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Bryophyte Biology
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Bryophyte Biology

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 22824

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marko Sabovljevic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
Interests: bryology; biology of bryophytes; ecology and physiology of bryophytes; bryophyte conservation; chemical constituents of bryophytes; medicinal bryophytes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite you to submit short communications, research, or review articles to a Special Issue of Plants entitled “Bryophyte Biology”.

Bryophytes, the second biggest group of terrestrial plants, receive quite a bit less attention compared to tracheophytes. Even though their ancestors were among the first land plants, we still have quite limited information on the biology of these fascinating organisms. The lack of knowledge is noticeable in any subarea of bryophyte science: taxonomy, ecology, physiology, biogeography, biochemistry, and molecular biology to applied sciences such as pharmacy, medicine, or bionics. With aim of the exchange of novel research achievements and modern views as well as of bringing bryophytes closer to a wider scientific audience, we launch this Special Issue named “Bryophyte Biology”.

Dr. Marko Sabovljevic
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mosses
  • liverworts
  • hornworts
  • bryology
  • bryophytes
  • bryophyta
  • seedless plants

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Published Papers (16 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 6573 KiB  
Article
Threshold Behavior Hidden in the Growth Response of Peat Moss Sphagnum riparium to Temperature
by Victor L. Mironov
Plants 2024, 13(22), 3241; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223241 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 269
Abstract
The balance between photosynthetic carbon accumulation and respiratory loss in plants varies depending on temperature. This leads to a situation where the increased need for carbon is not met when a certain temperature threshold is reached. Over the last two decades, temperature thresholds [...] Read more.
The balance between photosynthetic carbon accumulation and respiratory loss in plants varies depending on temperature. This leads to a situation where the increased need for carbon is not met when a certain temperature threshold is reached. Over the last two decades, temperature thresholds in carbon metabolism in autotrophic systems have been widely studied. However, it remains unclear how these thresholds manifest themselves in the natural growth of individual plant species. To address this issue, we used data from an extensive monitoring of the growth of peat moss Sphagnum riparium over 9 years in mires in Karelia (Russia). We measured the growth of shoots in sample plots and obtained 1609 estimates of growth rates during the monitoring period. Investigating the relationship between growth rate and temperature, we identified two distinct intervals in response to temperature. These two intervals are separated by the temperature threshold of 13.2 °C. The first interval, which covers 42% of the growing season, exhibits a strong exponential dependence of growth rate on temperature, with a coefficient Q10 = 4.01. This indicates that growth is most sensitive to changes in temperature within this range. In contrast, the second interval (58% of the growing season) shows a weaker dependence, with a Q10 coefficient of 1.21, suggesting that growth is less responsive to changes within this temperature range. The temperature threshold was found to be negatively related to May (r = −0.76; p = 0.018) and September (r = −0.78; p = 0.012) temperatures of the previous growing season, and together they best explain (r = −0.91; p = 0.0007) the temperature threshold. Overall, our findings suggest that the temperature threshold does exist in the growth of S. riparium and can be identified in different years. The negative correlation between temperature threshold and May and September temperatures from the previous year indicates that intervals in the growing season with temperatures near the temperature threshold have an impact on subsequent carbon balance and are particularly significant for the further growth and development of Sphagnum mosses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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12 pages, 1758 KiB  
Article
Environmental Pollutant Anthracene Induces ABA-Dependent Transgenerational Effects on Gemmae Dormancy in Marchantia polymorpha
by Juan I. Tolopka, Maya Svriz, Tamara M. Ledesma, Eugenia Lanari, José M. Scervino and Javier E. Moreno
Plants 2024, 13(21), 2979; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13212979 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 518
Abstract
Anthracene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) from fossil fuel combustion, poses significant environmental threats. This study investigates the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in the anthracene tolerance of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha using mutants deficient in ABA perception (Mppyl1) or biosynthesis (Mp [...] Read more.
