Buxbaumia Viridis Research Articles

Remarkable results of recent field explorations in the Kőszeg Mts

The Kőszeg Mts are among the best studied areas of Hungary with respect to bryophytes. Nearly 400 species were reported from the Hungarian part of the mountains, which is partly due to favourable conditions of climate, bedrock, soil, and biotope diversity. However, a large part of the data was collected at the end of the 19th or the beginning of the 20th centuries, whereas there was no extensive bryofloristic research in the past 40 years. The authors began their field work in the Hungarian part of the mountains in 2015, and since then recorded nearly 40 species new to the area. In the course of our explorations, we succeeded in finding three species new to Hungary: Heterocladium heteropterum (Brid.) Schimp. and Rhabdoweisia crispata (Dicks.) Lindb. were collected from shaded rock in the valley of ’Harmas-patak’, whereas Plagiothecium latebricola Schimp. was detected on the partly rotting bases of alder trees (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). Further remarkable records concern species which were rated data-deficient, without recent occurrences, in the red-list of 2010: Heterocladium dimorphum (Brid.) Schimp., Bryum mildeanum Jur., Leiocolea badensis (Gottsche) Jorg., Pellia epiphylla (L.) Corda, and Pohlia annotina (Hedw.) Lindb. We also succeeded in finding new occurrences of the critically endangered Warnstorfia exannulata (Schimp.) Loeske, and of 9 more endangered and vulnerable species: Buxbaumia viridis (Moug. ex Lam. & DC.) Brid. ex Moug. & Nestl., Diplophyllum obtusifolium (Hook.) Dumort., Isothecium myosuroides Brid., Leptodon smithii (Hedw.) F. Weber & D. Mohr, Dicranum spurium Hedw., Brachythecium reflexum (Starke) Schimp., Leiocolea collaris (Nees) Schljakov, Taxiphyllum densifolium (Broth.) Reimers, Ulota bruchii Hornsch. ex Brid

An insight into the bryophyte flora of the Ibar gorge and its surroundings (Central and SW Serbia)

A total of 126 bryophyte taxa (12 liverworts and 114 mosses) were collected in the Ibar gorge and its surroundings. The climate of the gorge receives Mediterranean influence, hence almost one fourth part of the species found are Mediterranean, sub-Mediterranean, or sub-Atlantic elements. Several rare species in Serbia and in the Balkans can be found in the territory (e.g. Bryum gemmiferum, Dialytrichia mucronata, Didymodon nicholsonii, Grimmia lisae, Gymnostomum viridulum, Hygroamblystegium humile, Orthotrichum obtusifolium, Syntrichia latifolia). One species (Buxbaumia viridis) is included in the Bern Convention and the European Union Habitats and Species Directives. The Ibar gorge maintains a unique bryophyte assemblage due to the serpentine bedrock and continental, Mediterranean climatic influence, which are the main characteristics of the region.

New occurrence of rare protected moss species Buxbaumia viridis (Bryopsida, Buxbaumiaceae) in the Białowieża Forest

The Green Shield-moss Buxbaumia viridis (Bryopsida, Buxbaumiaceae) is an endangered, legally protected bryophyte considered as an ancient forest species both in Poland and elsewhere in Europe. This paper presents new localities for NE Poland, specifically in the Bialowieza Forest. As an epixylous species, it is threatened by logging and intensive forest management. It is of utmost importance to protect this spe- cies' habitat, particularly at the present time when increased logging is proposed.

Contributions to the bryophyte flora of the Mavrovo National Park (Republic of Macedonia)

229 bryophyte taxa (34 liverworts and 195 mosses) were collected in the Mavrovo National Park (Republic of Macedonia). Almost all habitat types maintain diverse bryophyte assemblages containing several species rare on the Balkans or even species of European conservation interest. Th ree species found (Buxbaumia viridis, Grimmia caespiticia, and Pseudoleskea saviana) are included in the Red data book of European bryophytes. Further eight species are on the candidate list of the new Red data book of European bryophytes and ten species can be regarded as rare on the Balkans.

