Moss

The new name Plaubelia burmensis (Pottiaceae) is proposed for the species currently recognized as Desmatodon burmensis and for replacing the illegitimate name P. perinvoluta. The species is reported here first time from China. A detailed description and illustrations for the species as well as a diagnostic key to the currently recognized three species of Plaubelia are provided. A phylogenetic analysis based on four DNA loci from three genomic compartments (cp rps4, mt nad5, nr ITS and nr 26S) shows that Plaubelia species are nested within the Trichostomoideae of the Pottiaceae, sister to Hyophila involuta.

Four moss species, namely, Tetraphis pellucida Hedw. (Tetraphidaceae), Ulota crispa (Hedw.) Brid. (Orthotrichaceae), Haplohymenium triste (Ces.) Kindb. (Anomodontaceae), and Rhynchostegiella litorea (De Not.) Limpr. (Brachytheciaceae) are recorded from Iran. The specimens were collected from Kheiroodkenar Forest, Mazandaran Province (north of Iran).

Sphagnum fuscum was collected from twenty-five ombrotrophic (rain-fed) peat bogs surrounding open pit mines and upgrading facilities of Athabasca Bituminous Sands (ABS) in northern Alberta (AB) in order to assess the extent of atmospheric contamination by trace elements. As a control, this moss species was also collected at a bog near Utikuma (UTK) in an undeveloped part of AB and 264km SW of the ABS region. For comparison, this moss was also collected in central AB, in the vicinity of the City of Edmonton which is approximately 500km to the south of the ABS region, from the Wagner Wetland which is 22km W of the City, from Seba Beach (ca. 90km W) and from Elk Island National Park (ca. 45km E). All of the moss samples were digested and trace elements concentrations determined using ICP-SMS at a commercial laboratory, with selected samples also analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis at the University of Alberta. The mosses from the ABS region yielded lower concentrati...

Mosses, lichens, mushrooms are able to efficiently accumulate different radioactive elements from their environment to a much higher degree than other vegetation. They are sensitive bioindicators of radioactive contamination for various ecosystems, particularly in the event of a nuclear accident and uncontrolled emission oh fission products. Results of systematic, long-term measurements of 137 Cs activities in mosses and in some edible mushroom species in North Croatia for the post-Chernobyl period are summarized. The study was conducted in the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb, as a part of an extensive monitoring program of the Croatian environment. In the overall observed period the highest activity concentration of 137 Cs deposited by fallout has been recorded in 1986, which is the year of Chernobyl accident, causing peak 137 Cs activity concentration in moss of 8800 Bq/kg in May 1986. In the same period mean 137 Cs activity concentration in grass was 390 Bq/kg. The highest value of 137 Cs activity concentration in Cortinarius caperatus mushrooms of 1351 Bq/kg has been recorded in 1989. Fitting the measured 137 Cs activity concentrations to the theoretical curve the ecological half-life of 137 Cs in moss was found to be around 978 days, in grass around 126 days in the period . Regarding the risk assessment to Croatian population, due to consumption of mushrooms, the collective effective dose for Croatian population, estimated to be about 35 mSv per year, was found to be quite low. Therefore, it can be concluded that mushroom consumption was not a critical pathway for the transfer of radiocaesium from fallout to humans after the Chernobyl accident.

We describe Ludorugbya springbokorum, a new genus and species of Pottiaceae from the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. It is gametophytically distinct in the small plants with ovate-lanceolate to spathulate, redawned, plane-margined leaves that are red in KOH, usually bistratose in 1-2(24) transverse rows at the insertion, with a differentiated border, and a costa section with a semicircular dorsal stereid band, a dorsal epidermis and a differentiated pad of cells on the ventral surface. The immersed, cupulate to short-cylindric capsules with a very long-conic operculum, very poorly developed peristome, and an evertable annulus are also highly distinctive. Spore dispersal is controlled by the annulus, which when dried is rolled inwards, almost closing the capsule mouth, but everts rapidly on wetting, expanding the rim of the capsule mouth. Spore size is distinctly bimodal within individual capsules and highly variable between capsules. At present L. springbokorum is known only from remnant renosterveld patches in the Swartland region of South Africa, and within this highly transformed landscape the species appears to be rare and under considerable threat.

