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Sciaromiopsis comprises a single species, S. sinensis, endemic to China. The genus is currently placed in the Amblystegiaceae, solely on the basis of gametophytic characters since its sporophytes are unknown. As a semiaquatic plant, the character of a strong leaf costa and marginal borders can aid S. sinensis to adapt drought as while as aquatic conditions. In this study, the phylogenetic position of Sciaromiopsis was revisited based on morphological and molecular phylogentic evidences of three datasets, the plastid rps4 dataset with 346 mosses species, the ITS dataset with 104 moss species and 82 plastid protein-coding gene dataset with 32 moss species. According to the morphological characters of gametophyte, the stable pattern of pseudoparaphyllia, leaf cells smooth and single costa of Sciaromiopsis are consistent with key characteristics of the Brachytheciaceae, the ovate-lanceolate leaves, differentiated alar cells and rhomboidal median leaf cells are consistent with key characteristics of the Brachythecium. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of both datasets of the rps4 gene and the 82 plastid protein-coding genes clearly indicated that Sciaromiopsis is a member of Brachytheciaceae. Sciaromiopsis sinensis is either clustered in a well supported clade among species of Brachythecium, Koponeniella and Myuroclada in the rps4 tree, or strongly supported as the sister to Brachythecium rivulare in plastid 82 gene tree. Maximum likelihood analysis of the nuclear ITS locus suggested that S. sinensis is nested within Brachythecium with moderate support. Thus, S. sinensis should be considered as a member of the Brachythecium, the diagnostic character of its leaf margin bordered by 5–8 rows of linear cells making it an easy distinction from other species of Brachythecium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachythecium Schimp. is one of the most complex and diverse genus among the pleurocarpous mosses, having almost 150 species distributed around the world. The current study presents a detailed morphological analysis of the six species of the genus Brachythecium in Western Himalayas, Pakistan. The study reports the first detailed micromorphological investigation of the leaf surfaces (gametophyte) of the studied species because in pleurocarpous mosses, mostly sporophyte micromorphology has been studied. The objective of the study was to present a comparative light (LM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis to describe the detailed morphology of bryophytes in Pakistan. A systematic method was used in the field as well as in their microscopic studies. Based on these findings, morphological and micromorphological features based on LM and SEM observations, qualitative and quantitative characters, taxonomic keys, distribution and habitat are discussed. The size of the leaf, leaf cells, seta, and other parts were noted, but slight variation was observed when we compare these measurements with the same species collected from different geographical regions. The leaf micromorphology reveals some interesting features like the nature of cell walls, cell shapes, and the surface of the lumen. Because the specimens used for SEM were air-dried, the cells were mostly constricted and compressed. In almost all species except in Brachythecium garovaglioides, the papillae or cell wall ornamentations were absent. The study will help to contribute to the taxonomy of this genus or its family, especially in relation to the Western Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assessed the antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Brachythecium populeum (Hedw.) Bruch, Schimp. & W.Gümbel (Brachytheciaceae) extracts using two different extracting methods. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of seven solvent extracts of Brachythecium populeum was examined against six species of bacteria and seven species of fungi by using well diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts of acetone and C was determined. Extract C has the highest effect against E. faecalis (13 mm), B. subtilis and S. aureus (12 mm). The inhibition zone was showed by acetone extract against E. faecalis (13 mm), P. aeruginosa (10 mm) and B. subtilis (9 mm). Furthermore, all extracts exhibited different activities on P. aeruginosa. The MIC ranges acetone and C extracts against bacterial strains were from 93.8-375 μg/mL. Cytotoxic activities of extracts of acetone, A and C of B. populeum (0.17, 1.7, 17, 85 and 170 μg/mL) were tested against rat glioma cells by using MTT assay, after 24 and 48 h. Extracts of acetone, A and C showed a moderate toxicity, however high concentrations of extract A significantly decreased the survival of glioma cells in 48 h. The study confirms the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of B. populeum, extracted using various solvents. It is suggested that the active substances to be obtained by using different solvents from B. populeum may be the active substances of various drugs in the future. Further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instrumental neutron activation analysis is used to determine a content of 47 elements (Na, Mg, Al, CI, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, I, Ba, Cs, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Та, W, Au, Hg, Th, and