Buxbaumia aphylla Hedw., was validated by Johannes Hedwig in 1801, whereas B. viridis (DC.) Moug. & Nestl. was initially described as a variety of B. aphylla by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1815. After two centuries in the bryological literature, these taxa are herein effectively typified. Lectotypes for the names B. aphylla and B. viridis are designated based on original herbarium sheets from the Hedwig-Schwägrichen and De Candolle collections in G.     

Use of freeze-dried microalgae for rearing gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L., larvae. II. Biochemical composition

The objectives of this study were to test whether freeze-dried microalgae are nutritionally adequate for rearing rotifers as food for gilthead seabream larvae. The elemental composition (C, N, H) and fatty acid composition were analysed in larvae of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L., rotifers Brachionus plicatilis and Brachionus rotundiformis and freeze-dried microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata. Four larval feeding treatments were tested: (A) larvae fed rotifers cultivated with freeze-dried microalgae and daily addition of freeze-dried microalgae to the larval tanks; (B) larvae fed rotifers cultivated with freeze-dried microalgae and daily addition of live microalgae to the larval tanks; (C) larvae fed rotifers cultivated with freeze-dried microalgae, without addition of microalgae to the larval tank and (D) larvae fed rotifers cultivated with live microalgae and daily addition of live microalgae to the larval tanks. No significant differences were observed between the biochemical composition of larvae with treatment A (with freeze-dried microalgae) and the composition of larvae in treatment D that were obtained with the acceptable methods for culture systems (with live microalgae).     

John Bishop Duncan

Abstract

Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) Beauv., Physcomitrium pyriforme (Hedw.) Hampe, Cyclodictyon blumeanum (C. Muell.) O. Kuntze and Tristichella spiculifera Dix., representing four genera of mosses new to Peninsular Malaysia, are reported and the latter two species described and illustrated. Features of ecological and distributional interest are also discussed. The sporophytes of Tristichella spiculifera are described and figured for the first time.     

Host Specificity of the Argentine Root-Boring Weevil, Heilipodus ventralis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a Potential Biocontrol Agent for Snakeweeds (Gutierrezia: Asteraceae) in Western North American Rangelands—U.S. Quarantine Tests

Native snakeweeds, especially Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton and Rusby and Gutierrezia microcephala (DC.) A. Gray, are among the most widespread and damaging weeds of rangelands in the western United States and northern Mexico. The genus long ago spread to southern South America, where further speciation occurred. We have found several species of insects in Argentina that damage other species of snakeweeds there and are possible candidates for biological control in North America. The first of these, the root-boring weevil, Heilipodus ventralis (Hustache), was tested in Argentina and then sent to the USDA-ARS Insect Quarantine Facility at Temple, Texas, for host specificity testing on North American plants. We tested H. ventralis on 40 species of the family Asteraceae, in 19 tests of five types, using 686 adults and 365 larvae. Host specificity increased from adult feeding, to ovipositional selection, to larval development. At Temple, adults fed mostly on 6 species of the closely related genera Grindelia, Gutierrezia, and Gymnosperma, but with substantial feeding on four other genera of the two preferred subtribes Solidagininae and Machaerantherinae and on Baccharis in the tribe Baccharidinae, with lesser feeding on the subtribe Asterinae, all in the tribe Astereae, and on 1 species in the tribe Anthemideae. Females oviposited primarily on the same 6 species but very little on plants outside the 2 preferred subtribes. Larvae developed only on 9 of the 29 U.S. plant species tested, 6 within the two preferred subtribes and on Brickellia and Aster in other tribes. Only 5 species of three genera appear to be potential true hosts of H. ventralis in North America, on which all stages of the life cycle, adult feeding, oviposition, and larval development, can take place; these are Gymnosperma glutinosum (Spreng.) Less., Gutierrezia grandis Blake, Gut. microcephala, Gut. sarothrae, and Grindelia lanceolata Nutt. None of these genera contain species of economic or notable ecological value; the few rare species appear to be protected by habitat isolation from attack by H. ventralis. H. ventralis, therefore, appears sufficiently host specific for field release in North America. This is the first introduced biocontrol agent to be approved for release in a continental area to control a native weed.