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Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Bryophytes
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Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Bryophytes

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2025 | Viewed by 3598

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marta Puglisi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, via A. Longo 19, I – 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: botany; species diversity; bryophytes; plant ecology; plant conservation; plant systematics; plant taxonomy; phytosociology; biomonitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bryophytes are the most diverse group of land plants after angiosperms. They are significant contributors to biodiversity in many temperate ecosystems and play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. Bryophytes can live in different and stressful environments and often show wide distributions, even if many species require specific environmental conditions at a local scale. However, the ranges of individual species are changing, some are expanding, and others are disappearing. Moreover, their suitable microhabitats deteriorate drastically due to habitat destruction or fragmentation, climate change and over-exploitation of water resources and, therefore, can be subject to risk of extinction; therefore, many species are considered threatened at global and/or regional scales.

This Special Issue is open to articles on bryophyte diversity and distribution, as well as on the conservation, recognizing and listing of rare and decreasing species, recording their distribution, biology and specific threats that lead to biodiversity loss.

Dr. Marta Puglisi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bryophytes
  • diversity
  • distribution
  • species distribution models
  • biodiversity loss
  • conservation
  • climate change
  • red list
  • invasion processes
  • extinction processes

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3992 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Bryo-Ecological Study of Habitat 3170*: Sites of Particular Phytogeographic Interest in the Mediterranean Area
by Silvia Poponessi, Daniela Gigante and Annalena Cogoni
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2113; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152113 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 687
Abstract
In accordance with the 92/43/EEC “Habitats” Directive, Mediterranean temporary ponds are identified as a priority natural habitat within the European context. They are a very interesting and unique habitat type, as ecological conditions can vary greatly in a short period of time. Due [...] Read more.
In accordance with the 92/43/EEC “Habitats” Directive, Mediterranean temporary ponds are identified as a priority natural habitat within the European context. They are a very interesting and unique habitat type, as ecological conditions can vary greatly in a short period of time. Due to their small size, many Mediterranean hydrophytic bryophytes typical of this habitat are often overlooked or misinterpreted. Their distribution, habitats, ecology, and strategies are generally poorly understood. Several of them are currently considered rare or endangered in the Mediterranean. As these ponds are particularly sensitive to human activities and natural changes, such bryophytes and associated vegetation communities may be at risk. This study is focused on their floristic variability in different environmental conditions in two sites of particular phytogeographic interest in the Mediterranean area. In the Sardinian Pauli of Giara, 56 taxa (50 Bryophyta and 6 Marchantiophyta) were found, and in the Umbria Piana di Ferretto, 54 taxa (34 Bryophyta and 20 Marchantiophyta) were documented. The taxa from the two areas were analysed and compared. Life strategies, life macroforms, light and moisture preferences, chorological elements, and moisture belts were considered. The data are presented here together with information on the phytogeography and ecology of the species recorded. The findings indicate that a bespoke monitoring strategy and dedicated conservation measures are essential for the effective protection of bryophytes, ensuring the achievement of meaningful and sustainable conservation outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Bryophytes)
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12 pages, 3620 KiB  
Article
Anthracene-Induced Alterations in Liverwort Architecture In Vitro: Potential for Bioindication of Environmental Pollution
by Maya Svriz, Cristian D. Torres, Lucas Mongiat, Elisabet Aranda, Nahuel Spinedi, Sebastian Fracchia and José Martín Scervino
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2060; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152060 - 26 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 659
