Jair Putzke

Yeasts from macroalgae and lichens that inhabit the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems are largely dominated by lichens, while shallow coastal environments are mainly covered by macroalgae. The aim of this study was to isolate and to evaluate the diversity of yeasts in different species of macroalgae and lichens collected in South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. A total of 405 yeasts were recovered (205 from macroalgae and 200 from lichens). The yeast community from macroalgae was most diversity than the yeast community from lichen. The dominance index was similar for both substrates. A total of 24 taxa from macroalgae and 18 from lichens were identified, and only 5 were common to both substrates. Metschnikowia australis, Mrakia sp., Rhodotorula glacialis and Glaciozyma litorale were the most abundant yeasts in macroalgae and Cryptococcus victoriae, Rhodotorula laryngis, Rhodotorula arctica, Trichosporon sp. 1 and Mrakia sp. were the most abundant in lichens. Based on molecular and phylogenetic analyses, four yeast from macroalgae and six from lichens were considered potential new species. This is the first study to report the yeast communities from the Antarctic macroalgae Himantothallus grandifolius and lichen Ramalina terebrata. Results suggest that Antarctic phyco and lichensphere represent a huge substrate for cold-adapted yeasts and enhanced the knowledge of the microbiota from extreme environments.

Agaricaceae Fr. (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) from areas of Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco, Brazil

The survey of Agaricaceae in areas of the Atlantic Forest in the metropolitan region of Recife, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, revealed the presence of nine species: Agaricus aff. parasilvaticus Heinem., A. purpurellus (F.H. Moller) F.H. Moller, A. rufoaurantiacus Heinem., Leucoagaricus sulphurellus (Pegler) B.P. Akers, Leucocoprinus cretaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Locq., L. fragilissimus (Ravenel) Pat., Lepiota elaiophylla Vellinga & Huijser, L. erythrosticta (Berk. & Broome) Sacc. and Micropsalliota brunneosperma (Singer) Pegler. A key for identification of these species, descriptions, drawings and remarks are provided. Micropsalliota brunneosperma is reported for the first time for Brazil.

The Brazilian research contribution to knowledge of the plant communities from Antarctic ice free areas

This work aims to summarize the results of research carried out by Brazilian researchers on the plant communities of Antarctic ice free areas during the last twenty five years. Since 1988 field work has been carried out in Elephant Island, King George Island, Nelson Island and Deception Island. During this period six papers were published on the chemistry of lichens, seven papers on plant taxonomy, five papers on plant biology, two studies on UVB photoprotection, three studies about the relationships between plant communities and bird colonies and eleven papers on plant communities from ice free areas. At the present, Brazilian botanists are researching the plant communities of Antarctic ice free areas in order to understand their relationships to soil microbial communities, the biodiversity, the distribution of the plants populations and their relationship with birds colonies. In addition to these activities, a group of Brazilian researchers are undertaking studies related to Antarctic plant genetic diversity, plant chemistry and their biotechnological applications.

Comparative study of moss diversity in South Shetland Islands and in the Antarctic Peninsula

BackgroundThis paper presents a comparative study of moss diversity in three collection sites in the South Shetland Islands (King George, Elephant, and Nelson Islands) and one in the Antarctic Continent (Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula). In the King George, Elephant, and Nelson Islands, the collections were done in ice-free areas during the austral summers of years 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1994. In Hope Bay, the collections were done in the 2009 summer (February). All collections were deposited in the HCB (Chaves Batista Herbarium). FindingsThe King George Area is the most diverse area and the Hope Bay has the lowest diversity stats. The diversity stats for each region and the similarities between both are presented.ConclusionThis results suggested that harder climatic conditions determine lower diversity for the bryoflora.ResumenEn este trabajo se presenta un estudio comparativo de tres puntos de muestreo de musgosen las Islas Shetland del Sur (Isla Rey Jorge, Elefante y Nelson) y el Continente Antártico (Bahía Esperanza, Península Antártica). En las Islas King George, Elefante y Nelson, se tomaron muestras en las zonas libres de hielo durante los veranos australes de años 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 y 1994. Hope Bay, las colecciones se hicieron en el verano austral de 2009 (febrero). Todas las colecciones fueron depositadas en el herbario de HCB (Herbario Chaves Batista). Los índices de diversidad para cada región se presentan, así como la similitud entre ellos.

Comunidade de fungos Agaricomycetes em diferentes sistemas florestais no noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: Floresta Estacional Decídua e monocultura de eucalipto

Agaricomycetes fungi community at different forest systems in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil: seasonal deciduous forest and eucalypt monoculture). Monocultures differ from native forests in relation to plant heterogeneity, variety of substrates, and soil humidity, possibly altering the diversity of organisms, such as the fungi. This study aimed to compare the richness, abundance, and composition of Agaricomycetes fungi in a native forest and in a eucalypt monoculture. The fungi were collected in a seasonal deciduous forest area and in a Eucalyptus grandis monoculture, in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The abundance and richness of fungi were significantly lower in the eucalypt plantation than in the native forest and the species composition differed between the areas. Thus, it was concluded that the eucalypt monoculture negatively affects the Agaricomycetes fungi community.

