Important Morphological Structures Research Articles

Allometric Growth and Scaling of Body Form of the Spadenose Shark (Scoliodon laticaudus).

The versatility of the shark body form is suggested to be one of the key factors underlying their evolutionary success and persistence. Nevertheless, sharks exhibit a huge diversity of body forms and morphological adaptations. More subtly, it is increasingly evident that in many species, morphology varies through ontogeny. Multiple competing hypotheses exist explaining both the function of specific morphological structures and the interspecific distribution of these ontogenetic morphological shifts. However, existing studies are restricted to a small number of mostly large-bodied species. In this study, we report allometric scaling relationships from functionally important morphological structures in the spadenose shark (Scoliodon laticaudus). We find that a mosaic of isometric and allometric growth underlies the scaling trends in this species and that cases of allometry are consistent with an ontogenetic shift in diet. Moreover, our results refute suggestions that small-bodied sharks grow isometrically. Given the small number of existing studies of ontogenetic morphometry in sharks and the life-history/ecological characteristics of S. laticaudus, this study is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the adaptive value of ontogenetic morphological shifts in elasmobranchs.

Tensor Ring Decomposition Guided Dictionary Learning for OCT Image Denoising.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive and effective tool for the imaging of retinal tissue. However, the heavy speckle noise, resulting from multiple scattering of the light waves, obscures important morphological structures and impairs the clinical diagnosis of ocular diseases. In this paper, we propose a novel and powerful model known as tensor ring decomposition-guided dictionary learning (TRGDL) for OCT image denoising, which can simultaneously utilize two useful complementary priors, i.e., three-dimensional low-rank and sparsity priors, under a unified framework. Specifically, to effectively use the strong correlation between nearby OCT frames, we construct the OCT group tensors by extracting cubic patches from OCT images and clustering similar patches. Then, since each created OCT group tensor has a low-rank structure, to exploit spatial, non-local, and its temporal correlations in a balanced way, we enforce the TR decomposition model on each OCT group tensor. Next, to use the beneficial three-dimensional inter-group sparsity, we learn shared dictionaries in both spatial and temporal dimensions from all of the stacked OCT group tensors. Furthermore, we develop an effective algorithm to solve the resulting optimization problem by using two efficient optimization approaches, including proximal alternating minimization and the alternative direction method of multipliers. Finally, extensive experiments on OCT datasets from various imaging devices are conducted to prove the generality and usefulness of the proposed TRGDL model. Experimental simulation results show that the suggested TRGDL model outperforms state-of-the-art approaches for OCT image denoising both qualitatively and quantitatively.

The hidden world of fossil larvae: description and morphological insights of an immature scorpionfly (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) from the Baltic amber

Abstract So far, there has been no information of the pre-imaginal stages in the well-preserved fossil record of the Mecoptera. The first and well-preserved mecopteran larva was discovered in Eocene Baltic amber. The application of synchrotron X-ray microtomography enabled the reconstruction of the body structure with high accuracy, providing a comprehensive set of morphological data that classical stereoscopic microscopy could not capture. The larva is eruciform, with distinct segmentation of the body. All the most important morphological structures are documented, including the chaetotaxy system. Shape of antenna and annulated processes on the abdominal segments point to the third/four stage of development. There is no doubt that the larva belongs to Panorpidae, the most abundant family of extant Mecoptera. The morphological characters point to the closest affinity to larvae of Cerapanorpa and Panorpa but the fossil larva cannot be assigned to any extant genus of Panorpidae. Based on the results of synchrotron X-ray microtomography, it is possible to discuss the assignement of this larva to a lower systematic level than the family, and draw conclusions about the nature of the habitat preferences of Eocene panorpid.

