Moss Specimens Research Articles

Looking back to move forward – Impact of historical moss specimens on modern systematics

Natural history collections reflect our desire to understand the living world. Each collection is unique based on how it was composed, who composed it, where the specimens originated from, and how it has been enriched. Natural history institutions preserve, curate and enhance their collections on an ongoing basis and they serve as a powerful scientific resource. Collections provide a window into past, present and future biodiversity via the information contained on and in specimens. They play a crucial role in the documentation,description and understanding of species themselves, with the specimens held in global collections forming the foundation for all taxonomic endeavours.

OF THE MOSS FLORA OF THE TERIBERKA AREA (KOLA PENINSULA, RUSSIA)

An annotated list of mosses was compiled for the Teriberka area in the tundra zone on the Kola Peninsula (Barents Sea coast, Murmansk Region, North-West Russia). The study area includes the environs of Teriberskaya Bay, lower reaches of the Teriberka and Orlovka Rivers, the Teriberka village and the Dolgiy Brook valley. We used the results of our two expeditions, data from the literature, and moss specimens collected in previous years by other researchers and deposited in KPABG herbarium. The list is made up of 164 moss species, of wich 74 are indicated for this area for the first time. The relatively low diversity can be explained by the geological features of the region, which is composed of granites and granitoids. Therefore, the complex of basiphyllic (calciphilous) species on the rocks is poor and many eutrophic mire mosses are absent. The halotolerant species complex includes Schistidium maritimum, Amblystegium serpens, Ptychostomum elegans, Tortula hoppeana, Sanionia uncinata, but such mosses as Hennediella heimii and Distichium hagenii were not detected in Teriberka, although they are known in more eastern coastal floras of the Kola Peninsula. Currently, 7 mosses of the Teriberka surroundings are listed in the regional Red Data Book (2014): Andreaea alpina, A. blyttii, Buxbaumia aphylla, Dicranum leioneuron, A. crassinervia, Cynodontium suecicum, Rhabdoweisia fugax. For the latter three species new locations have been found. A. blyttii and B. aphylla are novel for this area. The Teriberka Nature Park was found to harbor 113 moss species. The Park, however, does not fully protect rare mossеs because most of their locations are situated outside of it.

MHA Herbarium: Collections of mosses from Yana-Indigirka Region, Yakutia, Russia.

BackgroundThe Skvortsov Herbarium of the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden, Russian Academy of Sciences (MHA) in the 1945-1980s dealt with vascular plants and only scattered occasional collections of bryophytes and lichens were accumulated there without special arrangement. Since the late 1980s, the bryophyte studies in the MHA Herbarium became permanent and several projects were started since then, including the currently conducted “Moss Flora of Russia”. There are many white spots on the map of bryophyte exploration of Russia, but one of the most conspicuous was Yakutia, the largest administrative unit of Russia, covering 3,081,000 km2. Yana-Indigirka Region, originally defined as a floristic region, includes Verkhoyansky Range and some smaller adjacent mountain areas. It is the largest amongst the bryofloristic regions in Russia, but exploration of its territory, which is difficult to access, remains far from complete.New informationSeveral expeditions of the Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Main Botanical Garden, Russian Academy of Sciences in 2000-2018 yielded in many bryophyte specimens, partly published in a number of papers. This dataset comprehensively represents the diversity of mosses of the Region. It includes 7,738 records of moss specimens preserved in the MHA Herbarium.

The Mosses of Ankara University Beşevler 10. Yıl Campus Area (Ankara-Turkey)

The present study is based on moss specimens collected from several urban habitats in Ankara University Beşevler 10. Yıl Campus in the year 2019. As a result of identifications of 94 bryophyte specimens collected from the campus area, a total of 28 species belonging to 7 families and 17 genera were determined. Six of them are new record for B7 grid-square. Pottiaceae (9 species) and Orthotrichaceae (6 species) are the two largest families in the campus area.

