Ana Séneca

New national and regional bryophyte records, 15

1. Anomobryum julaceum (P.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.) Schimp. Contributors: H. Bednarek-Ochyra and R. Ochyra Îles Crozet: ÎLE DE LA POSSESSION: beginning of southern tributary of the river leading to Cirque de la Chaloupe, north of Grotte du Geographe, 46u259S 51u509E, 260 m a.s.l., rock in stream, associated with Bryum argenteum var. muticum, B. dichotomum, Blindia magellanica and Bucklandiella didyma, 20 February 1979, Bell 2505B (AAS, KRAM). Anomobryum julaceum is essentially a pan-Holarctic disjunct oreophyte which often penetrates into the tropics where it is fairly frequent at high elevations in the mountains, including Central and South America (Ochi, 1980), Africa (Ochi, 1972) and Malesia (Koponen & Norris, 1984; Eddy, 1996). In the temperate and polar regions of the Southern Hemisphere the species is almost absent and so far it has been recorded only once from Subantarctic Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands archipelago in the Kerguelen Province of the Subantarctic (Ochi, 1972; Ochyra, personal observations). Nonetheless, this record makes A. julaceum a bipolar species with numerous intermediate stations in tropical mountains. Here, its range is expanded to the Îles Crozet archipelago in the same phytogeographical province of the Subantarctic which is situated over 1000 km to the east from the Prince Edward Islands. The moss was found to grow on rock in a stream, apparently in a moist habitat as evidenced by rather many cyanobacteria, intermixed with Bryum argenteum Hedw. var. muticum Brid.

Analyses of Charophyte Chloroplast Genomes Help Characterize the Ancestral Chloroplast Genome of Land Plants

Despite the significance of the relationships between embryophytes and their charophyte algal ancestors in deciphering the origin and evolutionary success of land plants, few chloroplast genomes of the charophyte algae have been reconstructed to date. Here, we present new data for three chloroplast genomes of the freshwater charophytes Klebsormidium flaccidum (Klebsormidiophyceae), Mesotaenium endlicherianum (Zygnematophyceae), and Roya anglica (Zygnematophyceae). The chloroplast genome of Klebsormidium has a quadripartite organization with exceptionally large inverted repeat (IR) regions and, uniquely among streptophytes, has lost the rrn5 and rrn4.5 genes from the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene cluster operon. The chloroplast genome of Roya differs from other zygnematophycean chloroplasts, including the newly sequenced Mesotaenium, by having a quadripartite structure that is typical of other streptophytes. On the basis of the improbability of the novel gain of IR regions, we infer that the quadripartite structure has likely been lost independently in at least three zygnematophycean lineages, although the absence of the usual rRNA operonic synteny in the IR regions of Roya may indicate their de novo origin. Significantly, all zygnematophycean chloroplast genomes have undergone substantial genomic rearrangement, which may be the result of ancient retroelement activity evidenced by the presence of integrase-like and reverse transcriptase-like elements in the Roya chloroplast genome. Our results corroborate the close phylogenetic relationship between Zygnematophyceae and land plants and identify 89 protein-coding genes and 22 introns present in the chloroplast genome at the time of the evolutionary transition of plants to land, all of which can be found in the chloroplast genomes of extant charophytes.

New national and regional bryophyte records, 13

New national and regional bryophyte records, including new data from Bulgaria gathered during GAAV project.

Sphagnophyta of Europe and Macaronesia: a checklist with distribution data

Abstract We give the distribution of Sphagnum L. in Europe and Macaronesia, mainly at a country level. The world distribution is also given, though less detailed. We include notes on doubtful and erroneous reports and provide a list of taxa excluded from Europe and Macaronesia. We recognize 52 species from the area and additionally some subspecies and varieties. The country with the largest number of species is Norway while there are no records from nine areas.

New national and regional bryophyte records, 19

(2008). New national and regional bryophyte records, 19. Journal of Bryology: Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 231-237.

New national and regional bryophyte records, 10

The morphology of Anthoceros erectus Kash. and some other species. Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 39: 568–594. Bharadwaj DC. 1965. Studies in Indian Anthocerotaceae (VI). Some aspects of morphology of Phaeoceros Prosk. Phytomorphology 15: 139–150. Bharadwaj DC. 1981. Taxonomy of Anthocerotales. In Bharadwaj DC, ed. Recent advances in cryptogamic botany. Lucknow: Palaeobotanical Society, 132– 151. Stephani F. 1923. Species Hepaticarum 6. Geneva, 425.