U) in mosses (Homolothecium sp., Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., and Brachythecium mildeanum (Schimp.) Schimp.) and lichen (Cladonia fimbriata (L.) Fr.) collected in three locations in Eastern Serbia over years 2006-2010. Concentrations of six elements (Zr, Nd, Gd, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in mosses in Serbia are measured for the first time. For other elements, the obtained concentrations fall witibin the ranges reported for mosses and lichens in Europe, but no declining trend in concentrations ofV, Cd, Cr, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Cu, that has been described in the literature, can be inferred from our results. Factor analysis shows that terrigenous and industrial components are the highest contributing factors to the elemental composition and that the most polluted measurement site is in the vicinity of a copper mining and smelting complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying animal space use patterns can help increase our understating of ecological processes such as competition and community dynamics. To quantify space and habitat use in an isolated and patchy cloud forest community in Mexico, we evaluate the vertical stratification, home range and habitat selection of two arboreal rodents: Habromys schmidlyi and Reithrodontomys microdon. Using live-traps at ground level and different forest strata, we radio-equipped nine individuals of H. schmidlyi and seven of R. microdon, and evaluated fine-scale space use and broad-scale habitat selection between cloud forest and oak forest. We found an average home range of 0.24 ha for R. microdon males and 0.72 ha for females, with a preference for higher canopy in the cloud forest. For H. schmidlyi the home range was 0.83 ha for males and 0.29 ha for females, with a preference for the understory level in the cloud forest. Home range is three-dimensional for these rodents, so we estimate that on average, individuals of both species used eight trees in the time they were tracked. We characterised the vegetation at the trap sites, and used recursive partitioning to relate the presence of different plants with the probability of finding these two species and Peromyscus aztecus, a third rodent species also present in the area and considered in our analysis of habitat use. The highest probability of finding R. microdon (96%) was related to the presence of Brachythecium occidentale and Renauldia mexicana, while H. schmidlyi (95%) was found in close proximity to Fabronia ciliaris and Everniastrum. We highlight the importance of arboreal trapping in biodiversity assessments, and the role of arboreal rodents in maintaining tropical forest ecosystems. We suggest that these rodent species could avoid or reduce competition by using the vertical strata differentially, and that H. schmidlyi and R. microdon can be biological indicators for cloud forest management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on topics related to Brachythecium rutabulum, a medicinal moss, including its historical descriptions, its habitat, and the moss species.

In this paper we provide new bryophyte reports for Macaronesia as a whole, for single archipelagos, and for single islands. New to Macaronesia are Aneura pseudopinguis, Didymodon brachyphyllus, Diplophyllum obtusifolium, Distichium capillaceum, and Schizymenium pontevedrense. First archipelago reports concern Brachythecium albicans (Canary Islands), Bryum dichotomum (Cape Verde), B. kunzei(Canary Islands), Homalothecium aureum (Cape Verde), Hydrogonium boUeamim (Madeira), Isopterygiopsis pukheUa (Canary Islands), P oh lia cruda (Madeira), Pterygoneurum ovatum (Canary Islands), Schistidium flaccidum (Madeira), and Tortellafasciculata (Madeira). First single island reports are given for 42 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial genome of the pleurocarpous moss Brachythecium rivulare has been sequenced and annotated. The genome consists of 104,460 base pairs and has approximately the same gene set and organization as other bryophyte mitogenomes. Whole mitochondrial genome comparison between B. rivulare and Physcomitrella patens, Tetraphis pellucida, Anomodon rugelii, and Anomodon attenuatus was performed. The primary cause of bryophyte mitochondrial gene length variation was found to be numerous indels in the introns. Bryophyte mitochondrial gene conservation level was estimated, and it was in a good congruence with the overall phylogeny of bryophytes with the percentage of mitogenome similarity being proportional to the age estimated by phylochronologic analysis. Annotation discrepancies in the analyzed mitogenome sequences were identified. The simple sequence repeat (SSR) content was evaluated, and candidate sites of RNA editing were predicted in the B. rivulare mitochondrial genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on national and regional bryophytes which involves plant species. It mentions that Brachythecium rutabulum is a bipolar species with some intermediate stations in tropical mountains in the Americas, East Africa and in the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It states that Bucklandiella chlorocarpa is a rheophytic moss growing on rocks, often submerged, in stream beds and cascades with quickly flowing water.