Phaeosphaeria deschampsii (Ascomycota): A new parasite species of Deschampsia antarctica (Poaceae) described to Antarctica.

This study presents the description of Phaeosphaeria deschampsii, which was found in plant communities from Half Moon Island, South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica, in February 2014. Many patches of Deschampsia antarctica (Poaceae), the only indigenous Poaceae specie in Antarctic, were found dead, parasitized by a fungi pathogen. Based on the shape of its perithecia, with oblique neck, erumpent in the grass tissues, ascospore form and septation, the specie was identified as new to science.

Genetic Diversity and Structure of Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman (Arecaceae) in Southern Brazil

The species Syagrus romanzoffiana is a monocot belonging to the family Arecaceae; it is a palm endemic to South America and is widely distributed throughout the southeast and south of Brazil, including the State of Rio Grande do Sul. To estimate the genetic diversity and structure of the species in the watersheds of Rio Grande do Sul, five simple sequence repeat markers were used to analyze 90 individuals, representing three populations. The genetic structure of S. romanzoffiana groups was evaluated through the analysis of molecular variance and a multivariate analysis based on Nei’s genetic distance. The evaluated populations showed significant intrapopulation molecular variation (FST = 0.11). The observed heterozygosity (HO = 0.17) was lower than the expected heterozygosity (HE = 0.75). These data indicate that although the number of individuals is high, the diversity is low for some indices. Our findings suggest that further studies are needed, particularly on the genetics of natural populations of S. romanzoffiana in Rio Grande do Sul State, to fully characterize their genetic diversity and structure and determine strategies and priority areas for species conservation.

Description of plant communities on Half Moon Island, Antarctica

ABSTRACT During February–March of the austral summers of 2013/14 and 2014/2015, fieldwork was performed on Half Moon Island, South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica, to evaluate the distribution and abundance of mosses and lichens, as well as to describe and map the plant communities there. The quadrat (20 × 20 cm) sampling method was employed in a phytosociological study that aimed to describe these communities. The area was mapped using an Astech Promark II® DGPS, yielding sub-metric precision after post-processing with software. The number of species totalled 38 bryophytes, 59 lichens, only one flowering plant (Deschampsia antarctica Desv.), and two macroscopic terrestrial algae. Five types of plant communities were identified on the island, as follows: (1) fruticose lichen and moss cushion, (2) moss carpet, (3) muscicolous lichen, (4) crustose lichen and (5) moss turf.

Fungos aquáticos (Oomycota, Chytridiomycota) ocorrentes em anfíbios anuros em dois remanescentes de Mata Mtlântica, localizados em Santa Cruz do Sul e Venâncio Aires, RS, Brasil

Fungos patogenos de anfibios estao entre os maiores viloes a biodiversidade de anuros, sendo de extrema importância um maior conhecimento destes organismos causadores de doencas. Buscou-se conhecer os fungos zoosporicos ocorrentes em anuros em remanescentes de Mata Atlântica na regiao de Venâncio Aires e Santa Cruz do Sul – RS. As amostragens em campo realizaram-se entre outubro de 2014 e abril de 2015, em Linha Estrela em Venâncio Aires e dentro da UNISC em Santa Cruz do Sul. As amostragens de anuros foram feitas a partir do metodo de procura visual ativa e procura em sitios de reproducao. Em laboratorio, foi utilizado o metodo de isolamento por iscas para fungos aquaticos, adaptada. Foram amostrados 24 individuos de Anura, compostos por 9 especies, enquadrados em 3 familias (Hylidae, Leptodactylidae e Leiuperidae). Destes, 21 individuos apresentaram fungos zoosporicos, onde observou-se a ocorrencia dos generos Achlya, Saprolegnia, Leptomitus, Apodachlya, a especie Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis e individuos nao identificados do filo Chytridiomycota. Ate entao, a ocorrencia de B. dendrobatidis na regiao de estudo ainda nao havia sido registrada, sendo este um dado alarmante.

Phytosociological Survey in Water Preservation Areas, Southern, Brazil

The research was conducted between March 2013 and July 2014 in preservation areas that protect water resources in the Andreas Stream Basin, RS, and aimed to evaluate the phytosociological structure of these areas, which were established through the Payment for Environmental Services (PES). A total of 83 species, distributed in 72 genera and 34 families were recorded in twenty sampling points. The results of the cluster analysis indicate the occurrence of five groups based on the averages of the Importance Value Index (IVI), highlighting Group 1 that showed the highest average and significant differences (p < 0.05) compared to the other groups, being them: Allophylus edulis (A. St.-Hill., Cambess. & A. J.) R, Casearia silvestres SW, Cupania vernalis Cambess, Inga marginata Willd, Matayba elaeagnoides Radlk. and Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez. These species are recommended for restoration in preservation areas that were degraded, highlighting that PES is highly efficient in terms of sustainability.