Contributions to The Moss Flora of Muş and Hakkari Provinces in Turkey

Bu çalışmanın amacı; öncelikle Muş ve Hakkari illerinin karayosunu floralarına ve ayrıca Türkiye karayosunu florasına katkı sağlamaktır. Karayosunu örnekleri 2019 yılı Nisan, Temmuz ve Eylül ayları içerisinde Türkiye'nin güneydoğu bölgesindeki Hakkari ilinin Çukurca ve Derecik ilçelerinden, ayrıca Türkiye'nin doğu bölgesindeki Muş ilinin Varto ve Merkez ilçelerinden toplanmıştır. Topladığımız karayosunu örneklerinin teşhis edilmesi sonucu, Henderson’un Türkiye Kareleme Sistemi’ne göre B9 (Muş) karesi için 3 ve C15 (Hakkâri) karesi için ise 9 taksonun yeni kare kaydı olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte, floristik listedeki tüm taksonlar, onlarla ilgili bütün literatürlerin gözden geçirilmesi sonucu belirlenen, Türkiye dağılımları ve Avrupa için IUCN kategorileri, yaşam formları ve bazı ekolojik özelliklerine (nemlilik, ışık ve asidite) ait bilgilerle birlikte sunulmuştur.

Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang, D.D.Li, Jing Yu & S.L.Guo, a new species from China based on molecular and morphological evidence

ABSTRACTIntroduction. During a field excursion in Guizhou Province, China, we collected some interesting moss specimens with branch leaves subulate in the upper part, partially and variably bistratose laminae, and a Macromitrium-like epiphytic growth habit on tree trunks. We present morphological and phylogenetic arguments for recognising these plants as a new moss species in the genus Macromitrium Brid. (Orthotrichaceae).Methods. We compared the morphology of the potential new species with closely related species of Macromitrium, and constructed a phylogenetic tree based on ITS2, trnL and trnG including sampling from 14 other morphologically similar species of Macromitrium.Key results. The proposed new species belongs to the genus Macromitrium (Orthotrichaceae, Musci). It is closely related to M. gymnostomum Sull. & Lesq. in the phylogenetic tree and according to gametophytic morphological features, represents a hitherto undescribed species.Conclusions. A new moss species, Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang, D.D.Li, Jing Yu & S.L.Guo, is described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following features of the branch leaves: (1) oblong-lanceolate, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to an easily broken subula; (2) rather obscure upper and medial cells, often with blackish stains among cells, densely pluripapillose; (3) variably and partially bistratose laminae in the upper 1/3 portion; (4) basal cells clear, hyaline and smooth, those near costae forming a ‘cancellina region’; and (5) with numerous brownish, clavate gemmae on upper portion. We also discuss the principal distinctive characters separating the new species from its nearest congeners.

Diversity of mosses in Mt. Makiling forest reserve, Philippines

Abstract. Alcala AA. 2019. Diversity of mosses in Mt. Makiling forest reserve, Philippines. Biodiversitas 20: 1729-1734. One of the essential parts of ecosystem diversity are the mosses. The study aimed to compare the diversity of mosses along altitudinal gradients in the Makiling and Sipit trails of the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR). Sampling plots were established every 100 m. asl elevation. Moss specimens were collected inside a 100m2 plot and re-examined under dissecting and compound microscope. A total of 77 moss species were identified in all plots established in which 43 and 48 species from Makiling and Sipit trail, respectively. Low species richness in lower elevation can be explained by higher degree of disturbances compared in higher elevation. Furthermore, species richness, diversity and abundance increase with increasing elevation. In contrast, higher temperature decreases species richness, abundance and diversity. In general, moss diversity is positively affected by increasing elevation in both trails. This is also supported by correlation analysis on moss species composition for the two sampling sites while sudden decreases in diversity in sampling plots located at 600 m. asl and 900 m. asl (Sipit Trail) and 800 m. asl and 1,000 m. asl (Makiling Trail) could simply be due to the presence of canopy gaps or disturbances in the site. Results implied that mosses used as indicators for impacts of climate change due to their sensitivity to environmental changes.