The exceptionally well-preserved Sauropleura scalaris (Nectridea: Urocordylidae) from the late Carboniferous of the Czech Republic: new information on ontogeny, lateral line and tail

Abstract Urocordylids represent a group of the late Carboniferous–early Permian basal tetrapods, with short limbs, extremely elongated bodies and a deep and distinctive tail and vertebral architecture, which is indicative of an aquatic habitat. However, the important morphological structures that would indicate their ecological preferences unambiguously (e.g. hyobranchial apparatus, lateral line sulci) remain unknown. Moreover, the high degree of skeletal ossification present in urocordylids contrasts with the common pattern seen in most other basal tetrapods known to inhabit aquatic environments. Here, we describe an exceptionally well-preserved skull, with an associated mandible and a partial postcranial skeleton, of Sauropleura scalaris from the locality of Nýřany, Czech Republic, based on high-resolution micro-computed tomography. The labial surface of the mandible shows the first evidence of the lateral line system in Urocordylidae, which consists of both small pits and elongated grooves, and unambiguously supports the aquatic ecology of the group. The juvenile stage of the specimen provides new information on ontogeny of sauropleurines. The partly ossified opisthotic bone indicates that, unlike development in most other early tetrapods, the otic capsules were among the first neurocranial elements to ossify in nectrideans. Finally, an almost complete caudal region suggests that tails were much longer in sauropleurines than previously assumed.

APPLICATION OF MORPHOLOGIC ANALYSIS TO QUANTIFY DIVERSION OF FLOOD WATERFLOW AND POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL ENERGY

As significant catchment of flood water, this study examined important morphological structures of Lake Buhi (LB) catchment area which is a part of Bicol River Basin Area (BRBA). The information taken was used to derive a mathematical model which was then used in analysing the hydrologic event in the area. Different scenarios were investigated to provide solutions and avoid major risks and damages in BRBA during extreme precipitation. The method used to gather the data are Geographical Information System (GIS), digital elevation modelling (DEM), hydrologic modelling, site visit, and remote sensing. It was found that the morphology is well structured to collect and impound vast amount of rainwater flow and form huge body of water known as the LB. The area has immense number of streams that directs surface runoff into the impounded body of water having low drainage density. Enormous amount is needed to discharge away and prevent high water level rise and stop flood in the nearby villages. The capacity of the outflow river is sufficient in most cases of the forecasted precipitation while during the time of typhoon event was found insufficient. However, there are three options to divert away the accumulated floodwater and become a potential source of electrical energy.

Éléments pour une révision du genre Amauronyx Reitter, 1882, avec la description de dix-sept espèces nouvelles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae)

Elements for a revision of the genus Amauronyx Reitter, 1882, with description of seventeen new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae). The most important morphological structures for the discrimination of species belonging to the genus Amauronyx Reitter, 1882, are studied in detail; differences with the genus Trichonyx Chaudoir, 1845, are specified. The phenomenon of antisymmetry of the terminalia and genitalia, observed in five species, is commented. Holotypes of two previously described species are examined and lectotypes are designated for ten species, whose essential characters are indicated, with unpublished chorological data. Seventeen new species are described : A. aubei n. sp., A. besucheti n. sp., A. hlavaci n. sp., A. meybohmi n. sp. and A. serranoi n. sp., from Portugal, A. tronqueti n. sp., from Spain, A. normandi n. sp., A. peyerimhoffi n. sp. and A. theryi n. sp., from Algeria, A. vaucheri n. sp., from Morocco, A. kociani n. sp., from Armenia, A. saulcyi n. sp., from Cyprus, A. karamani n. sp., A. machulkai n. sp. and A. reitteri n. sp., from Greece, A. binaghii n. sp. and A. viti n. sp., from Turkey. The genus is new for Corsica, Armenia, Cyprus and Turkey; its presence in Iran is confirmed.

Coupled variation of red-backed vole species in biotopes disturbed by windfall and fire in the Visim State Nature Reserve (the Middle Urals)