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread globally, primarily due to long-term anthropogenic pollution sources. Since PAHs tend to accumulate in soil sediments, liverwort plants, such as Lunularia cruciata, are susceptible to their adverse effects, making them good models for bioindicators. The aim [...] Read more.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread globally, primarily due to long-term anthropogenic pollution sources. Since PAHs tend to accumulate in soil sediments, liverwort plants, such as Lunularia cruciata, are susceptible to their adverse effects, making them good models for bioindicators. The aim of this study was to probe the impact of anthracene, a three-ring linear PAH, on the growth parameters of L. cruciata and the relationship established with the internalization of the pollutant throughout the phenology of the plant. Intrinsic plant responses, isolated from external factors, were assessed in vitro. L. cruciata absorbed anthracene from the culture medium, and its bioaccumulation was monitored throughout the entire process, from the gemma germination stage to the development of the adult plant, over a total period of 60 days. Consequently, plants exposed to concentrations higher than 50 μM anthracene, decreased the growth area of the thallus, the biomass and number of tips. Moreover, anthracene also impinged on plant symmetry. This concentration represented the maximum limit of bioaccumulation in the tissues. This study provides the first evidence that architectural variables in liverwort plants are suitable parameters for their use as bioindicators of PAHs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Bryophytes)
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17 pages, 2223 KiB  
Article
Predicting the Threat Status of Mosses Using Functional Traits
by Sinan Gürlek, Ana Claudia Araújo and Neil Brummitt
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2019; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152019 - 23 Jul 2024
Viewed by 845
Abstract
Mosses are an early lineage of the plant kingdom, with around 13,000 species. Although an important part of biodiversity, providing crucial ecosystem services, many species are threatened with extinction. However, only circa 300 species have so far had their extinction risk evaluated globally [...] Read more.
Mosses are an early lineage of the plant kingdom, with around 13,000 species. Although an important part of biodiversity, providing crucial ecosystem services, many species are threatened with extinction. However, only circa 300 species have so far had their extinction risk evaluated globally for the IUCN Red List. Functional traits are known to help predict the extinction risk of species in other plant groups. In this study, a matrix of 15 functional traits was produced for 723 moss species from around the world to evaluate the potential of such predictability. Binary generalized linear models showed that monoicous species were more likely to be threatened than dioicous species, and the presence of a sporophyte (sexual reproduction), vegetative reproduction and an erect (straight) capsule instead of a pendent (immersed) one lowers the risk of species extinction. A longer capsule, seta and stem length, as well as broader substrate breadth, are indicative of species with a lower risk of extinction. The best-performing models fitted with few traits were able to predict extinction risks of species with good accuracy. These models applied to Data Deficient (DD) species proved how useful they may be to speed up the IUCN Red List assessment process while reducing the number of listed DD species, by selecting species most in need of a full, detailed assessment. Some traits tested in this study are a novelty in conservation research on mosses, opening new possibilities for future studies. The traits studied and the models presented here are a significant contribution to the knowledge of mosses at risk of extinction and will help to improve conservation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Bryophytes)
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12 pages, 980 KiB  
Article
Lineages of Fractal Genera Comprise the 88-Million-Year Steel Evolutionary Spine of the Ecosphere
by Richard H. Zander
Plants 2024, 13(11), 1559; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13111559 - 5 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 748
Abstract
Fractal evolution is apparently effective in selectively preserving environmentally resilient traits for more than 80 million years in Streptotrichaceae (Bryophyta). An analysis simulated maximum destruction of ancestral traits in that large lineage. The constraints enforced were the preservation of newest ancestral traits, and [...] Read more.
Fractal evolution is apparently effective in selectively preserving environmentally resilient traits for more than 80 million years in Streptotrichaceae (Bryophyta). An analysis simulated maximum destruction of ancestral traits in that large lineage. The constraints enforced were the preservation of newest ancestral traits, and all immediate descendant species obtained different new traits. Maximum character state changes in ancestral traits were 16 percent of all possible traits in any one sub-lineage, or 73 percent total of the entire lineage. Results showed, however, that only four ancestral traits were permanently eliminated in any one lineage or sub-lineage. A lineage maintains maximum biodiversity of temporally and regionally survival-effective traits at minimum expense to resilience across a geologic time of 88 million years for the group studied. Similar processes generating an extant punctuated equilibrium as bursts of about four descendants per genus and one genus per 1–2 epochs are possible in other living groups given similar emergent processes. The mechanism is considered complexity-related, the lineage being a self-organized emergent phenomenon strongly maintained in the ecosphere by natural selection on fractal genera. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Bryophytes)
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