Spatial structures of heavy metals and nitrogen accumulation in moss specimens sampled between 1990 and 2015 throughout Germany

BackgroundThe collection of atmospheric deposition by technical samplers and validated deposition modelling using chemical transport models is spatially complemented by using mosses as bioindicator: since 1990, the European moss survey has been providing data on element concentrations in moss every 5 years at up to 7300 sampling sites. In the moss specimens, heavy metals (since 1990), nitrogen (since 2005) and persistent organic pollutants (since 2010) were determined. Germany participated in all surveys with the exception of that in 2010. In this study, the spatial structures of element concentrations in moss collected in Germany between 1990 and 2015 were comparatively investigated by using Moran’s I statistics and Variogram analysis and mapped by use of Kriging interpolation. This is the precondition to spatially join the moss survey data with data collected at other locations within different environmental networks and to validate spatial patterns of atmospheric deposition as derived by technical sampling and modelling.ResultsThe calculated maps reveal a clear and statistically significant decrease of most heavy metals, but not of nitrogen, in moss. Due to decreasing element concentrations and the unchanged application of the element concentration classification for the mapping, the heavy metal maps for the survey 2015 do no longer depict much spatial variation.ConclusionsTherefore, in an upcoming study, this analysis needs to be complemented for the heavy metals by calculating maps that depict the spatial structure of survey-specific percentile statistics 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2015.

ВИВЧЕННЯ РІЗНОМАНІТТЯ ВІРУСІВ БАКТЕРІЙ, ВИДІЛЕНИХ ІЗ БІОТОПІВ МОХУ ТА ҐРУНТУ АНТАРКТИЧНОГО РЕГІОНУ

Until now, there is a little number of scientifically investigated phages, in comparison to other biological representatives of the micro and macro world. Their properties are well studies only for a small number of so-called model bacteriophages. At the same time, the extraction of phages from ecosystems that function in low temperatures represents considerable scientific interest and has some methodological difficulties. The aim of the research was to study the diversity of viruses of bacteria isolated from the moss and soil of Antarctic plants. Methods: isolation of bacteriophages from moss and soil specimens, titration by the Gratia method, accumulation of phages in a liquid nutrient medium with forced aeration, electron microscopy, statistical methods. Results: The isolation of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) from moss and soil biotops has been carried out. The morphology of negative colonies and viral particles of obtained phage isolates is described. Start of the negative colonies formation was observed in 5–7 days, in others after 7–10 days. Their formation was completed after 10–12 days. The longest formation of negative colonies occurred precisely on strains of Antarctic bacterial cultures. Their taxonomic diversity is established. The detected viral particles were represented by different morphotypes, which are typical for the viruses of the families Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae of the Caudovirales order. Conclusions: isolates of phages to sensitive bacteria were extracted. A description of the diversity of bacteriophages has been made, which shows the taxonomic diversity of bacteriophages in the terrestrial biotopes of the islands of the Argentine archipelago and collection according to their characteristics was created.

Mapping percentile statistics of element concentrations in moss specimens collected from 1990 to 2015 in forests throughout Germany

Monitoring and mapping of atmospheric deposition can be achieved by use of chemical transport models, technical sampling devices and/or bio-accumulators such as mosses, lichens, etc. Within the European Moss Survey programme, since 1990 every 5 years mos specimens have been collected and analysed for heavy metals, nitrogen and persistent organic pollutants according a harmonised methodology. Calculation and geostatistical mapping of percentile statistics of element concentration in moss is in the focus of this paper. Thereby, element- and survey-specific as well as heavy metals and surveys integrating statistical evaluations and GIS-mapping were performed. Cr, Sb and Zn show contrary to Fe and Pb, no constant decrease of element concentrations, but an intermediate increase between 2000 and 2005, which did not continue until 2015. Cd, Hg, Pb and N which are of priority according to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution are in focus in this paper. Additionally, Cr is regarded as representing those elements with an intermediate increase between the years 2000 and 2005 as is also true for Sb and Zn. Surveys integrating percentile statistics depict the spatial patterns of, in most cases, declining element concentrations across time. Survey-specific statistical analyses corroborate that the spatial patterns of element concentrations in moss are changing element-specifically across time. The long-term information on the percentile statistics of bioaccumulation of atmospheric deposition in moss is essential for further scientific evaluation as well as for measurements and reporting of nature protection and environmental management.