The use of morphogenetic characteristics and functionally important morphological structures in monitoring natural populations and communities is one of the modern directions in developing approaches to eco-morphology and functional synecology. New approaches make it possible to test the hypothesis of a similar spectrum of morphogenetic modifications of sympatric species during their development in disturbed biotopes. In this study, the coupled variability of the size and shape of the mandible was studied for the first time using geometric morphometrics to assess the resistance of the rodent community to two natural catastrophic phenomena (windfall and wildfire) for three sympatric red-backed vole species in the Visim State Nature Reserve (Middle Urals). Samples of Clethrionomys glareolus, Clethrionomys rutilus and Craseomys rufocanus young-of-the-years were studied in two biotopes modified by windfall and fire impacts under different weather conditions (2003 vs. 2004). It was found that Clethrionomys glareolus preferred the overgrown fire-damaged site, Craseomys rufocanus the windfall zone, and Clethrionomys rutilus did not express a pronounced preference. Interannual and biotopic differences in the variation of the size and shape of the mandible have been revealed for all species. Weather conditions affected the species variability more than biotopic ones. Based on functional mandibular indices, it was found that the shape of the mandible of the species, as a biological tool for foraging and its primary processing, depends more on weather factors than on the biotope characteristics. A similar morphofunctional reaction of sympatric species populations to similar biotopes was expressed. This fact reflects the parallelism of modifications of the morphogenesis of mandibles of the studied species in disturbed biotopes, confirming the hypothesis. In particular, in the fire-damaged site, the tendency to longitudinal grinding of feed was revealed for all species, while in the windfall zone, the tendency to gnawing of forage objects (possibly, seeds of coniferous plants) was revealed. It is assumed that weather factors indirectly affect the morphogenesis of species through the change of plant communities, which, in turn, changes the diet of animals and the mechanics of the load on the musculoskeletal apparatus of mandibles. The within-group morphological disparity (MNND), which reflects the measure of destabilisation of development, was small in Clethrionomys glareolus, indicating the stability of its morphogenesis in both biotopes; the development of Craseomys rufocanus was stable only on the windfall site; in Clethrionomys rutilus, MNND was unstable in both biotopes. The MNND development stability estimates are consistent with the species abundance. They are recommended for monitoring the population status of sympatric species of the red-backed voles and other rodents in Protected Areas.

The evolution, form and function of the human respiratory system.

This paper presents an updated view on the morphological and functional significance of the human respiratory system in the context of human evolutionary anatomy. While usually the respiratory system is treated either from a craniofacial perspective, mostly in the context of nasal evolution and air-conditioning, or from a postcranial perspective featuring on overall thoracic shape changes, here we pursue a holistic perspective on the form, function, integration, and evolutionary change of the entire organismal system in hominins. We first present a brief review of the most important morphological structures, their function, and its potential integration and interaction with the nasal cavity and thoracic skeleton. This is followed by an overview of the most important improvements in methods for the comparative study in recent humans and fossil hominins. We then overview and list a compendium of hominin fossil material currently available for the study. We propose four functional categories of hominin respiratory system configurations that differ potentially with respect to size, shape, biomechanics and/or bioenergetics. Finally, we discuss these and speculate on possible ways for future research into an anatomical system that, despite its under-investigated status, is central to the understanding of the form and functions of the hominin organism and its paleobiology.

Explaining and Evaluating Deep Tissue Classification by Visualizing Activations of Most Relevant Intermediate Layers

Abstract Deep Learning-based tissue classification may support pathologists in analyzing digitized whole slide images. However, in such critical tasks, only approaches that can be validated by medical experts in advance to deployment, are suitable. We present an approach that contributes to making automated tissue classification more transparent. We step beyond broadly used visualizations for last layers of a convolutional neural network by identifying most relevant intermediate layers applying Grad-CAM. A visual evaluation by a pathologist shows that these layers assign relevance, where important morphological structures are present in case of correct class decisions. We introduce a tool that can be easily used by medical experts for such validation purposes for any convolutional neural network and any layer. Visual explanations for intermediate layers provide insights into a neural network’s decision for histopathological tissue classification. In future research also the context of the input data must be considered.

Potential for Anthropogenic Fin Damage to Affect Individual Responses to Prey in Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus): A New Hypothesis for Kinematic Studies.

In fishes, damage to important morphological structures such as fins through natural damage and anthropogenic factors can have cascading effects on prey capture performance and individual fitness. Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) are a common freshwater species in North America, are a model organism for performance studies, and often experience natural injuries. We opportunistically sampled two populations of fish in the lab to generate a hypothesis for the effect of sub-lethal fin damage resulting from the capture technique on kinematic performance during prey capture in bluegill. We found no statistical differences in mean prey capture kinematics or predator accuracy, but damaged fish used more variable kinematics and more readily struck at non-prey items. We suggest that a reduction in stability and individual consistency occurs as a result of fin damage. This difference could have consequences for higher-order ecological interactions such as competitive ability, despite a lack of apparent performance cost at the individual level, and deserves consideration in future studies of prey capture performance in fish.

Notes on Malagasy Discheramocephalus Johnson (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae).