The article focuses on the dehydration-induced responses of primary photosynthetic processes and spectral reflectance in two moss species including Brachythecium austro-glareosum and Bryum pseudotriquetrum from the James Ross Island, Antarctica. It mentions that restoration of photosynthetic processes upon rehydration was studied by chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF). It also mentions that spectral reflectace curves as well as indices showed different sensitivity to dehydration.

The distribution of 14 rare earth elements, Th and U was studied in streams of the study area at 21 sites. Aquatic mosses are known to accumulate even metabolically nonessential or toxic metals in concentrations much higher than their aqueous environment due to their unique morphology and physiology. Thus, the capacity of metal amplification in four aquatic mosses ( Fontinalis squamosa, Brachythecium rivulare, Platyhypnidium riparioides and Thamnobryum alopecurum) was also evaluated as a potential bioindicator/biomonitoring tool. Thirteen REEs (0.001-2.81 μg L) and U were detected in the stream water. Mean content of lighter rare earth elements (LREEs) was higher than that of heavier rare earth elements (HREEs). Fourteen REEs and two actinides were detected in moss samples, including Yb and Th which were below detection level in water samples. LREE uptake (0.17-12.2 mg kg) was greater than HREE uptake (0.02-0.78 mg kg) in all mosses. Uptake of LREEs was observed in the order: B. rivulare > T. alopecurum > F. squamosa > P. riparioides and that of HREEs in the order: T. alopecurum > B. rivulare > F. squamosa > P. riparioides. Mean U content (0.68-1.62 mg kg) in the mosses was found in the order: B. rivulare > F. squamosa > T. alopecurum > P. riparioides. Th content ranged from 0.4 to 2.36 mg kg in the order: B. rivulare > T. alopecurum > P. riparioides > F. squamosa. One-way ANOVA indicated a statistically significant difference ( P ≤ 0.01) in mean concentrations of all elements (individually) in moss samples except for U. Highest bioconcentration factors of six REEs each were observed in B. rivulare (La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb and Dy) and T. alopecurum (Nd, Gd, Ho, Er, Tm and Lu). The highest BCFs for Pr and U were obtained in F. squamosa and P. riparioides, respectively. These species hold promise for biomonitoring studies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological and molecular studies support the recognition of three alpine species within the traditional concept ofBrachythecium cirrosum, which requires the resurrection of two earlier described taxa,B. funkiiandB. japygum, comb. nov., from synonymy. According to nuclear and chloroplast sequence data, the latter two taxa proved to be closely related toB. tommasiniiandB. tenuicaule, whereas the affinities ofB. cirrosumwithinBrachytheciumare rather unclear.B. funkiiis a coarser plant thanB. cirrosumand also differs in shorter leaf acumens and much larger lamina cells. On the other hand,B. japygum(better known under the illegitimate nameEurhynchium histrio) can be distinguished fromB. cirrosumin the prostrate and densely pinnate to subdendroid growth form, longer leaf acumens and wider lamina cells with lumens wider than walls. All three species also differ from each other in the morphology of the alar cell group. Despite their shared preference for calcareous rocks, the three species show marked differences in habitat requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Understanding the complete dispersal process is important for making realistic predictions of species distributions, but mechanisms for diaspore release in wind-dispersed species are often unknown. However, diaspore release under conditions that increase the probability of longer dispersal distances and mechanisms that extend dispersal events in time may have evolutionary advantages., We quantified air humidity thresholds regulating spore release in the moss Brachythecium rutabulum. We also investigated the prevailing micrometeorological conditions when these thresholds occur in nature and how they affect dispersal distances up to 100 m, using a mechanistic dispersal model., We show that moss spores were mainly released when the peristome teeth were opening, as relative air humidity ( RH) decreased from high values to relatively low (mainly between 90% and 75% RH). This most often occurred in the morning, when wind speeds were relatively low. Surprisingly, the model predicted that an equally high proportion of the spores would travel distances beyond 100 m (horizontally) when released in the wind conditions prevailing during events of RH decrease in the morning, that lead to peristome opening, as in the highest wind speeds. Moreover, a higher proportion of the spores reached high altitudes when released at the lower wind speeds during the morning compared to the higher speeds later in the day, indicating a possibility for extended dispersal distances when released in the morning. Dispersal in the morning is enhanced by a combination of a more unstable atmospheric surface layer that promotes vertical dispersal, and a lower wind speed that decreases the spore deposition probability onto the ground, compared to later in the day., Our study demonstrates an active spore release mechanism in response to diurnally changing air humidity. The mechanism may promote longer dispersal distances, because of enhanced vertical dispersal and because spores being released in the morning have more time to travel before the wind calms down at night. The mechanism also leads to a prolonged dispersal period over the season, which may be viewed as a risk spreading in time that ultimately also leads to a higher diversity of establishment conditions, dispersal distances and directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on genus Brachythecium Schimp., which is one of the most complex and diverse in terms of morphological variation in the family Brachytheciaceae. Topics discussed include morphology, taxonomy and nomenclature of Brachythecium, taxonomic study of Japanese Brachythecium and well-developed forms of the common Sciurohypnum pulchellum.