Site-specific investigation and spatial modeling of canopy drip effect on element concentrations in moss.

In this study, the canopy drip effect on the exposure of forests to atmospheric deposition of potentially toxic metals and nitrogen (N) and element accumulation was investigated. Thereby, the respective element concentrations of metals and N in moss specimens were investigated by example of North-Western Germany. To this end, on the one hand, the concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Ni, Sb, V, Zn, and N in mosses sampled under, outside, and at the edge of forest canopies were examined for statistical significant differences. On the other hand, vegetation structures parameterizing the canopy drip effect were quantified by use of information collected, in addition to the element data, at each moss sampling site. The statistical relations between ratios of vegetation parameters and ratios of element concentrations were modeled by regression analysis, and the respective element concentration in moss was geostatistically estimated and mapped for unsampled locations throughout Germany. This article tackles regression models with R2 > 0.5 (Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, and N) to adapt the element concentrations measured at the 400 sites of the European Moss Survey (EMS) to three different features of hypothetical vegetation structures. To this end, the continuum of vegetation structures were represented as follows: open land (meadows) described by a leaf area index (LAI) value of 2.96 and under canopy sites in coniferous forests represented by a LAI value of 11. The arithmetic mean of LAI values at 400 EMS sites throughout Germany amounts to 5.1. The element concentrations for these target LAIs representing three site categories were calculated and mapped. Then, these LAI-dependent element concentration maps were compared with the maps depicting the spatial patterns of "pure" element concentrations. Spatial differences were evaluated and supposed to be of great value for the validation of atmospheric deposition modeling.

The Moss (Bryophyta) Flora of Karasu District (Sakarya/Turkey)

In this study, 180 moss specimens collected from the Karasu (Sakarya) district, were identified and a total of 36 taxa belonging to 12 families and 24 genera were determined. While, Pottiaceae is the richest family in terms of the number of taxa (11-%30,5), Brachytheciaceae has the second order (7 -%19,4) and Polytrichaceae has the third order (4-%11,3).

Molecular phylogeny of Plagiothecium and similar hypnalean mosses, with a revised sectional classification of Plagiothecium.

We investigated the systematic relationships within the pleurocarpous moss genus Plagiothecium, based on cladistic analyses of sequence data from one nuclear (ITS) and two plastid (trnK-psbA (matK) and rpl16 intron) DNA regions for 110 specimens of Plagiothecium and similar hypnalean mosses. Plastid and nuclear trees were mostly similar, but differed in the placement of several species of Plagiothecium, and in the relationships among other genera. The phylogenetic hypotheses based on plastid markers were well resolved; in contrast, nuclear data were insufficient to resolve some of the lowest-level relationships within the genus. In the main Plagiothecium is natural, includes more taxa than are often recognized, and is most closely related to Isopterygiopsis and Herzogiella. Nine sections are recognized within Plagiothecium, four new: SectionPseudo-Neckera to accommodate P.neckeroideum and its allies, SectionOrtholimnobium for P.handelii and P.paleaceum, SectionStruckia for P.argentatum and P.enerve, and SectionRectithecium for P.piliferum. The geographical distribution of the sections suggests that Plagiothecium originated in Asia. The derived, mainly autoicous sections Plagiothecium and Leptophyllum may have spread to the Southern Hemisphere through long distance dispersal. Three new species in section Leptophyllum (P.funale, P.pacificum and P.rhizolucidum) and two new taxa in section Pseudo-Neckera (P.decoratum and P.neckeroideum fo. exile) are described. A limited phylogenetic hypothesis for the superficially similar hypnalean genus Taxiphyllum, which was used as outgroup, is included. A related genus (Longiella) is described, with a single species (L.plagiothecioides). The aquarium species T.barbieri is transferred to Ectropothecium.