Predicting the distribution of a rare species of moss: The case of Buxbaumia viridis (Bryopsida, Buxbaumiaceae)

Buxbaumia viridis is a rare policy species restricted to decaying woods in forests. Although Member States of EU are required to monitor its conservation status, specific models able to predict species distribution are still lacking. However, the availability of such models would strongly improve the efficiency in collection additional data and consequently lead to a better knowledge of its ecology. Aims of this work were (i) to provide a model for species distribution assessing the importance of different environmental variables thought to be important in setting the occurrence of Buxbaumia viridis and (ii) to test the effect of imperfect detection in defining the environmental space where the species occur. With this work, records of B. viridis increased twofold in the Alpine region of Italy, passing from 13 records to 26. We showed that on the Alps, occurrence of Buxbaumia viridis was best predicted by northness, rainfall, canopy closure and necromass. Necromass was the single most important variable. A volume of 48–61 m3/ha of necromass was identified as the threshold value determining the high probability of species occurrence. The imperfect detection probability of the species (p = 0.25), biased towards zero the importance of the environmental variables.

Contributions to the bryophyte flora of Croatia III. Plitvička jezera National Park and adjacent areas

Bryological fi eld surveys in Plitvicka jezera National Park and adjacent areas (Slunjcica river and Vrhovinsko polje karst fi eld) carried out in 2012 and 2013 resulted in a list of 207 species (39 liverworts and 168 mosses). Two species are reported for the fi rst time from Croatia (Ephemerum minutissimum and Pohlia annotina). Six species are included in the Red data book of European bryophytes (Buxbaumia viridis, Dicranum viride, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Anomodon rostratus,Rhynchostegiella tenuicaulis and Taxiphyllum densifolium). The first three are listed in the Bern Convention and the EU Habitats and Species Directive as well; in addition, other species, especially Sphagnum spp. rare in SE Europe were also located in the area.

Contributions to the bryophyte flora of the Pešter plateau, SW Serbia

211 bryophytes (37 liverworts and 174 mosses) were recently collected in the Pester plateau (SW Serbia). Of these collections, five species (Riccia canaliculata, Scapania praetervisa, Bryum canariense, Myurella sibirica, Pseudoleskeella rupestris) were found to be new records for Serbia. Four species (Lophozia ascendens, Buxbaumia viridis, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Myurella sibirica) are included in the Red data book of European bryophytes. An additional 19 taxa can be regarded as rare in the Balkans.

Thirteen years on the hunt for Buxbaumia viridis in the Czech Republic: still on the tip of the iceberg?

Rare epixylic moss <em>Buxbaumia viridis</em>, which is one of the “Annex II” species of the European “Habitat directive”, has been recorded at 124 localities in the Czech Republic in course of the last 13 years. Most of them were discovered in the last five years following a dedicated search at both historical sites of occurrence and new localities with putatively suitable habitat conditions. The recent and historical area of occupancy and extent of occurrence are not obviously different, although most of the recent localities are concentrated in the Western Carpathians and the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. Surprisingly, only 38% of the localities are located in natural forest habitats, of which herb-rich and acidophilous beech forests were among the most commonly inhabited ones. The rest of occurrences were recorded in non-natural forests (habitats strongly influenced or created by man), particularly the coniferous forest plantations. Sufficient amount of decaying wood of the advanced decay stages, as well as sufficient and constant humidity are crucial prerequisites for the occurrence of <em>B. viridis</em> in both types of forests. True epixylic moss <em>Herzogiella seligeri</em> and the liverwort <em>Chiloscyphus profundus</em> were recorded as the most common associated species, while the rest of commonly co-occurring species were facultatively epixylic, ground or ubiquitous bryophytes; other specialized and rare epixylic mosses or liverworts were only rarely recorded. We also designed a potential distribution model for <em>B. viridis</em> based on the distribution of habitats most commonly occupied by the studied moss. Despite the simplicity of the model, its close match with the recent distribution in the Western Carpathians, the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. and Šumava Mts. supports its relevance for the real distribution of <em>B. viridis</em>.