Two species of the featherwing beetle genus Discheramocephalus Johnson are known to occur in Madagascar. One of them is known from females only, and some important morphological structures have never been described and illustrated, including details of male genitalia. Morphology of the male of D. bisulcatus Darby is illustrated and described for the first time, including the aedeagus and abdominal structures, and the male genitalia of D. vasilii Darby are also illustrated in detail for the first time. Diagnoses of both species are emended to include newly described structures.

Spontaneous formation of chaotic protrusions in a polymerizing active gel layer

The actin cortex is a thin layer of actin filaments and myosin motors beneath the outer membrane of animal cells. It determines the cells’ mechanical properties and forms important morphological structures. Physical descriptions of the cortex as a contractile active gel suggest that these structures can result from dynamic instabilities. However, in these analyses the cortex is described as a two-dimensional layer. Here, we show that the dynamics of the cortex is qualitatively different when gel fluxes in the direction perpendicular to the membrane are taken into account. In particular, an isotropic cortex is then stable for arbitrarily large active stresses. If lateral contractility exceeds vertical contractility, the system can either from protrusions with an apparently chaotic dynamics or a periodic static pattern of protrusions.

Larval morphology of Agabus clypealis (Thomson, 1867) and A. pseudoclypealis Scholz, 1933 and notes on their distribution (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

ABSTRACTThe third instar larvae of Agabus clypealis (Thomson, 1867) and A. pseudoclypealis Scholz, 1933 are described. Important morphological structures (head, legs, and abdominal segment 8 with urogomphi) are illustrated. Both species share a completely sclerotized abdominal segment 6 with A. setulosus (J. Sahlberg, 1895). Morphological characters and species phenology are discussed in relation to the A. confinis-species group. All available literature records and some new and additional data on distribution of the two species are provided. Agabus clypealis is recorded for the first time from Estonia, and there is no reason to doubt the records of A. pseudoclypealis from Kazakhstan.

DUVALIUS BOZIDARI, A NEW CAVE-DWELLING SPECIES OF TRECHINE GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE: TRECHINAE) FROM WESTERN SERBIA

A new trechine ground beetle species, Duvalius (Neoduvalius) bozidari sp. n. (from two underground objects in the surroundings of the city of Valjevo, western Serbia), is described and diagnosed in the current study. The male and female genitalia and other taxonomically important morphological structures are presented. The new species is clearly different from the closest relatives and is endemic to caves in a limited area in western Serbia.

Morphological Characteristics of Normal and Gynandromorphic Hyalomma asiaticum Schulze and Schlottke, 1930.

Gynandromorphic ticks are extremely rare, and often attract parasitologists’ attention. During our examination of tick specimens, an engorged gynandromorph of Hyalomma asiaticum was noticed. This is the first record of gynandromorphic ticks from China. In this study, several important morphological structures of normal and gynandromorphic H. asiaticum were analyzed. Comparing to the normal H. asiaticum, the gynandromorphic specimen was a typical bipartite protogynander. Its right side showed normal female characteristics, whereas the left side had normal male traits. Different from other gynandromorphic ticks containing 1 anus, this tick reported here had 2 complete anuses, and the anus of the male part had a single adanal plate.

Tectonic evolution of the northern shelf of the Marmara Sea (Turkey): interpretation of seismic and bathymetric data

This study is based on the geological interpretation of 250 km2 of multibeam bathymetric data coupled with 300 km of seismic profiles recorded on the northern shelf of the Marmara Sea offshore Buyukcekmece and Kucukcekmece Lagoons. The sea bottom morphology has a highly chaotic structure at the exit of the Buyukcekmece and Kucukcekmece lagoons. This chaotic surface structure is controlled by a basin-ridge system lying in the NE–SW direction at the exit of the Buyukcekmece Lagoon and by a relatively deep entrance observed at the exit of the Kucukcekmece Lagoon. In addition, the linear submarine slope parallel to the shoreline between the Istanbul Strait and the Kucukcekmece Lagoon is an important morphological structure of this area. The Istanbul Strait’s canyon on the northern shelf of the Marmara Sea and the elevated submarine plain west of this canyon are other important morphological structures observed at the sea bottom. The geologic interpretation of seismic profiles has allowed us to distinguish two seismo-stratigraphic units. The lower one is separated from the overlying units by a seismic sequence having a seismic facies from chaotic to parallel and the top represented by a high amplitude seismic reflector. Since these units get close to the sea bottom rising landwards, they are inferred to be the seaward continuation of the Oligocene–Upper Miocene units widely exposed on land. The upper unit, overlying the acoustic basement, whose parallel internal reflections onlap and downlap on the top of the acoustic basement, is interpreted as a Quaternary basin fill. Two groups of faults have been identified on seismic profiles and identified based on their characteristics in the study area. The first group consists of dip-slip faults trending NNE–SSW. These faults border the western slope of the Bosporus and the NNE–SSW trending basins offshore of the Buyukcekmece Lagoon. The second group of faults consists of NW–SE oriented strike-slip faults. These faults have created the linearities in the same direction at the sea bottom. As the result of comparison of these NW–SE-faults to the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), this group of faults is likely to have a relation with the NAFZ. Therefore, it is considered that the mentioned faults may be reactivated in the region due to the stress created by the NAFZ.