Orthotrichaceous Mosses (Orthotricheae, Orthotrichaceae) of the GeneraLewinskya,Nyholmiella,Orthotrichum,PulvigeraandUlotaContributions to the Bryophyte Flora of Georgia 1

Abstract A collection made by Hans-Joachim Zundorf between 2004 and 2014 in Georgia was studied, comprising 383 specimens of orthotrichaceous mosses from 105 different localities. The study yielded a total 27 species in this group: seven species of Lewinskya, two of Nyholmiella, 13 of Orthotrichum, one of Pulvigera as well as four species of Ulota. Ten species are new records for the bryophyte flora of Georgia: Lewinskya sordida, L. vladikavkana, Nyholmiella gymnostoma, Orthotrichum consobrinum, O. hispanicum, O. patens, O. philibertii, O. stellatum, Ulota coarctata and U. intermedia. Our records of Orthotrichum hispanicum, O. stellatum and Ulota intermedia are also the first for the wider Caucasus region. The number of known species of the tribe Orhotricheae in Georgia has thus been raised to 30. The diversity of species in this group is very similar to the neighboring region of NE Turkey. The high number of species encountered during the study reveals Georgia as a very important area for Orthotrichaceae.

Moss diversity associated with several micro-habitats at high elevations in the northern West Virginia mountains.

Moss specimens were collected within microhabitats from three sites within the northern West Virginia Mountains: western edge of the Dolly Sods National Wilderness, Canaan Valley, and Canaan Mountain. The microhabitats that were evaluated included sandstone rocks in full sun and rocks that were shaded; sunny and shaded sphagnum bogs and swamps; sun exposed and shaded soil; and shaded logs. Mosses from the microhabitats were collected, identified to species, and voucher specimens were prepared for storage at Shawnee State University. The overall goal of this research is to determine which mosses are associated with the several microhabitats typical of the high elevations of the northern West Virginia mountains. To date, 46 moss species in 27 Families have been identified from the eight microhabitats investigated.

Type specimens of mosses located in the herbarium of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory (NICH) Part 1, species from Japan

Type specimens of mosses located in the herbarium of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory (NICH) Part 1, species from Japan

Modelling and mapping heavy metal and nitrogen concentrations in moss in 2010 throughout Europe by applying Random Forests models

ObjectiveThis study explores the statistical relations between the concentration of nine heavy metals (HM) (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn)), and nitrogen (N) in moss and potential explanatory variables (predictors) which were then used for mapping spatial patterns across Europe. Based on moss specimens collected in 2010 throughout Europe, the statistical relation between a set of potential predictors (such as the atmospheric deposition calculated by use of two chemical transport models (CTM), distance from emission sources, density of different land uses, population density, elevation, precipitation, clay content of soils) and concentrations of HMs and nitrogen (N) in moss (response variables) were evaluated by the use of Random Forests (RF) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Four spatial scales were regarded: Europe as a whole, ecological land classes covering Europe, single countries participating in the European Moss Survey (EMS), and moss species at sampling sites. Spatial patterns were estimated by applying a series of RF models on data on potential predictors covering Europe. Statistical values and resulting maps were used to investigate to what extent the models are specific for countries, units of the Ecological Land Classification of Europe (ELCE), and moss species. ResultsLand use, atmospheric deposition and distance to technical emission sources mainly influence the element concentration in moss. The explanatory power of calculated RF models varies according to elements measured in moss specimens, country, ecological land class, and moss species. Measured and predicted medians of element concentrations agree fairly well while minima and maxima show considerable differences. The European maps derived from the RF models provide smoothed surfaces of element concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, N, Ni, Pb, Hg, V, Zn), each explained by a multivariate RF model and verified by CART, and thereby more information than the dot maps depicting the spatial patterns of measured values. ConclusionsRF is an eligible method identifying and ranking boundary conditions of element concentrations in moss and related mapping including the influence of the environmental factors.

