Helena Hespanhol

New national and regional bryophyte records, 31

New national and regional bryophyte records, 31 L T Ellis, A Alegro, H Bednarek-Ochyra, R Ochyra, A Bergamini, A Cogoni, P Erzberger, P Górski, N Gremmen, H Hespanhol, C Vieira, L E Kurbatova, M Lebouvier, A Martinčič, A K Asthana, R Gupta, V Nath, R Natcheva, A Ganeva, T Özdemir, N Batan, V Plášek, R D Porley, M Randić, J Sawicki, W Schroder, C Sérgio, V R Smith, P Sollman, S Ştefănuţ, C R Stevenson, G M Suárez, B Surina, G Uyar, Z Modrič Surina The Natural History Museum, UK, University of Zagreb, Croatia, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy, Berlin, Germany, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland, Diever, The Netherlands, Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, Université de Rennes 1, France, 12 Ljubljana, Slovenia, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, India, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria, Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey, University of Ostrava, Czech Republic, Cerca dos Pomares, Portugal, Public Institution, Croatia, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland, Ludwigsstadt, Germany, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, St Anna Parochie, The Netherlands, Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy, Romania, Norfolk, UK, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Argentina, University of Primorska, Slovenia, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Turkey, Natural History Museum Rijeka, CroatiaDetermination of development priority of information system subsystems is a problem that warrants resolution during information system development. It has been proven, previously, that this problem of information system development order is in fact NP-complete, NP-hard, and APX-hard. To solve this problem on a general case we have previously developed Monte-Carlo randomized algorithm, calculated complexity of this algorithm, and so on. After previous research we were able to come into possession of digraphs that represent real-world information systems. Therefore, in this paper we will empirically analyze Monte-Carlo algorithm to determine how the algorithm works on real-world examples. Also, we will critically review the results and give some possible areas of future research as well.

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.

New national and regional bryophyte records, 34

New national and regional bryophyte records, 34 L T Ellis, A K Asthana, R Gupta, V Nath, V Sahu, H Bednarek-Ochyra, R Ochyra, B Cykowska, S Calvo Aranda, E Fischer, R Gabriel, P Górski, N Gremmen, H Hespanhol, L E Kurbatova, R I Lewis Smith, D G Long, D Bell, F Mogro, C Sérgio, C A Garcia, S Stow, A Martins, V R Smith, J Váňa, A Vanderpoorten Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK, National Botanical Research Institute, India, Laboratory of Bryology, Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, Departamento Biodiversidad y Biologı́a Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain, Universität Koblenzlandau, Koblenz, Germany, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias Universidade dos Açores, Portugal, Department of Botany, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland, Diever, The Netherlands, Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, UK, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, UK, La Paz, Bolivia, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, Department of Botany, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Department of Botany, Charles University, Czech Republic, University of Liège, Institute of Botany, Belgium

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.

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.

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.

How to describe species richness patterns for bryophyte conservation

Abstract A large amount of data for inconspicuous taxa is stored in natural history collections; however, this information is often neglected for biodiversity patterns studies. Here, we evaluate the performance of direct interpolation of museum collections data, equivalent to the traditional approach used in bryophyte conservation planning, and stacked species distribution models (S‐SDMs) to produce reliable reconstructions of species richness patterns, given that differences between these methods have been insufficiently evaluated for inconspicuous taxa. Our objective was to contrast if species distribution models produce better inferences of diversity richness than simply selecting areas with the higher species numbers. As model species, we selected Iberian species of the genus Grimmia (Bryophyta), and we used four well‐collected areas to compare and validate the following models: 1) four Maxent richness models, each generated without the data from one of the four areas, and a reference model created using all of the data and 2) four richness models obtained through direct spatial interpolation, each generated without the data from one area, and a reference model created with all of the data. The correlations between the partial and reference Maxent models were higher in all cases (0.45 to 0.99), whereas the correlations between the spatial interpolation models were negative and weak (−0.3 to −0.06). Our results demonstrate for the first time that S‐SDMs offer a useful tool for identifying detailed richness patterns for inconspicuous taxa such as bryophytes and improving incomplete distributions by assessing the potential richness of under‐surveyed areas, filling major gaps in the available data. In addition, the proposed strategy would enhance the value of the vast number of specimens housed in biological collections.

Among- and within-genus variability of the UV-absorption capacity in saxicolous mosses

Abstract We studied the among- and within-genus variability of UV protection in 23 mosses belonging to the genera Andreaea, Grimmia and Racomitrium, which were collected from sun-exposed rocks in northern and central Portugal mountains. We explored the influence of genus, species and environmental factors on their UV-absorption capacity, differentiating the soluble UV-absorbing compounds (SUVAC, mainly located in the vacuoles) and the insoluble ones (WUVAC, bound to the cell wall). All the physiological variables were significantly affected by both the genus and the species, which clearly reflects the influence of genetics on the levels and compartmentation of UV-absorbing compounds (UVAC). The physiological variables analyzed were also significantly influenced by both micro- (for example, substrate and orientation) and macro-scale (chain of mountains) variables. In addition, this study showed the interaction between genetics and the environmental factors known to enhance UV exposure (for example, higher altitudes and lower latitudes and slopes) on the level and compartmentation of UV-absorbing compounds.

Homalothecium meridionale (M.Fleisch. & Warnst.) Hedenäs: a distinct species from H. sericeum (Hedw.) Schimp. (Brachytheciaceae, Bryopsida) in the Iberian Peninsula

Previous molecular studies have done much to shed some light on the taxonomy and phytogeographic position of Homalothecium sericeum and H. meridionale and the present study clarifies the taxonomy and distribution of the two species across Iberia. By conducting a revision of Homalothecium specimens available in Spanish and Portuguese herbaria, we concluded that sporophytic differences are the most appropriate characters for the delimitation of each species. Scanning electron microscope examination of the peristomes of the two taxa helped distinguish between them. We also noted that H. meridionale is a frequently distributed taxon throughout the Iberian territory, but occurs mostly in Portuguese areas with a Mediterranean influence, becoming less frequent in the Atlantic as well as in continental parts of the Peninsula. As a result of this study, based on numerous new localities in Portugal and Spain, we provide an updated map of the distribution of H. meridionale, and an account of its ecology and habitat affinities.

Fluvial Niche Reconnaissance of Noteworthy Bryophytes in Portugal

Abstract The new data here presented allow the reinforcement of the overall knowledge about distribution patterns and niche definition of some aquatic and semi-aquatic bryophytes of chorological and conservation interest (mosses: Cyclodictyon laetevirens, Dendrocryphaea lamyana, Fissidens fontanus, Hookeria lucens, Orthotrichum rivulare, Racomitrium hespericum, Racomitrium lamprocarpum and Schistidium rivulare; hepatics Barbilophozia barbata, Pallavicinia lyellii, Porella pinnata and Radula holtii). These species, considered rather vulnerable to hydrologic changes and with a threat status, were re-evaluated recently in the new Portuguese Atlas and Red Data Book and had extensive updates in their total distribution due to more recent efforts in herbarium revision and field studies in Portugal. As a result, we bring their distribution and auto-ecology up to date based on older records and new collections, showing the importance of systematic and extensive studies to narrow the definition of niches of taxa living in the ecotone amongst the aquatic and terrestrial environments. In the future, the improved field recognition of these taxa primary and secondary microhabitats and the protection of the mesohabitats with which they are associated will be the crucial steps for achieving their conservation at national level.