New data on Apteroloma (Coleoptera: Agyrtidae) of central Asia and the Himalayas with a new synonymy.

The distribution of Apteroloma anglorossicum (Semenov, 1890), A. harmandi (Portevin, 1903) and A. sillemi Jeannel, 1935 in central Asia and along the Himalayas is summarized, and the collecting circumstances and ecology of all three species from Gilgit District, Pakistan are described in detail. Revised diagnoses of all three species are provided, habitus and important morphological structures are illustrated, and available types have been examined. Apteroloma jankovskii Semenov and Znojko in Semenov, 1932 is confirmed as junior subjective synonym of A. anglorossicum. Apteroloma heinzi Schawaller, 1991 is newly treated as a junior subjective synonym of A. harmandi.

Phase contrast X-ray microtomography of the Rhodnius prolixus head: Comparison of direct reconstruction and phase retrieval approach

We have used phase-contrast X-ray microtomography (PPC-μCT) to study the head of the blood-feeding bug, Rhodnius prolixus, which is one of the most important insect vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, ethiologic agent of Chagas disease in Latin America. Images reconstructed from phase-retrieved projections processed by ANKA phase are compared to those obtained through direct tomographic reconstruction of the flat-field-corrected transmission radiographs. It should be noted that the relative locations of the important morphological internal structures are observable with a precision that is difficult to obtain without the phase retrieval approach.