Hierarchical Bayesian estimation of the population viability of an epixylic moss

Summary1. Understanding the variation in population abundances requires accounting for the environmental variability and uncertainty on different scales. We developed and evaluated a Bayesian hierarchical model for the inter‐annual variation in population abundance of the epixylic bryophyte Buxbaumia viridis. The model accounts for spatio‐temporal variability on two spatial scales. We used data on population abundance and on the weather variables at regional level collected between 1996 and 2003, and data on dead wood amount collected between 1996 and 2008. We also provide a Bayesian estimate of the population viability, specifically the population stochastic growth rate (log λS), which accounts for natural variability and uncertainty.2. Previous estimates of population viability did not account for uncertainties in a satisfactory way. First, point estimates of log λS cannot, by definition, express variation. Second, the commonly used approach to estimate log λS and its confidence interval underestimates uncertainties. The approach aims to estimate the mean of log λS, with the confidence interval representing the uncertainty in the estimate of this mean. The interval does not reflect the natural variation and uncertainty.3. We estimated a probability distribution of log λS, where the probability distributions of the year‐specific growth rates (log λy) are accounted for. The species is likely to decline under current environmental conditions. Based on the probability distribution of log λS, we estimated this risk to be 81%.4. We found support for the hypotheses that the population dynamics are driven by autumn frosts, by spring precipitation and temperature (regional variables), and by the preceding year’s population abundance (local variable).5. Synthesis. Statements about the viability of populations should not be based on point estimates of log λS. Instead, the full probability distribution of log λS should be used, which explicitly accounts for the hierarchically structured natural variability and uncertainty. This distribution allows estimating the risk for a population decline, or providing an estimate of the confidence in a statement about a decline. This quantitative information can be weighed against other interests. We expect this Bayesian approach to be especially useful in the viability analysis of natural populations experiencing environmental variability.

Recent occurrence of moss Buxbaumia viridis (Bryophyta, Buxbaumiaceae) in the Kłodzko region (Central and Eastern Sudetes, SW Poland)

Recent occurrence of moss Buxbaumia viridis (Bryophyta, Buxbaumiaceae) in the Kłodzko region (Central and Eastern Sudetes, SW Poland) A rare epixylous moss, Buxbaumia viridis (Moug. ex Lam. & DC.) Brid. ex Moug. & Nestl., was searched at historical localities in the Kłodzko region, especially in Bialskie and Bystrzyckie Mts. The species was rediscovered at two localities in the upper part of the valley of Jedlnik stream on the east slope of Iwinka Mt. in Puszcza Śnieżnej Białki Nature Reserve. This paper presents data on autecology of B. viridis at one of the rediscovered localities as well as shows its current distribution in the Kłodzko region.

Historical and recent occurrence of epixylous moss Buxbaumia viridis in the Javorníky Mts. and the Vsetínské vrchy hills (Western Carpathians)

Historical and recent occurrence of epixylous moss Buxbaumia viridis in the Javorníky Mts. and the Vsetínské vrchy hills (Western Carpathians) The epixylous moss Buxbaumia viridis (Moug. ex Lam. & DC.) Brid. ex Moug. & Nestl. is considered an endangered or vulnerable species in all countries in the Central Europe. In the Czech part of the Western Carpathians the species was recorded very occasionally in the twentieth century. In 2011 field monitoring of the species on historically known localities in Javorníky Mts. and the Vsetínské vrchy hills was carried out. As a result, six localities of B. viridis have been recorded in this region. Precise localization, number of and ecological data are given.

The cuticle of the Buxbaumia viridis sporophyte

The sporophytes of Buxbaumia viridis are covered with a cuticle-like skin, which is peeling off when the capsules are ripe. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the supposed peeling of the cuticle of ripe capsules is not restricted to the cuticle, but to the complete epidermis. Additionally the SEM investigations showed that the capsule epidermis is covered by epicuticular wax crystals in different morphologies. Wax crystal morphologies indicate the presence of massive wax layers with small embedded and superimposed platelets and granules on top. For bryophytes such wax crystals were so far reported only from the Polytrichales, but they are common wax types of various groups of several phanerogams. Based on these micro-morphological markers the phylogenetic relationship between the cuticles of moss sporophytes and tracheophytes is discussed here.