Anthracene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) from fossil fuel combustion, poses significant environmental threats. This study investigates the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in the anthracene tolerance of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha using mutants deficient in ABA perception (Mppyl1) or biosynthesis (Mpaba1). In this study, we monitored the role of ABA in the anthracene tolerance response by tracking two ABA-controlled traits: plant growth inhibition and gemmae dormancy. We found that the anthracene-induced inhibition of plant growth is dose-dependent, similar to the growth-inhibiting effect of ABA, but independent of ABA pathways. However, gemmae dormancy was differentially affected by anthracene in ABA-deficient mutants. We found that gemmae from anthracene-exposed WT plants exhibited reduced germination compared to those from mock-treated plants. This suggests that the anthracene exposure of mother plants induces a transgenerational effect, resulting in prolonged dormancy in their asexual propagules. While Mppyl1 gemmae retained a dormancy delay when derived from anthracene-exposed thalli, the ABA biosynthesis mutant Mpaba1 did not display any significant dormancy delay as a consequence of anthracene exposure. These results, together with the strong induction of ABA marker genes upon anthracene treatment, imply that anthracene-induced germination inhibition relies on ABA synthesis in the mother plant, highlighting the critical role of MpABA1 in the tolerance response. These findings reveal a complex interplay between anthracene stress and ABA signaling, where anthracene triggers ABA-mediated responses, influencing reproductive success and highlighting the potential for leveraging genetic and hormonal pathways to enhance plant resilience in contaminated habitats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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15 pages, 966 KiB  
Article
Pigment Complex, Growth and Chemical Composition Traits of Boreal Sphagnum Mosses (Mire System “Ilasskoe”, North-West of European Russia)
by Anastasiya Shtang, Tamara Ponomareva and Alexandra Skryabina
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2478; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172478 - 4 Sep 2024
Viewed by 705
Abstract
Sphagnum mosses play a significant role in peat formation and carbon sequestration in mire ecosystems. It is critical to investigate the productivity and chemical composition of different Sphagnum species in order to assess their role in the global carbon cycle and potential in [...] Read more.
Sphagnum mosses play a significant role in peat formation and carbon sequestration in mire ecosystems. It is critical to investigate the productivity and chemical composition of different Sphagnum species in order to assess their role in the global carbon cycle and potential in light of climate change. The data on productivity and growth characteristics during the growing season, group chemical composition and elemental composition at the beginning and end of the growing season, as well as aspects of the pigment complex operation, were collected for four Sphagnum species: Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp., S. fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr., S. divinum Flatberg & K. Hassel, and S. squarrosum Crome. High cover density and productivity, low ability to decompose, and constancy of the pigment complex of S. fuscum reflect a high degree of adaptation to the specific conditions of ridges. A constant chemical composition of S. lindbergii during the growing season can be explained by stable conditions of hollows that allow it to maintain its metabolic processes, but the light conditions in hollows bring the reaction of the pigment apparatus of this species closer to shaded S. divinum and S. squarrosum. S. lindbergii and S. squarrosum contain more nitrogen than other species and have a greater ability to decompose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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24 pages, 6483 KiB  
Article
Applications of LIF to Document Natural Variability of Chlorophyll Content and Cu Uptake in Moss
by Kelly Truax, Henrietta Dulai, Anupam Misra, Wendy Kuhne, Celia Smith and Ciara Bongolan-Aquino
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2031; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152031 - 24 Jul 2024
Viewed by 675
Abstract
Chlorophyll has long been used as a natural indicator of plant health and photosynthetic efficiency. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is an emerging technique for understanding broad spectrum organic processes and has more recently been used to monitor chlorophyll response in plants. Previous work has [...] Read more.