叶片毛尖对齿肋赤藓结皮凝结水形成及蒸发的影响

凝结水(隐匿降水)和降水是荒漠地区两种不同形式的水分来源,对荒漠生态系统极为重要。叶片毛尖(leaf hair points, LHPs)是很多荒漠藓类的重要外部形态结构特征,但它在藓类植物利用凝结水和降水中的作用尚不清楚。齿肋赤藓(<em>Syntrichia caninervis</em>)是古尔班通古特沙漠藓类结皮的优势种,其叶片顶端具有较长的白色毛尖。采用自制微渗计(<em>h</em>=3.5 cm, <em>d</em>=5.7 cm)研究了正常有毛尖和人工去除毛尖的齿肋赤藓结皮的凝结水特征及其在3种模拟降水梯度(1,3,6 mm)下的短期蒸发特征,结果表明:(1) 在凝结阶段,有毛尖结皮每时段的凝结水量均大于无毛尖结皮,但日出后有毛尖结皮凝结水下降速度稍快;有毛尖结皮的日凝结水量均大于无毛尖结皮,且前者的总凝结水量比后者多10.26%,即毛尖能增加10.26%的凝结水量。(2) 3种模拟降水梯度下,有毛尖结皮在各时段的累积蒸发率始终小于无毛尖结皮,以蒸发前期阶段最为明显,表明毛尖能显著减少和延缓结皮内的水分蒸发、延长植株水合时间,而且降水量越大减缓效果越明显。毛尖对这2种不同形式水分利用的差异是因为利用方式不同:对凝结水的利用主要归因于毛尖增大了结皮表面粗糙度,而减少对降水的蒸发主要是毛尖能反射阳光、形成内部毛细管及减小植株间隙的缘故。因此,毛尖的存在有利于齿肋赤藓结皮对凝结水和降水的利用,增强了藓类结皮对干旱环境的适应能力。;In arid areas where rainfall is rare and solar radiation is strong, reducing water loss and efficient water use are extremely important for plant survival. Desiccation-tolerant mosses are the dominant components of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in desert ecosystems. These mosses play important roles in soil surface stability, fertility, and ecological restoration. Crust-forming mosses have presumably developed special morphological and anatomical features to cope with harsh desert conditions, but the nature of these remains largely unknown. Some special morphological features (such as convex or concave leaves, papilla, and thick marginal cell walls) have been observed; providing evidence of long-term adaptation to the desert environment. Leaf hair points (LHPs) are important morphological structures in many desiccation-tolerant mosses. These are elongations of leaf midribs; they are generally white, with many small spiny teeth on their surfaces. A few preliminary studies have indicated that LHPs in several kinds of cushion mosses can reflect sunshine, absorb moisture from the air, and reduce water loss. Precipitation is the main water source in desert areas. The rainfall in the center of the Gurbantunggut Desert is only 70 to 150 mm per annum, and most rainfall events (89.8% in 1998-2007 data) are less than 5 mm. Even so, these events still enable desert mosses to reach and to maintain hydration for a time. In addition, dew and fog (occult precipitation) provide small amounts of water; not enough to hydrate mosses, but with a greater frequency than rainfall. Occult precipitation is thus another important water source for desert biology, and has a crucial role in these ecosystems. Research into the role of the LHPs of drought-resistant mosses is timely. We collected a dominant desert moss, <em>Syntrichia caninervis</em>, from the Gurbantunggut Desert of Xinjiang, China, to investigate the effect of LHPs on water use. The LHPs of <em>S. caninervis</em> are often broken in nature. Our method involved comparison of moss patches with LHPs and moss patches with LHPs manually removed. Characteristics of dew deposition and short-term rainfall evaporation (1 mm, 3 mm, 6 mm) of <em>S. caninervis</em> crusts with and without LHPs were studied using purpose-built micro-lysimeters (PVC, <em>h</em>=3.5 cm, <em>d</em>=5.7 cm). Results indicated that (1) Dew amounts on crusts with LHPs were greater than on crusts without LHPs. After sunrise, the dew on crusts with LHPs dried slightly faster. Daily dew amounts on crusts with LHPs were greater than on crusts without LHPs. The total dew amount for seven days on crusts with LHPs was 10.26% greater than on crusts without LHPs. Thus LHPs can improve dew amounts on <em>S. caninervis</em> crusts by 10.26%. (2) Rainfall evaporation rates from crusts with LHPs were lower than from crusts without LHPs at every time of evaporation; this was most obvious during the early period. LHPs can significantly delay and reduce water evaporation, thus extending the hydration time of <em>S. caninervis</em> crusts. These differences in water utilization are a result of two aspects. More efficient dew use is attributable to LHPs increasing the surface roughness of the crusts. By reflecting light, forming internal capillaries, and reducing gaps between individuals, LHPs are able to reduce rainfall evaporation. In conclusion, the existence of LHPs is favorable for the utilization of dew and rainfall by <em>S. caninervis</em> crusts, and increases the ability of these moss crusts to adapt to arid conditions.

Effects of leaf hair points of a desert moss on water retention and dew formation: implications for desiccation tolerance

Leaf hair points (LHPs) are important morphological structures in many desiccation-tolerant mosses, but study of their functions has been limited. A desert moss, Syntrichia caninervis, was chosen for examination of the ecological effects of LHPs on water retention and dew formation at individual and population (patch) levels. Although LHPs were only 4.77% of shoot weight, they were able to increase absolute water content (AWC) by 24.87%. The AWC of samples with LHPs was always greater than for those without LHPs during dehydration. The accumulative evaporation ratio (AER) showed an opposite trend. AWC, evaporation ratio and AER of shoots with LHPs took 20min longer to reach a completely dehydrated state than shoots without LHPs. At the population level, dew formation on moss crusts with LHPs was faster than on crusts without LHPs, and the former had higher daily and total dew amounts. LHPs were able to improve dew amounts on crusts by 10.26%. Following three simulated rainfall events (1, 3 and 6mm), AERs from crusts with LHPs were always lower than from crusts without LHPs. LHPs can therefore significantly delay and reduce evaporation. We confirm that LHPs are important desiccation-tolerant features of S. caninervis at both individual and population levels. LHPs greatly aid moss crusts in adapting to arid conditions.