A biomonitoring survey using the moss species [Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. and Scelopodium touretii (Brid.) L. Kock] was performed in the whole territory of Portugal, in order to evaluate the atmospheric deposition of the following elements: Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The concentrations of the same elements were also obtained in two types of soil samples, collected under the moss and in nearby plots without any plant coverage, and relationships between moss and soil concentrations was investigated using the multivariate statistical method of Co-inertia Analysis. Also, relationships between concentrations in moss and several anthropogenic, geologic, pedologic and environmental parameters were screened using the same method of Co-inertia Analysis. Higher concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn were found in areas of higher population density, with higher gasoline consumption, while higher values of Fe and Cr occur in the driest region, with lower plant coverage, indicating strong contamination by resuspended soil particles. Results also show good agreement between moss and soil contents, even for elements with high contribution of anthropogenic sources. The spatial pattern in Portugal of element contents in mosses were also detected and discussed in relation to local contamination sources.

Rhodobryum ontariense (kindb.) kindb. (Bryaceae, Bryophyta) is a rare moss, only recently discovered in Serbia (at Deliblatska Sands). After a revision of the genus Rhodobryum in Serbia, it was concluded that all high-mountain records belong to R. roseum, while R. ontariense is confined to the one known locality at Deliblatska Sands. It is listed in the bryophyte red-list of Serbia and Montenegro. Within the single known locality we have counted 15 small sub-populations over a total surface area of 6 hectares. The species is always in sterile condition and has been recorded only on dunes exposed to the north, at the edge of shrub-grassland transition interspersed with fragments of steppe vegetation. no propagules are known. This raised the question of whether the population was once continuous, or whether vectors exist that spread detached plants or fragments to establish new subpopulations. to answer this question an isozyme analysis was performed to estimate the genetic structure of this isolated population. Based on the isozyme forms of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase at least six haplotypes were determined within the population. It can be concluded that the present patches of the moss do not derive from one subpopulation. Some kind of short-distance dispersal exists, but it remains unclear what structures act as propagules and what is the vector for them.

Air pollution is a major concern throughout the universe due to the effects on living and non-living things. Before an area is said to be polluted, there is the need to carry out a bottom-up or top-down assessment of the environment. Mosses have been widely employed as cheap bioindicators of atmospheric pollution. It reduces the time-frame spent in monitoring and the results are reliable. Several types of research have been undertaken on the spatial and temporal trends in air pollution using mosses. This paper explained what moss is, discussed the cost of biomonitoring using a moss, mapping, and researches undertaken on mosses as bioindicators.

Hundred experiments of Hg bioaccumulation with the aquatic moss Rhynchostegium riparioides (Hedw.) C.E.O. Jensen transplanted under laboratory conditions were carried out with the aim of (1) measuring the metal uptake at increasing water concentrations (0.25-128 microg Hg(2+)L(-1)) and increasing exposure time (24-189 h), (2) studying the influence of pH (6.3-8.5) and water concentration of Na (3-114 mg L(-1)), Ca (62-125 mg L(-1)) and Mg (13-54 mg L(-1)) on the metal uptake, (3) achieving a database for mathematical and statistical elaborations, and, (4) producing an equation modelling the uptake. A linear uptake was observed for water concentrations <or=4 microg Hg(2+)L(-1), while a saturation curve was observed at higher concentrations. Uptake followed a 3-stage trend for increasing exposure times: a phase of rapid accumulation (4-5d), followed by an equilibrium plateau (2-3d) and then by a second accumulation phase. The factor influence study revealed that variations in pH or water concentration of alkaline metals, within the range of typical values in freshwaters of NE Italy, did not produce significant differences (p>0.05) in the Hg uptake ratio (0.496x10(5)<or= Bio Accumulation Factor <or= 1.73x10(5)). From a database of 28 Hg concentrations in mosses exposed to 0.25-4 microg Hg(2+)L(-1) for 24-114 h, a mathematical equation was produced, to assess Hg micro-contamination in water. The difference between predicted and real concentration was generally included in the range+/-50%.