Chlorophyll has long been used as a natural indicator of plant health and photosynthetic efficiency. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is an emerging technique for understanding broad spectrum organic processes and has more recently been used to monitor chlorophyll response in plants. Previous work has focused on developing a LIF technique for imaging moss mats to identify metal contamination with the current focus shifting toward application to moss fronds and aiding sample collection for chemical analysis. Two laser systems (CoCoBi a Nd:YGa pulsed laser system and Chl-SL with two blue continuous semiconductor diodes) were used to collect images of moss fronds exposed to increasing levels of Cu (1, 10, and 100 nmol/cm2) using a CMOS camera. The best methods for the preprocessing of images were conducted before the analysis of fluorescence signatures were compared to a control. The Chl-SL system performed better than the CoCoBi, with dynamic time warping (DTW) proving the most effective for image analysis. Manual thresholding to remove lower decimal code values improved the data distributions and proved whether using one or two fronds in an image was more advantageous. A higher DTW difference from the control correlated to lower chlorophyll a/b ratios and a higher metal content, indicating that LIF, with the aid of image processing, can be an effective technique for identifying Cu contamination shortly after an event. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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12 pages, 2576 KiB  
Article
Effects of the Salt Stress Duration and Intensity on Developmental and Physiological Features of the Moss Polytrichum formosum
by Marija V. Rajčić, Helena Šircelj, Nikolina A. Matić, Sara D. Pavkov, Silvia Poponessi, Tomislav B. Tosti, Aneta D. Sabovljević, Marko S. Sabovljević and Milorad M. Vujičić
Plants 2024, 13(11), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13111438 - 22 May 2024
Viewed by 1023
Abstract
The two accessions of the polytrichaceous moss species Polytrichum formosum, namely German and Serbian genotypes, were subjected to salt stress, aiming to study the species’ developmental and physiological features. Various concentrations of sodium chloride were applied to an axenic in vitro culture [...] Read more.
The two accessions of the polytrichaceous moss species Polytrichum formosum, namely German and Serbian genotypes, were subjected to salt stress, aiming to study the species’ developmental and physiological features. Various concentrations of sodium chloride were applied to an axenic in vitro culture of the two moss genotypes, and the growth parameters as well as physiological feature changes were followed. As inferred by the morpho-developmental parameters and survival index, the Serbian genotype showed higher resistance to salt stress as compared to the German one. However, both moss genotypes survived the highest applied concentration (500 mM). As expected, short exposures to salt were rather easily overcome. No clear patterns in sugar content and changes were observed during the stress, but they are surely included in salt stress response and tolerance in P. formosum. Longer stress increased total chlorophyll content in both genotypes. In short-term applied salt stress, the Serbian genotype had a higher total chlorophyll concentration to control unstressed plants, while the German genotype decreased the total amount of chlorophyll. Similarly, carotenoids were shown to be significantly higher in the Serbian genotype, both in unstressed and treated plants, compared to the German one. The contents of tocopherols were higher in the Serbian genotype in controlled unstressed and subsequently short- and long-stressed plantlets compared to the German accession. In general, we can assume that P. formosum is unexpectedly tolerant to salt stress and that there are differences within various accessions of overall European populations, as referred by two randomly selected genotypes, which is most probably a consequence of different genetic structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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15 pages, 4753 KiB  
Article
Variation in Water-Holding Capacity in Sphagnum Species Depends on Both Plant and Colony Structure
by Willem Q. M. van de Koot, James Msonda, Olga P. Olver, John H. Doonan and Candida Nibau
Plants 2024, 13(8), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13081061 - 9 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
Peatlands have become a focal point in climate mitigation strategies as these ecosystems have significant carbon sequestration capacities when healthy but release CO2 and other greenhouse gases when damaged. However, as drought episodes become more frequent and prolonged, organisms key to the [...] Read more.
Peatlands have become a focal point in climate mitigation strategies as these ecosystems have significant carbon sequestration capacities when healthy but release CO2 and other greenhouse gases when damaged. However, as drought episodes become more frequent and prolonged, organisms key to the functioning of some peatlands are increasingly under pressure from desiccation. The Sphagnum mosses, which tend to keep their ecosystem waterlogged and many of whom promote peat formation, are only mildly desiccation-tolerant in comparison to other mosses. The role of Sphagnum anatomy and colony structure is poorly understood in the context of desiccation resilience. Using four different Sphagnum species belonging to four different subgenera and positions along the gradient of the water table, we show that plant morphological traits and colony density are important determinants of water storage capacity. Our results show that, as previously postulated, the majority of the water is stored in an easily exchangeable form, probably extracellularly, and that plant morphological traits, specifically the type and presence of branches, are major contributors to water storage and can explain some of the interspecies variation. We also show that plant density is another important determinant for water storage capacity as higher densities hold larger quantities of water per unit of biomass for all four species, which increases resilience to desiccation. The results presented here suggest that species choice and planting density should receive more attention when considering peatland restoration strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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16 pages, 9265 KiB  
Article
Exploring Intraspecific Trait Variation in a Xerophytic Moss Species Indusiella thianschanica (Ptychomitriaceae) across Environmental Gradients on the Tibetan Plateau
by Xiaotong Song, Jiqi Gu, Yanhui Ye, Mengzhen Wang, Ruihong Wang, Heping Ma and Xiaoming Shao
Plants 2024, 13(7), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070921 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1112
Abstract
Investigating intraspecific trait variability is crucial for understanding plant adaptation to various environments, yet research on lithophytic mosses in extreme environments remains scarce. This study focuses on Indusiella thianschanica Broth. Hal., a unique lithophytic moss species in the extreme environments of the Tibetan [...] Read more.