The article presents new national and regional bryophytes. Some of them are Anastrophyllum michauxii, Antitrichia curtipendula, Anthoceros lamellatus, Brachythecium austrosalebrosum, Bruchia flexuosa, Brachythecium extremorientale, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Bryum barnesii, Bucklandiella lamprocarpa, Campylium decipiens and Dicranella heteromalla.

Cool climate biomes in the Northern Hemisphere have evolved relatively recently. Temperature decline between the late Eocene and the Pliocene contributed to the evolution of many plant groups in modern cool climate biomes, such as mosses belonging to the Brachythecium novae-angliae-complex. The Brachythecium novae-angliae-complex comprises three species that have a disjunct distribution in temperate and boreal regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The core species in the complex have only recently been transferred from Bryhnia to Brachythecium and the delimitation of the complex and of species within it still remains uncertain. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of the group using molecular data and estimated the timing of the diversifications in the tree. In addition, we examined the morphology and compared morphological diversification with genetic diversity. The Brachythecium novae-angliae-complex diversified in East Asia in the middle Miocene, 9.1 Ma (HPD 95% 3.9-14.8 Myr). Bryhnia trichomitria and B. graminicolor were revealed not to be close relatives of the complex and are therefore transferred to Brachythecium and Koponeniella gen. nov., respectively. Both morphology and molecular data supported the position of Asian Brachythecium noesicum as sister to the Brachythecium novae-angliae crown elade that includes two species, B. hultenii and B. novae-angliae. The crown clade diverged at the end of the Miocene, 6.4 Ma (HPD 95% 2.4-11.6 Myr) and its taxa have a disjunct distribution in cool temperate and boreal areas in the Beringia region (B. novaeangliae subsp. hultenii), and eastern North America and northwestern Europe (B. novae-angliae subsp. novae-angliae). In the crown clade the majority of populations belong to one common haplotype present in all three disjunct parts of the distribution area. Despite low variation in DNA sequence data, morphology allows the distinction between B. novae-angliae subsp. hultenii and B. novae-angliae subsp. novae-angliae. Because of weak morphological and genetic differentiation, European Bryhnia scabrida is treated here as a synonym of Brachythecium novae-angliae subsp. novae-angliae. Glacial survival during the Quaternary and climatic oscillations during the late Tertiary and Quaternary in East Asia may have resulted in diversification of the complex and enabled adaptation to cool temperate and boreal climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlor-alkali plants are known to be major sources of Hg emissions into the air. Therefore level of this metal in their surrounding must be carefully controlled. The aim of this work was to study the impact of the chlor-alkali industry in Brzeg Dolny (SW Poland) on the length of the vegetative short shoots of the pollution tolerant Betula pendula using the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the ubiquitous, terrestrial moss Brachythecium rutabulum as the pollution indicator of the environment. This investigation showed up to 14 mg kg −1 elevated concentrations of Hg in mosses from sites the most close (0–500 m) to the chlor-alkali factory. This concentration decreased with increasing distance from the factory. Two and half km away from the factory the Hg concentration falls to values of 0.1–0.2 mg kg −1 being still higher than background concentrations of 0.03–0.04 mg kg −1 . Decreasing concentrations of Co, Cr, Fe and Ni were also correlated with increasing distance from the plant. The results indicate that B. rutabulum may be a suitable ecological indicator of metal pollution by chlor-alkali industry. Higher concentration of accumulated metals by this moss corresponds with longer vegetative short shoots of B. pendula . Vegetative short shoots may be used as bioindicators of metal pollution where mosses are absent. This study demonstrates the importance of controlling the emissions of chlor-alkali industry especially if situated in the midst of densely populated areas with potential risks to the inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research on the Brachythecium tauriscorum a one of the variety and classification of plants. Topics discussed include plant species of Northern Europe, genetics aspect of plants, plants biology, plant morphology, plants of alpine regions, leaves anatomy, stem cells culture and plants growth.