Ecophysiological constraints on spore establishment in bryophytes

Summary Many threatened bryophytes are restricted to patchy and temporary substrates such as dead wood and tree stems. Their persistence depends on successful colonizations of new patches. Spore germination may then be limited by substrate quality and wetness. In vitro experiments were used to test the effects of pH and moisture on the establishment of spores of the moss species Neckera pennata Hedw. and Buxbaumia viridis (DC) Moug. & Nestl. Low pH and water potential prolonged the lag phase preceding germination and reduced final germination. The interaction between pH and moisture suggests that high water availability facilitates germination at suboptimal pH, and vice versa. The results reflect the species’ habitats: the wood‐inhabiting B. viridis had higher capacity to germinate at low pH, while spores of the epiphyte N. pennata showed earlier germination at low water potential and survived longer in a dry state. This supports the notion that bryophytes are most strongly affected by substrate quality during establishment. We suggest that a trade‐off exists among moss spores between the ability to colonize substrates with low moisture‐holding capacity and low pH, and that the positive effect of high pH is largely that it speeds up germination thereby enabling the spores to exploit short, moist periods.

In vitro cultivation of bryophytes: a review of practicalities, problems, progress and promise

In vitro cultivation is not only essential for the use of bryophytes in cellular, developmental and molecular research but is also vital to the elucidation of the roles of juvenile stages in reproductive biology. Other important uses include the discovery of new characters for systematics, the conservation of rare taxa and understanding the functional significance of fungal and cyanobacterial association in hepatics and hornworts. This article, based on the culturing of over 300 mosses and nearly 50 hepatics sets out the practicalities of in vitro cultivation and reviews the potential rewards. Cultures, initiated from surface-sterilized spores, gemmae or vegetative fragments, are most easily handled in Petri dishes on media containing inorganic salts. Solidification of the medium with Phytogel or Gelrite is preferred to traditional agar because of toxic impurities in the latter. Dilution of the nutrients can be beneficial to the growth of some taxa. Prior knowledge of the seasonality of sporophyte production is vital for establishing cultures from spores, especially those of hepatics. The period of spore availability can be increased by storing ripe capsules at 4°C. Irradiances in culture are usually much lower than in nature, but are still sufficient for good growth, whereas temperatures above 25°C are damaging.Cultured materials can be weaned in vitro onto their natural substrata including rocks. These and protonemal gemmae suspensions are ideal inocula for reintroducing plants into the wild. Cryopreservation techniques are being developed for the long-term preservation of endangered taxa.Specimens grown in vitro are closely similar to their wild counterparts but sometimes produce propagules previously unknown in nature. Striking examples include the first reports of protonemal gemmae in Ditrichum cornubicum, Saelania glaucescens, Seligeria carniolica and Zygodon gracilis. By contrast, the absence of rhizoidal and protonemal propagules in all the British species of the Splachnaceae indicate that an earlier account of protonemal gemmae in Tayloria was probably based on misidentified material. The first description of a highly distinctive protonema in Buxbaumia viridis opens the way to identify this endangered species in the absence of sporophytes. Protonemata are providing an increasing number of new characters useful at all levels in the taxonomic hierarchy. The massive juvenile stages in Andreaea are impossible to equate with the filaments found in the Bryales. Rhizoidal ropes are a characteristic of the Polytrichales. Thalloid protonemata link Tetraphis and Oedipodium, a finding reinforced by molecular sequence data. Pointed chloronemata suggest the reassignment of Ephemerum to the Pottiales, an order characterized by asexual propagules lacking Tmema (abscission) cells. Highly differentiated gemmae with Tmema cells and hyaline sticky acumina support molecular data that Schistostega, Syrrhopodon and Calymperes are closely related members of the Dicranales. At the infraspecific level, distinctive protonemal morphology suggests that Weissia controversa var. densifolia may merit elevation to specific status.In vitro cultivation of hepatics and hornworts is complicated by the presence of fungal and cyanobacterial endophytes. Ascomycetes and basidiomycetes (and Nostoc) can be isolated from their hosts and the associations re-established in culture, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Glomus spores or mycorrhizal higher plants may be used as inocula to re-establish zygmycetous infections. Cross-infection studies are revealing a wide host range for the ascomycetes including many members of the Lepidoziaceae and Cephaloziaceae and extending to the Ericaceae, but the fungus Mniacea jungermanniae, that forms blue-green apothecia on the stems of Cephalozia bicuspidata, does not colonize the rhizoids of its hepatic hosts. Basidiomycetes isolated from a range of Jungermanniales are host specific and the fungus from Cryptothallus does not invade Aneura pinguis. The identification of two fungi, distinct both morphologically and in their host range, from alpine and lowland populations of A. pinguis, is in line with the varietal status recently assigned to these in Scandinavian specimens.