Investigating intraspecific trait variability is crucial for understanding plant adaptation to various environments, yet research on lithophytic mosses in extreme environments remains scarce. This study focuses on Indusiella thianschanica Broth. Hal., a unique lithophytic moss species in the extreme environments of the Tibetan Plateau, aiming to uncover its adaptation and response mechanisms to environmental changes. Specimens were collected from 26 sites across elevations ranging from 3642 m to 5528 m, and the relationships between 23 morphological traits and 15 environmental factors were analyzed. Results indicated that coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 5.91% to 36.11%, with gametophyte height (GH) and basal cell transverse wall thickness (STW) showing the highest and lowest variations, respectively. Temperature, elevation, and potential evapo-transpiration (PET) emerged as primary environmental drivers. Leaf traits, especially those of the leaf sheath, exhibited a more pronounced response to the environment. The traits exhibited apparent covariation in response to environmental challenges and indicated flexible adaptive strategies. This study revealed the adaptation and response patterns of different morphological traits of I. thianschanica to environmental changes on the Tibetan Plateau, emphasizing the significant effect of temperature on trait variation. Our findings deepen the understanding of the ecology and adaptive strategies of lithophytic mosses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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15 pages, 2547 KiB  
Communication
Telomere Length Variation in Model Bryophytes
by Liia R. Valeeva, Anastasia V. Sannikova, Nadiya R. Shafigullina, Liliia R. Abdulkina, Margarita R. Sharipova and Eugene V. Shakirov
Plants 2024, 13(3), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13030387 - 28 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1695
Abstract
The ends of linear chromosomes of most eukaryotes consist of protein-bound DNA arrays called telomeres, which play essential roles in protecting genome integrity. Despite general evolutionary conservation in function, telomeric DNA is known to drastically vary in length and sequence between different eukaryotic [...] Read more.
The ends of linear chromosomes of most eukaryotes consist of protein-bound DNA arrays called telomeres, which play essential roles in protecting genome integrity. Despite general evolutionary conservation in function, telomeric DNA is known to drastically vary in length and sequence between different eukaryotic lineages. Bryophytes are a group of early diverging land plants that include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. This group of ancient land plants recently emerged as a new model for important discoveries in genomics and evolutionary biology, as well as for understanding plant adaptations to a terrestrial lifestyle. We measured telomere length in different ecotypes of model bryophyte species, including Physcomitrium patens, Marchantia polymorpha, Ceratodon purpureus, and in Sphagnum isolates. Our data indicate that all analyzed moss and liverwort genotypes have relatively short telomeres. Furthermore, all analyzed ecotypes and isolates of model mosses and liverworts display evidence of substantial natural variation in telomere length. Interestingly, telomere length also differs between male and female strains of the dioecious liverwort M. polymorpha and dioecious moss C. purpureus. Given that bryophytes are extraordinarily well adapted to different ecological niches from polar to tropical environments, our data will contribute to understanding the impact of natural telomere length variation on evolutionary adaptations in this ancient land plant lineage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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16 pages, 1222 KiB  
Article
Effects of Cesium on Physiological Traits of the Catherine’s Moss Atrichum undulatum Hedw.
by Jelena N. Stanojković, Marija V. Ćosić, Djordje P. Božović, Aneta D. Sabovljević, Marko S. Sabovljević, Ana A. Čučulović and Milorad M. Vujičić
Plants 2024, 13(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13010054 - 23 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1052
Abstract
Mosses are proven bioindicators of living environments. It is known that mosses accumulate pollutants from precipitates and, to some lesser extent, from the substrate. In this study, the effects of cesium (Cs) on the physiological traits of acrocarp polytrichaceous Catherine’s moss (Atrichum [...] Read more.