The systematic position of the genus Bryhnia Kaurin has been problematic and remains unsettled. A phylogenetic analysis of Bryhnia and closely related genera, based on the nuclear marker ITS1–5·8S–ITS2 and the plastid markers rpl16, trnG, and trnL–F, was carried out to clarify their relationships and systematic positions. The phylogenetic trees generated from Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses show that Bryhnia s.s., represented by B. novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Grout, B. hultenii E.B.Bartram, and B. scabrida (Lindb.) Kaurin, forms a maximally supported clade nested within Brachythecium Schimp. ‘Bryhnia scabrida’ sensu is Bryhnia brachycladula Cardot, and together they form a monophyletic group with Eurhynchiadelphus eustegia (Besch.) Ignatov & Huttunen and Myuroclada maximowiczii (G.G.Borshch.) Steere & W.B.Schofield. We propose the inclusion of the species currently recognized in Bryhnia in Brachythecium, with the transfer of Bryhnia brachycladula to the genus Myuroclada Besch. Bryhnia brachycladula is further treated as a synonym of the new combination, Myuroclada longiramea (Müll.Hal.) M.Li, Y.F.Wang, M.S.Ignatov & S.Huttunen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on various species of bryophyte. In Finland, the specimen of Brachythecium laetum was noted by M. S. Ignatov. The species is a common weed in dry, disturbed habitats such as trails, road banks, and lawns. Meanwhile, the specimen of Colojeuna horikawana was noted in Taiwan by J. D. Yang and S. H. Lin.

The article presents a revised taxonomy of the moss genus Brachytheciastrum (Brachytheciaceae) from the Mediterranean area. It recognizes seven species, proposes the new combinations Brachytheciastrum umbilicatum and B. salicinum, and designates Lectotypes for Brachythecium umbilicatum and Hypnum collinum. It also provides a key to the species of the Mediterranean region, as well as descriptions, illustrations, and distribution data, and reports new records for countries within the study area.

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Background The purpose of this study was to analyze the treatment of recurrent parotid gland cancers with radioactive iodine (125I) seed implantation. Methods Fifteen patients with recurrent previously irradiated parotid gland cancers were treated with postoperative 125I seed implantation between April 2004 and June 2009. Local control, survival rates, and side effects were retrospectively reviewed. Results The 3-year and 5-year local control rates were 67% and 53.6%, and the overall survival rates were 76.2% and 66.7%, respectively. Four patients with House-Brackman (H-B) grade IV cancer recovered to grade II during follow-up. Four patients (26.7%) developed grade IV skin ulceration. Two patients (13.3%) developed moderate fibrosis of the subcutaneous tissues, and 2 patients (13.3%) had hearing loss for 1 year after brachytherapy. Conclusion This study showed excellent local control and a good survival rate in patients who received 125I brachytherapy. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of patients and the relatively short follow-up. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrestrial mosses Hypnum hamulosum and Brachythecium brotheri, which could live in water under experimental conditions, were treated with Cd2+ at 0, 20, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg·L-1, and Cr3+ at 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 mg·L-1. The Cd2+ and Cr3+ contents in H. hamulosum and B. brotheri were measured by ICP-AES after they had been submerged in the treatment solution for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results showed: (1) Both moss species have a high ability in absorb Cd and Cr. (2) With the increase of Cd2+ (or Cr3+) concentration in the culture solution, the Cd (or Cr) contents both in H. hamulosum and B. brotheri increased linearly (3) With the extension of the treatment time, their Cd and Cr content increased logarithmically. (4) Hyphnum hamulosum and B. brotheri differ in their ability to absorb Cd2+ and Cr3+; the former has a higher ability to absorb Cd2+, but lower ability to absorb Cr3+ than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the plant genus Brachythecium laetum. It notes that B. laetum is widely distributed species which was found to be also present in Bulgaria and on the Iberian Peninsula. It indicates that the specie features pale-green to yellow-green ovatelanceolate to triangular-lanceolate leaves, and generally erect branches. Moreover, images are presented depicting its anatomy including its branch leaf, costa, and alar cells.

Antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX)), as well as lipid peroxidation and proline were studied in moss Brachythecium piligerum Card. collected from different sites in Shanghai, China, to validate the physiological parameters as biomarkers of atmospheric heavy metal pollution. Results demonstrated that the responses of POD and CAT activities, as well as MDA and proline contents were in accordance with the heavy metal contents in mosses. That is, POD activity, MDA, and proline content were activated and CAT activity was inhibited in heavier polluted sites, indicating that POD and CAT activities, and MDA and proline contents could be used as biomarkers for biomonitoring atmospheric heavy metal pollution. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rengen Grassland Experiment in Germany, established in 1941, consists of the following fertilizer treatments applied under a two cut management: control, Ca, CaN, CaNP, CaNP-KCl, and CaNP-K2SO4. The aim of this study was (1) to identify effects of fertilizer application on biomass and species composition of bryophytes and (2) to investigate the impact of fertilizer application on macro- (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), micro- (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn), and toxic (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni) element concentrations in bryophyte biomass. In June 2006, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus was the only bryophyte species recorded in the control. In treatment Ca, R. squarrosus was the dominant bryophyte species whereas Brachythecium rutabulum occurred sporadically only in a single plot of that treatment. The latter was the only bryophyte species collected in CaN, CaNP, CaNP-KCl, and CaNP-K2SO4 treatments. Dry matter accumulation of bryophytes was highest in the control (180 g m − 2) followed by Ca (46 g m − 2), CaNP (25 g m − 2), CaNP-KCl (15 g m − 2), CaNP-K2SO4 (9 g m − 2), and CaN (2 g m − 2) treatments. A negative correlation between biomass production of bryophytes and dry matter production of vascular plants was revealed up to a threshold value of 400 g m − 2. Above this limit, biomass production of bryophytes remained obviously unaffected by further increase in biomass production of vascular plants. A significant effect of treatment on As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, P, Ca, Mg, K, and N concentrations was revealed. Concentrations of these elements were a function of amount of elements supplied with fertilizers. Bryophytes seem to be promising bio-indicators not only for airborne deposition of toxic element but also for fertilizer introduced as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moss genus Rhynchostegiella (Helicodontioideae, Brachytheciaceae) has long served as a convenient repository for small brachythecioid pleurocarps. Its circumscription is revised in the context of a chloroplast phylogeny of the Helicodontioideae employing trnL-trnF, atpB-rbcL, psbT-psbH, and psbA-trnH sequence data. The analysis resolves with full posterior probabilities a core Rhynchostegiella clade of eight species. Rhynchostegiella pumila and R. duriaei are both resolved outside that clade and accommodated in their own genera, Microeurhynchium gen. nov. and Pseudorhynchostegiella gen. nov., respectively. Rhynchostegiella leptoneura is sister to Aerolindigia capillacea and R. papuensis is closely related to Eurhynchiella zeyheri. One of the reasons why these unrelated species, together with other taxa, were traditionally included within Rhynchostegiella, is that the genus is morphologically poorly defined by only a single synapomorphic change followed by reversals in half of the species. The Madeiran endemic Brachythecium percurrens is resolved as sister to all the other genera of the Helicodontioideae and is transferred into a new monotypic genus, Hedenasiastrum gen. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ITS, rp116 and trnG sequences, together with morphological data, were used to circumscribe the European problematic taxa within the Sciuro-hypnuni reflexuin complex. Strongly supported monophyletic clades sustain several of the target taxa as distinct species (S. reflexam, S. starkii, S. tromsoeense, S. glaciale, S. dovrense, S. latifoium). The segregation of S. nelsonii and Brachythecium glaciale var. gelidam is found to be inconsistent with our results and the two taxa are therefore synonymized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of the elements Al, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn were measured in the terrestrial moss Brachythecium rutabulum and the soil on which it grew. Soil and moss plants were sampled at sites situated 1.5, 3, 6, 9 and 15 km to the north, south, east and west of the Legnica copper smelter (SW Poland). The self-organizing feature map (SOFM) or Kohonen network was used to classify the soil and moss samples according to the concentrations of the elements. The self-organizing map yielded distinct groups of B. rutabulum and