Mosses, lichens, mushrooms are able to efficiently accumulate different radioactive elements from their environment to a much higher degree than other vegetation. They are sensitive bioindicators of radioactive contamination for various ecosystems, particularly in the event of a nuclear accident and uncontrolled emission oh fission products. Results of systematic, long-term measurements of 137Cs activities in mosses and in some edible mushroom species in North Croatia for the post-Chernobyl period (1986-2007) are summarized. The study was conducted in the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb, as a part of an extensive monitoring program of the Croatian environment. In the overall observed period the highest activity concentration of 137Cs deposited by fallout has been recorded in 1986, which is the year of Chernobyl accident, causing peak S7Cs activity concentration in moss of 8800 Bq/kg in May 1986. In the same period mea...

Received: 5 February 2010 /Accepted: 10 May 2010 © Springer-Verlag 2010 ... Abstract Purpose This study aimed at investigating correlations between heavy metal concentrations in mosses and modelled deposition values as well as other site-specific and regional characteristics ...

For the first time, the atmospheric deposition of trace elements was investigated in two regions (Cape Winelands and Cape Peninsula) of the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) using naturally growing mosses and lichens. A total of 33 elements were determined by epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify and characterize different pollution sources.

Rhodobryum ontariense (Kindb.) Kindb. (Bryaceae, Bryophyta) is a rare moss, only recently discovered in Serbia (at Deliblatska Sands). After a revision of the genus Rhodobryum in Serbia, it was concluded that all high-mountain records belong to R. roseum, while R. ontariense is confined to the one known locality at Deliblatska Sands. It is listed in the bryophyte red-list of Serbia and Montenegro. Within the single known locality we have counted 15 small sub-populations over a total surface area of 6 hectares. The species is always in sterile condition and has been recorded only on dunes exposed to the north, at the edge of shrub-grassland transition interspersed with fragments of steppe vegetation. No propagules are known. This raised the question of whether the population was once continuous, or whether vectors exist that spread detached plants or fragments to establish new subpopulations. To answer this question an isozyme analysis was performed to estimate the genetic structure ...

Mosses, lichens, mushrooms are able to efficiently accumulate different radioactive elements from their environment to a much higher degree than other vegetation. They are sensitive bioindicators of radioactive contamination for various ecosystems, particularly in the event of a nuclear accident and uncontrolled emission oh fission products. Results of systematic, long-term measurements of 137Cs activities in mosses and in some edible mushroom species in North Croatia for the post-Chernobyl period (1986-2007) are summarized. The study was conducted in the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb, as a part of an extensive monitoring program of the Croatian environment. In the overall observed period the highest activity concentration of 137Cs deposited by fallout has been recorded in 1986, which is the year of Chernobyl accident, causing peak S7Cs activity concentration in moss of 8800 Bq/kg in May 1986. In the same period mea...

Large-scale protein-protein interaction studies recently demonstrated that the Arabidopsis TPL/TPR family of transcriptional co-repressors is involved in a broad range of developmental processes. TPL/TPRs predominantly interact with transcription factors that contain repression domain (RD) sequences. Interestingly, RDs reported in the literature are quite diverse in sequence, yet TPL/TPRs interact with proteins containing all of the known motifs. These data lead us to conclude that the TPL/TPRs act as general repressors of gene transcription in plants. To investigate this further, we examined interactions between TPL/TPR proteins encoded by the moss Physcomitrella patens genome and components of the auxin signaling pathway. As in Arabidopsis, moss TPL proteins interact with AUX/IAA and ARF proteins, suggesting that they act in both forms of ARF-mediated transcriptional repression. These data suggest that the involvement of TPL in auxin signaling has been conserved across evolution, since mosses and angiosperms diverged approximately 450 million years ago.