Mosses are proven bioindicators of living environments. It is known that mosses accumulate pollutants from precipitates and, to some lesser extent, from the substrate. In this study, the effects of cesium (Cs) on the physiological traits of acrocarp polytrichaceous Catherine’s moss (Atrichum undulatum Hedw.) were studied under controlled, in vitro conditions. Cesium can be found in the environment in a stable form (133Cs) and as a radioactive isotope (134Cs and 137Cs). Belonging to the same group of elements, Cs and potassium (K) share various similarities, due to which Cs can interfere with this essential element and thus possibly alter the plant’s metabolism. Results have shown that Cs affects the measured physiological characteristics of A. undulatum, although the changes to antioxidative enzyme activities were not drastic following Cs treatments. Therefore, the activities of antioxidative enzymes at lower pH values are more the consequence of pH effects on enzymatic conformation than simply the harmful effects of Cs. Moreover, Cs did not affect the survival of plants grown on the solid substrate nor plants grown in conditions of light and heavy rain simulation using Cs with variable pH, indicating that Cs is not harmful in this form for the studied species A. undulatum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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14 pages, 821 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, Lipid-Soluble Bioactive Compounds and Potential Health Benefits of the Moss Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw
by Zhana Petkova, Olga Teneva, Ginka Antova, Maria Angelova-Romova, Gana Gecheva and Ivanka Dimitrova-Dyulgerova
Plants 2023, 12(24), 4190; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12244190 - 18 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1885
Abstract
Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. is the main species for Moss surveys (ICP Vegetation programme) in Southeastern Europe and is widely distributed in the region. In addition to their biomonitoring role, mosses are applied in some countries as a traditional medicine for the treatment of [...] Read more.
Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. is the main species for Moss surveys (ICP Vegetation programme) in Southeastern Europe and is widely distributed in the region. In addition to their biomonitoring role, mosses are applied in some countries as a traditional medicine for the treatment of eczema, cuts, burns, eye diseases, etc. Therefore, the chemical and lipid composition of the moss H. cupressiforme is of interest to establish their possible application in different fields. The chemical composition of the moss was examined regarding total lipids, proteins, carbohydrates (i.e., fibres), ash, and moisture content. The main lipid-soluble bioactive components were determined as sterols, tocopherols, phospholipids and fatty acids. The major fatty acids were linoleic (14.9%), oleic (13.8%), palmitic (12.5%) and α-linolenic (11.3%) acids. Unsaturated fatty acids (56.4%) prevailed in the glyceride oil, in which the polyunsaturated ones constituted 32.5%. The lipid indices (atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio, peroxidability, and oxidation stability index) were also theoretically calculated based on the fatty acid composition of the moss lipids to establish their health benefits and the rate of oxidation. The primary results of this study revealed H. cupressiforme to be a promising alternative source of bioactive compounds that could be implemented in supplements with health-promoting effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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14 pages, 5008 KiB  
Article
Is a Combination of Metals More Toxic to Mosses Than a Single Metal?
by Luigi Schillaci, Nevena Djakovic and Ingeborg Lang
Plants 2023, 12(23), 3960; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12233960 - 24 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1222
Abstract
Increasing pollution in the environment calls for the precise determination of metal toxicity in plants as they are at the base of the food chain. Mosses are often employed as biomonitors and provide good models for testing metal adsorption. However, species may react [...] Read more.