soil samples, depending on the distance from and direction to the source of pollution. When the map-identified groups of sites with similar soil metal concentrations were combined with the map-identified groups of sites with similar metal concentrations in B. rutabulum, these maps were found to correspond closely. The SOFMs accurately represented the least polluted, moderately polluted and severely polluted sites, reflecting the distribution of metals that is typical of the smelter area, caused by the prevailing westerly and northerly winds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was applied to assess genetic diversity and population structure of Brachythecium rivulare Schimp. (Brachytheciaceae) from Foping Nature Reserve (Qinling Mountain, China). Sixty individuals from five populations along an elevational gradient were investigated by RAPD profiles. Of the 61 primers screened, 12 primers amplified clear and reproducible bands. Using these primers, 122 discernible bands were generated with 82 (67.2%) being polymorphic. The results revealed a high level of genetic variation (percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 53.28% to 63.11%; mean expected heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.2024 to 0.2431; Shannon diversity index ranged from 0.3011 to 0.3582; genetic identity ranged from 0.8626 to 0.9395, with a mean of 0.9118; genetic distances ranged from 0.0624 to 0.1478, with a mean of 0.1008). Analysis of molecular variance showed that a large proportion of genetic variation (91.20%) resided within populations, whereas only 8.80% resided among populations. The results also show no significant correlation between genetic distance and elevational gradient among these five populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and other elements using the moss genera Brachythecium sp. ( B. rutabulum and B. salebrosum) and Eurhynchium sp. ( E. hians and E. striatum) collected in autumn 2004 in the urban area of Belgrade. The concentrations of 36 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Tb, Dy, Hf, Ta, W, Hg, Th, U) were determined in moss and local topsoil samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The concentration of elements in moss positively correlated to those obtained for topsoil. High enrichment factors for As, Zn, Mo, Br, Sb, Se, Hg and Cl, calculated to continental crust composition, gave an evidence for anthropogenic impact on urban area, mainly due to intensive vehicular traffic and fossil fuel combustion. The concentration of elements in moss, characteristic for fossil fuel combustion, obtained in this study were substantially lower than in the previous investigation (2000) conducted in the area of Belgrade. The level of concentrations for V, Cr, Ni, and As in moss from this study correlated to those measured for neighboring countries, and were several times higher than the base-level data from low polluted areas. The level of accumulated elements in both investigated moss genera were similar and all studied species could be combined for biomonitoring purposes in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on a fertilization experiment with the six pleurocarpous moss species Brachythecium rutabulum, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, R. triquetrus and Scleropodium purum. The intention was to find one or more species which clearly reflected the simulated N deposition in its tissue N contents and which could therefore be regarded as valuable for an N-monitoring programme in central Europe. The mosses were fertilized over a period of 12 months with nitrogen in the form of three different compounds. The additional nitrogen was supplied at 40 kg N ha-1 year-1 in all treatments. Significant increases of tissue N content were recorded for all species with the exception of Hylocomium splendens. The curves of N accumulation distinctly differed with time among the six species. Fertilization with nitrate led to smaller increases of tissue N than solutions containing ammonium. For most of the species, at least, a trend towards N saturation was observed over the period of investigation. Some species showed injury which was probably due to toxic effects of the ammonium ion. In the unfertilized plots, seasonal variations of tissue N content were recorded. The results show that Pleurozium schreberi and Scleropodium purum, in particular, might be suitable species for monitoring N-deposition in central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of DNA sequences in the ITS region of nrDNA and the atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer has placed Brachythecium appleyardiae McAdam & A.J.E.Sm. within a strongly supported clade in the genus Scleropodium. This position is consistent with the morphology and growth-form of B. appleyardiae. Specimens of the latter are similar to S. cespitans (Wilson ex Müll. Hal.) L.F. Koch but appear to differ in their narrower leaf-shape and the tendency to occur on dry rock ledges. However, measurements of a range of specimens from Britain