Reorganisation of a long-term monitoring network using moss as biomonitor for atmospheric deposition in Germany

The determination of atmospheric deposition in forests can be accomplished using technical sampling devices (bulk samplers, wet only samplers), biomonitors or modelling. In Europe, since 1990 moss sampled every five years at up to 7300 places in up to 35 countries was used as biomonitor. In the moss specimens, heavy metals (HM), nitrogen (N, since 2005) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs, since 2010) were determined. Germany participated in all surveys with the exception of that in 2010. For the moss survey 2015, the biomonitoring network applied in the 2005 campaign should be reorganized. To this end, a complex statistically based methodology including a decision support system was developed and implemented. Its application yielded a network with a reduction of sample points from 726 to 402. By use of the data collected in 2005 the performance of the reorganized network did not reveal significant loss of statistical validity.

First report of southern blight on Vesicularia vesicularis caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Florida

Vesicularia vesicularis, also known as vesicularia moss, belongs to the family Hypnaceae. Vesicularia moss thrives in a riparian habitat and is very common throughout the Everglades in south Florida. It is also grown in the ornamental plant trade where it is widely used in landscapes to accent rock gardens and waterfalls. During August 2015, a local nursery submitted a sample of V. vesicularis to the Florida Extension Plant Diagnostic Clinic in Homestead, Florida. The leaves and stem were covered with a white mat of mycelium and some sclerotia (Fig. 1). Symptomatic tissues were plated on acidified potato dextrose medium (APDA) and grown at 25°C. White mycelium and light to dark brown sclerotia of 1 to 2 mm diameter were observed in APDA (Fig. 2). Microscopic examination of the morphological characteristics revealed the presence of clamp connections. The fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii and identification of the fungus was confirmed by the amplification of the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA with the primers ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al., 4). The PCR product was sequenced and the resulting sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KX594831). A BLAST search in GenBank showed 98% nucleotide identity with an isolate of S. rolfsii (teleomorph Athelia rolfsii; KJ944396) causing sclerotium rot of Vinca rosea in South Korea. To further support identification, phylogenetic analysis by the Maximum Likelihood method (Tamura 3-parameter model) was performed (MEGA 7.07). In this phylogenetic analysis, the ITS sequences from S. rolfsii and S. delphinii strains formed three clusters. Cluster r-1 consisted of strains from both S. delphinii and S. rolfsii, cluster r-2 included only S. rolfsii strains, and cluster r-3 contained S. delphinii strains (Okabe & Matsumoto, 3). The S. rolfsii isolate from this study grouped in cluster r-1 with other S. delphinii and S. rolfsii strains (94% bootstrap values, 1000 replicates) (Fig. 3). Pathogenicity experiments were conducted using V. vesicularis distributed in five 10-cm diameter pots each inoculated on the surface with a mycelial plug of 2 mm taken from a seven-day-old APDA culture of S. rolfsii. The same treatment was performed using two non-inoculated controls and the experiment was repeated. The experiments were conducted in a shade house where the temperature ranged from 25 to 32°C. Five days post inoculation the moss developed chlorotic spots around the inoculated area. The spots enlarged within days and were covered with the white fanlike mycelia of S. rolfsii. No symptoms developed on the non-inoculated controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. rolfsii causing southern blight of V. vesicularis in Florida. Sclerotium rolfsii is an economically important pathogen causing southern blight affecting a wide host range of ornamental plants including orchids and tropical foliage (Alfieri et al., 1, Cating et al., 2). The authors would like to thank George Butler of Butler's Foliage for first bringing this disease to our attention and providing moss specimens for research.

The Moss Flora of Yeşilyurt and Battalgazi (Malatya/Turkey) District

In total 42 taxa, belonging to 11 families and 24 genera were determined by identifying moss specimens collecting the study area. From these taxa, 16 for Malatya province and 10 for B9 grid square according to the grid-square system of Henderson (1961) are new records. While the highest families in terms of number of taxa are Pottiaceae (12), Brachytheciaceae (7), Grimmiaceae (5), the largest genera are Syntrichia , Didymodon , Orthotrichum , Tortula and Grimmia (3). Also, the life forms of the taxa which were examined in terms of ecological and floristic have been analyzed. From life forms; while Turf life form ranks the first, Mr and Cu life forms ranks the second. The most of taxa within the floristic list are xerophyt, photophyt and subneutrophyt.