Increasing pollution in the environment calls for the precise determination of metal toxicity in plants as they are at the base of the food chain. Mosses are often employed as biomonitors and provide good models for testing metal adsorption. However, species may react differently and many studies only look at one metal at a time, even though toxicity levels are affected by metal combinations. In this study, the effects of CuCl2, MnCl2, FeCl2, and Sb-acetate were examined individually and in combinations on the moss species Pohlia drummondii and Physcomitrium patens. In general, the two species reacted differently to the presence of trace metals; although, for both, the tolerance limit was at 100 µM. Overall, individual metals were less toxic than combinations, with some exceptions for Fe and Mn in P. patens. Additionally, we demonstrate that multiple combinations of metals are especially toxic if Cu is present. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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20 pages, 5108 KiB  
Article
Laser-Induced Fluorescence for Monitoring Environmental Contamination and Stress in the Moss Thuidium plicatile
by Kelly Truax, Henrietta Dulai, Anupam Misra, Wendy Kuhne, Peter Fuleky, Celia Smith and Milton Garces
Plants 2023, 12(17), 3124; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173124 - 30 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1414
Abstract
The ability to detect, measure, and locate the source of contaminants, especially heavy metals and radionuclides, is of ongoing interest. A common tool for contaminant identification and bioremediation is vegetation that can accumulate and indicate recent and historic pollution. However, large-scale sampling can [...] Read more.
The ability to detect, measure, and locate the source of contaminants, especially heavy metals and radionuclides, is of ongoing interest. A common tool for contaminant identification and bioremediation is vegetation that can accumulate and indicate recent and historic pollution. However, large-scale sampling can be costly and labor-intensive. Hence, non-invasive in-situ techniques such as laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) are becoming useful and effective ways to observe the health of plants through the excitation of organic molecules, e.g., chlorophyll. The technique presented utilizes images collected of LIF in moss to identify different metals and environmental stressors. Analysis through image processing of LIF response was key to identifying Cu, Zn, Pb, and a mixture of the metals at nmol/cm2 levels. Specifically, the RGB values from each image were used to create density histograms of each color channel’s relative pixel abundance at each decimal code value. These histograms were then used to compare color shifts linked to the successful identification of contaminated moss samples. Photoperiod and extraneous environmental stressors had minimal impact on the histogram color shift compared to metals and presented with a response that differentiated them from metal contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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22 pages, 13315 KiB  
Article
The Bryophyte Flora of Vienna
by Harald G. Zechmeister and Michaela Kropik
Plants 2023, 12(16), 3002; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12163002 - 20 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1763
Abstract
The bryophyte flora of Vienna is documented only in parts. Old finds often appeared in publications about Lower Austria; only one study addressed the bryophytes of the inner city. Here, we present a bryophyte flora of Vienna, including historical reports and the results [...] Read more.
The bryophyte flora of Vienna is documented only in parts. Old finds often appeared in publications about Lower Austria; only one study addressed the bryophytes of the inner city. Here, we present a bryophyte flora of Vienna, including historical reports and the results of recent investigations. From 1998 to 2023, we recorded 329 bryophyte taxa in Viennese urban territory. Fifty-six of these were liverworts, and 273 were mosses. Sixty-seven taxa are new for Vienna. Forty-nine taxa, given in historical studies, could no longer be found. If we also count these, 378 taxa occurred in Vienna to date. Of the current occurring bryophytes, 67 species have an endangerment classification. Rich in bryophytes were the dry grasslands of the Lobau, the oxbow lakes of the Lobau and the Prater, and large parts of the Wienerwald. But flat roofs and inner-city areas also showed more than 100 species. Compared to other European cities, Vienna is decidedly species-rich and highly responsible for some species in Austria. Reasons for this are the extensive green spaces and the pronounced climatic gradient from the sub-oceanic west to the sub-continental east of Vienna. Awareness raising for bryophytes we recommend in addition to the existing biotope protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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13 pages, 2969 KiB  
Article
New Finds and Ecology of the Rare Liverworts Scapania apiculata, Scapania carinthiaca, and Scapania scapanioides in Austria
by Michaela Kropik and Harald G. Zechmeister
Plants 2023, 12(15), 2753; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12152753 - 25 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1112
Abstract
Scapania apiculata, Scapania carinthiaca, and Scapania scapanioides are rare deadwood-dwelling liverworts threatened across Europe. Scapania carinthiaca is thus listed in the Habitats Directive. However, their distribution data are scattered, and their ecologic demands are insufficiently studied. Here, we present new locations [...] Read more.