and Ireland show that there is no clear discontinuity between the two taxa. Consequently, B. appleyardiae is reduced to synonymy with S. cespitans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of shoot growth and growth form on water availability was studied experimentally in six species of maritime Antarctic moss. Under all conditions the largest growth increments were observed in the hydric species Brachythecium austro-salebrosum and Drepanocladus uncinatus. The xeric Andreaea depressinervis grew the least. Lateral shoot production varied within and between species. Over 50% of the biomass produced in D. uncinatus was derived from lateral shoot production, whereas Polytrichum alpestre produced very few lateral shoots and A. depressinervis produced none. Leaf density and leaf size also varied with total water content. In all species growth ceased at total water contents of 100% d. wt or less. However, the total water content at which maximum growth was observed differed between species. Racomitrium austro-georgicum (mesic/xeric) had the lowest optimum for growth at 370% of d. wt and D. uncinatus (hydric) exhibited maximum growth between 890 and 2300% d. wt. Optimum total water contents for growth were greater than those at full turgor and published optima for net assimilation. Growth and total water content of these Antarctic mosses were similar to those reported for temperate species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) The growth of the perennial pleurocarpous moss Brachythecium rutabulum under controlled conditions of temperature irradiance moisture and inorganic nutrient supply was analysed. (2) Over a period of 30 days the species maintained exponential growth and attained a relative growth rate of 0.071 day[sup -1]—a value exceeding the reported maxima for seedlings of ten vascular plant species. (3) In a temperature gradient maxima in relative growth rate shoot length and leaf area occurred at about 19°C but at 5°C the reduction in relative growth rate was less than 40%. (4) The comparatively high relative growth rate of B. rutabulum is consistent with the large amplitude of seasonal change in biomass and rapid turnover of shoots observed under natural conditions. The capacity to grow at low temperature may be related to the tendency of the species to exploit the cool conditions of spring and autumn and may also explain the ability of the species to co-exist with productive vascular plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the study of samples collected and reviewed under the FBI project, we provide 13 new provincial records for Spain and Portugal. The second locality in the Iberian Peninsula of Brachythecium erythrorrhizon Schimp. is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that investigates species of moss flora, Brachythecium sensu lato, in Greece. Researchers found that the country has 525 species of these plants, Iberian Peninsula has 811 species, while Italy has 863 species. Moreover, there are nine species of Bachythecium sensu lato and found usually on acidic rocks.

Abstract: Coarse woody debris (CWD) forms an important and specific habitat for many species of lichens, liverworts and mosses. We studied the relationships of 88 macrolichen and bryophyte species to CWD characteristics in mature mesic sub-boreal spruce forests in north central British Columbia. CWD characteristics and macrolichen and bryophyte species richness and abundance data were collected. Ordination, regression tree analysis and indicator species analysis were used to establish relationships between selected CWD variables and macrolichen and bryophyte species assemblages, overall species richness and individual species presence and abundance. Decay class and height from ground were the two CWD characteristics that most influenced macrolichen and bryophyte communities. Species composition varied along a continuum of assemblages from a dominance of arboreal lichens on decay class 1 (less decayed) CWD, to Cladonia, Dicranum and Brachythecium species and a diversity of liverworts on decay class 3, to feathermosses and Plagiomnium and Peltigera species on decay class 4 (more decayed) CWD. The height from ground of a log influenced the growth of liverwort and moss species with restricted growth on logs over about 10cm above the ground. Log species, bark cover and diameter showed more limited influence on community composition in this study. Species were not greatly influenced by aspect (northern versus southern log aspect); however, macrolichen and moss species were more common on the upper sides of logs and several liverwort species were restricted to the lower sides of CWD (upper versus lower sides of logs). These results provide insight into the relationships between CWD characteristics and macrolichen and bryophyte communities, provide a basis for examining forest management impacts on lichen and bryophyte composition and highlight the importance of maintaining a diversity of CWD on the landscape. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]