Floristic and ecological survey of bryophytes from Portuguese watercourses

Abstract — A floristic and ecological survey was carried out in 187 watercourses of the Portuguese Northwest mainland and Sicó mountain regions located in the transition zone between Atlantic and Mediterranean territories. This work mainly focused on the update of the bryophyte taxa along fluvial and geologic gradients, mostly of headwater areas. Seven ecological aspects (type of river segment, micro-habitat, immersion level and water velocity, depth range, shade, lithology and altitude) were classified and used to describe taxa autoecology. This survey is the first to present a comprehensive floristic catalogue and information on Portuguese aquatic and semi-aquatic taxa distribution. A list of 140 bryophytes was established for the studied areas, with predominance of mosses (102 taxa of mosses, 37 taxa of liverworts and 1 taxon of hornworts). Racomitrium aciculare, Platyhypnidium lusitanicum, Hyocomium armoricum, Scapania undulata and Fissidens polyphyllus were the most common taxa and Brachytheciaceae, Grimmiaceae and Fissidentaceae were the most frequent families in the studied micro-habitats. We updated the regional distribution of 30% of the taxa to new provinces of the Portugal. Four mosses and three liverworts are European endemisms, and Racomitrium (R. hespericum and R. lusitanicum) are, Iberian endemics. Distribution maps for selected species (Atlantic, dominant or rare species) are also presented.

Microhabitat effects on bryophyte species richness and community distribution on exposed rock outcrops in Portugal

Background: Rock outcrops have been shown to provide specific conditions for bryophyte communities, but no studies have focused on the importance of microhabitats on such communities. Aim: To analyse the distribution pattern of bryophyte species from granite and schist outcrops in three microhabitats (rock surfaces, fissures and cavities) in Portugal. Methods: Sample plots were established in fissures, cavities and on rock surfaces of rock outcrops in north and central Portugal. Micro-scale variables, such as exposure and slope were assessed for each microhabitat. Results: The microhabitats most different in species composition were surfaces versus cavities and surfaces versus fissures, both on granite and schist. Short-lived shuttle species tended to be associated with surfaces, and perennial species were more frequent in cavities and fissures. Both on granite and schist, the number of species found in each microhabitat was highest in cavities, followed by fissures and rock surfaces. The most relevant predictors of bryophyte richness were microhabitat type, exposure and rock type. Conclusions: This investigation confirmed that rock microhabitats play an important role in bryophyte diversity by promoting habitat heterogeneity. In addition, our results clearly suggest local explanations for variation in bryophyte species richness and communities.

Additions to the bryoflora of Reunion Island 3: new and interesting records from the Tropical Bryology Group (British Bryological Society)

Abstract This contribution is a result of collaborative work based on the fieldwork organized during a workshop of the Tropical Bryology Group on Mascarene bryophytes in September 2008, and also from previous unpublished records of the authors. We add 35 new taxon records (17 mosses and 18 liverworts) as well as five other interesting records for Réunion Island (Mascarene Archipelago). Grimmia austrofunalis Müll. Hal., Sphagnum magellanicum Brid. subsp. magellanicum, Didymodon tectorum (Müll. Hal.) K. Saito, Anastrophyllum revolutum Steph. and Lejeunea exilis (Reinw. et al.) Grolle are reported for the first time for Africa. Syrrhopodon vardei L. T. Ellis, Ceratolejeunea papuliflora Steph. and Xylolejeunea grolleana (Pócs) X.-L. He & Grolle, previously known as endemic from Madagascar, are here recorded for Réunion. The latter species is also illustrated with SEM pictures.

Grimmia horrida (Grimmiaceae), a new species from the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract Grimmia horrida, a new species from the NW of the Iberian Peninsula is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by the ciliate hair-points. Additionally, the leaves are linear, strongly keeled so that the two blades of the lamina touch each other near the costa and then curve outward, the lamina is bistratose only at the margins and in small areas, and the connection to the terete hair-point is very abrupt in most leaves. Although all the specimens are sterile, this combination of characters is unique in Grimmia.