Scapania apiculata, Scapania carinthiaca, and Scapania scapanioides are rare deadwood-dwelling liverworts threatened across Europe. Scapania carinthiaca is thus listed in the Habitats Directive. However, their distribution data are scattered, and their ecologic demands are insufficiently studied. Here, we present new locations and data on the ecology of the species, which resulted from a targeted search in selected regions of Austria. We found ten new sites each for Scapania apiculata and Scapania scapanioides and twenty for Scapania carinthiaca. Reproduction was exclusively asexual. The macroclimates of all known locations in Austria did not differ significantly between the three species. It was consistently wet, with a mean annual precipitation of 1615.3 mm, a high evenness of rainfall, and a low desiccation risk. The mean temperature averaged 7.4 °C. The habitat was shaded dead wood of Picea abies, Abies alba, and Fagus sylvatica of all decay stages at a median distance of 2.5 m from streams or springy areas in semi-natural forests of montane and submontane regions. Thus, high deadwood volumes under a suitable climate are a prerequisite for the occurrences of the species. The number of locations of new finds has more than doubled in Austria and thus in Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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18 pages, 2825 KiB  
Article
An Insight into the Biology of the Rare and Peculiar Moss Pterygoneurum sibiricum (Pottiaceae): A Conservation Physiology Approach
by Bojana Z. Jadranin, Marija V. Ćosić, Djordje P. Božović, Milorad M. Vujičić, Michael S. Ignatov, Elena A. Ignatova, Aneta D. Sabovljević and Marko S. Sabovljević
Plants 2023, 12(6), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061359 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1797
Abstract
The biological features of the recently described peculiar and rare pottioid moss species Pterygoneurum sibiricum have been studied. A conservation physiology approach through in vitro axenic establishment and laboratory-controlled tests was applied to learn more about its development, physiology, and ecology. Additionally, ex [...] Read more.
The biological features of the recently described peculiar and rare pottioid moss species Pterygoneurum sibiricum have been studied. A conservation physiology approach through in vitro axenic establishment and laboratory-controlled tests was applied to learn more about its development, physiology, and ecology. Additionally, ex situ collection for this species was established, and a micropropagation methodology was developed. The results obtained clearly document its reaction to salt stress in contrast to its sibling bryo-halophyte species P. kozlovii. The reaction to exogenously applied plant growth regulators, auxin and cytokinin, can be used in the different moss propagation phases of this species or for target structure production and development. Inference to the poorly known ecology of this species should also help in recent species records, and thus improve knowledge about its distribution and conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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14 pages, 4425 KiB  
Article
Host Tree and Geography Induce Metabolic Shifts in the Epiphytic Liverwort Radula complanata
by Kaitlyn L. Blatt-Janmaat, Steffen Neumann, Jörg Ziegler and Kristian Peters
Plants 2023, 12(3), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030571 - 27 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1607
Abstract
Bryophytes are prolific producers of unique, specialized metabolites that are not found in other plants. As many of these unique natural products are potentially interesting, for example, pharmacological use, variations in the production regarding ecological or environmental conditions have not often been investigated. [...] Read more.
Bryophytes are prolific producers of unique, specialized metabolites that are not found in other plants. As many of these unique natural products are potentially interesting, for example, pharmacological use, variations in the production regarding ecological or environmental conditions have not often been investigated. Here, we investigate metabolic shifts in the epiphytic Radula complanata L. (Dumort) with regard to different environmental conditions and the type of phorophyte (host tree). Plant material was harvested from three different locations in Sweden, Germany, and Canada and subjected to untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass-spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS) and data-dependent acquisition (DDA-MS). Using multivariate statistics, variable selection methods, in silico compound identification, and compound classification, a large amount of variation (39%) in the metabolite profiles was attributed to the type of host tree and 25% to differences in environmental conditions. We identified 55 compounds to vary significantly depending on the host tree (36 on the family level) and 23 compounds to characterize R. complanata in different environments. Taken together, we found metabolic shifts mainly in primary metabolites that were associated with the drought response to different humidity levels. The metabolic shifts were highly specific to the host tree, including mostly specialized metabolites suggesting high levels of ecological interaction. As R. complanata is a widely distributed generalist species, we found it to flexibly adapt its metabolome according to different conditions. We found metabolic composition to also mirror the constitution of the habitat, which makes it interesting for conservation measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bryophyte Biology)
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