Phosphorus concentration and pH in decaying wood affect establishment of the red-listed moss Buxbaumia viridis

Many red-listed species grow on decaying wood in the boreal forest, and their persistence depends on dispersal to new patches. To investigate whether substrate quality could affect establishment and distribution of the red-listed moss Buxbaumia viridis (DC) Moug. & Nestl., cultivation experiments as well as a field investigation of wood quality were performed. Spore germination was negatively affected by low pH and phosphorus (P) concentration in cultivation media, while nitrogen (N) concentration did not significantly affect germination. Results from the experiments were supported by the field investigation, where the probability of sporophyte occurrence increased with increasing pH. In addition, the interaction between substrate type (wood or humus) and P was significant. Occurrence of sporophytes was not significantly affected by N concentration in the wood. The results from the cultivation experiments and the field study imply that the safe site for germination and establishment of Buxbaumia viridis is either a substrate with continuously high moisture or a substrate with lower moisture but with increased pH and (or) P content, attained, e.g., by throughfall and litterfall from deciduous trees, and that non-optimal pH, P, and moisture conditions could restrict establishment and distribution of the species.Key words: bryophyte, decaying wood, germination, protonema, safe site, substrate quality.

Substratum preference, spore output and temporal variation in sporophyte production of the epixylic moss Buxbaumia viridis

Occupancy and sporophyte numbers of Buxbaumia viridis on patches of decaying wood were investigated during a 4-year period (1996-99). Temporal variation in sporophyte number was investigated in relation to precipitation. Spore number per sporophyte was counted and spore number per substratum patch area and forest area were calculated. To predict the occupancy of B. viridis on decaying logs and stumps in a forest, the patch size (suitable wood area) was the most important variable. Decomposition stage was included in the model as a quality factor, expressing the higher and more stable humidity in late wood-decay stages. The suitable wood area of each patch was determined first and foremost by the stage of decomposition and diameter of the decaying wood. Only 16% of all wood patches considered suitable for production of sporophytes were occupied. The probability of a patch being occupied increased linearly with patch size to approximately 7 dm2; above this size the probability of being colonized was close to one. Both the number of sporophytes and the number of occupied patches were correlated with precipitation amounts during the summer months, with a reduction of occupied patches of 73% in the dry year 1999, compared with mean values for 1996-98. Spore number per sporophyte was correlated with length and width of the capsule, and varied between 1.4 and 9.0 million, with a mean value of 6.0 million. It is suggested that the rarity of B. viridis is caused by a low probability of patches being occupied because of their short longevity and small size, together with the facts that the species is dioicous, short-lived, sensitive to desiccation of the substratum, and has a gametophyte that is so minute it cannot compete with larger bryophytes.

The threatened epixylic bryophytes in old primeval forests in Finland

The rapid decrease and fragmentation of primeval forests in Finland has caused a serious threat to bryophytes that grow on decaying wood. Most of these epixylic bryophytes have specific site preferences and are sensitive to changes in the forest microclimate caused by intensive forest management. According to the Finnish Committee for the Conservation of Threatened Animals and Plants, thirteen epixylic bryophyte species are considered threatened in Finland. The latest records and remarks on the ecology and the status of one threatened epixylix moss ( Buxbaumia viridis) and twelve hepatics ( Cephalozia lacinulata, C. affinis, C. macounii, C. catenulata, Calypogeia suecica, Scapania massalongi, S. apiculata, Nowellia curvifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Anastrophyllum michauxii, Lophocolea cuspidata and Jungermannia leiantha) are given.

Review of Dismier's Revision of Philonotis

Massee. I do not know upon what species of mosses Cladosporium epibryum grows, since Cooke (1. c.) gives only the habitat, on various mosses, United States, (Mrs. E. G. Britton). Mrs. Britton might make a very welcome note in the BRYOLOGIST concerning these species. No mention is made in literature concerning the occurrence of Cladosporium herbarum upon Buxbaumia viridis. I wish to express my most sincere thanks to Dr. Holl6s for aid in the determinations.