Bryophytes are tiny, fragile, photosynthetic plants found all over the world, from the poles to deserts and forest areas. They contribute one-third of the oxygen we breathe as well as remove harmful ...CO2 from the atmosphere, thus helping mitigate the effects of climate change. Fragile and silent in their micro-habitat, they do so much for the planet, yet very little is known about them. This book is the result of the effort of several authors who work with bryophytes. It includes six chapters that address such topics as diversity and taxonomy, ecology, and biochemistry. The chapters present data on various species of Bryophyta from different continents, including Peru, Indonesia, Brazil, and Argentina.
Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) are found in the Antarctic. They build their nests with rock fragments, disturbing large areas during incubation and chick feeding periods; however, ...their impact on vegetation is unknown. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Petrel nests and associated breeding activities on the diversity and structure of cryptogam communities of Stinker Point, Elephant Island. We selected 13 nests in February and March 2012 and continue the monitoring in 2018. The area of direct influence of breeding activities was photographed to calculate plant community coverage. The results demonstrated that species richness, community coverage and composition, and beta diversity showed significant differences between active and inactive nests. The linear mixed-effect models revealed that the positive effect of nest area mainly caused variation in community coverage, but had a negative effect on beta diversity. Sphaerophorus globosus (lichen) grew around the inactive nests, sometimes forming a ring up to 1 m in diameter. This ring was then surrounded by the Chorisodontium acyphyllum moss colonized by S. globosus, and a final ring of Sanionia uncinata, colonized by the same lichen. Recently constructed nests are generally surrounded by Prasiola crispa and Sanionia uncinata carpets.
Whale bones are very abundant at coastal sites across the Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, since whale hunting was common in the beginning of the XX century. Since then, these bones ...became suitable substrate and true oasis for many mosses and lichenized fungi, but their number is dramatically changing in the coastal zones, due to the sea erosion, degradation, and anthropization. In this work, whale bones found in Keller Peninsula were mapped with drone images coupled with field work, and the covering and diversity of moss and lichen species was registered for 37 vertebrae using the square method of Braun-Blanquet. Comparing the number of whale bones remaining at Keller Peninsula during a 21 years period revealed a dramatic reduction, with skull bones 55.8% lower than previous records. In addition, vertebrae and ribs are reduced in size, and so mobile and disrupted that no longer represent stable substrates for a normal plant succession (average covering of 31.6%). We detected 4 moss species and 19 lichens associated with whale bones. Muscicolous lichens occurred on 35.1% of the bones, and 5.4% showed more than 50% cover by mosses, whereas the rest are at the earliest stage of colonization due to constant displacement. Measures are suggested to preserve the bones still remaining to ensure the protection of vegetation in this part of Antarctica. The vegetation oasis found on Antarctic bone ecosystems are highly prone to anthropic and climatic disturbances and represent key sites of plant succession.
Ice-free areas of Antarctica represent an important study region that helps us understand how human activity affects plant communities and soil properties. The goal of this study was to determine the ...changes in plant composition and soil properties around a whale bone skeleton (WB) near Ferraz Station, King George Island, Antarctica from 1972 to 2020 (48 years). The WB was assembled in 1972 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his team. It is located in a large moss field and visited by many tourists. We studied the plant composition and development based on historical and recent photographs and phytosociological studies from 1986 to 2020. The soil was sampled in February 2009 to determine general properties. The results showed that human activity surrounding the WB directly affected the plant community composition and soil properties. The Syntrichia cushions were positively affected by the calcium deposits from bone dissolution. The principal component analysis revealed that mineralization of the bones increased soil nutrient assembly. A strong phosphatization process was observed in the WB area, similar to that in ornithogenic soils. The WB on the marine terrace enhanced soil fertility and changed the plant community.
In February 2019, during fieldwork at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, a large population of the rare liverwort Hygrolembidium isophyllum (Lepidoziaceae) was ...discovered. The occurrence of this rare species reinforces the need to preserve Antarctic Specially Protected Area 133.
The spread of the exotic species
Hovenia dulcis
known as Japanese raisin tree, coming from Asia, detected in a protected area of 465.0 ha surrounding the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil, named ...“Green Belt.” In this context, this research aimed at developing an aerial monitoring system able to identify and quantify the extension in the Green Belt area that this species invaded, as well as describing the impacts caused on the local forest community. We collected data from an ultralight Flyer GT aircraft equipped with a vertical camera. The images were taking in June and July 2015, when
H. dulcis
trees have shed their leaves, displaying a gray color, and September and October 2015, when the leaves are young and with a light green color. Based on the methodology proposed trough aerial monitoring by photogrammetry, the results indicated that the total invaded area by
H. dulcis
in the Green Belt of Santa Cruz do Sul County, RS, was 131.8 ha, corresponding to 20.9% of the total area. To validate this method, a quantitative comparison between the result from a terrestrial fieldwork carried out and the proposed method showed no significant differences in the estimated area occupied by
H. dulcis
. We concluded that these results validate the proposed aerial assessment method.
Abstract Fungi and Aves are present in all ecosystems and interact with a variety of organisms. The purpose of this study was to compile and analyze in the literature the mycophagy and association of ...birds with fungi to evaluate the aspects of interaction habits and habitat in natural and industrial environments. In this study, 64 species of wild birds were found with documented interactions involving fungi. However, only 32 had the consumed or used-for-nesting fungi species fully identified. In these cases, there is a correlation between the birds’ foraging habits and the habitats of fungi. According to the findings of this review study, birds’ foraging habits are closely linked to fungi habitats in relation the interactions between the groups. Also, the poultry industry is increasingly using mushrooms as a nutritional supplement due to their benefits. Despite the limited knowledge about the nutritional benefits of these associations in the wild, results from the industry indicate that the benefits would be similar.
Resumo Fungos e aves estão presentes em todos os ecossistemas, interagindo com uma variedade de organismos. Este estudo teve como objetivo compilar dados na literatura sobre a micofagia e analisar as associações das aves com fungos, avaliando os aspectos de hábitos e habitats nos ambientes naturais e industriais. Neste estudo, foram encontradas 64 espécies de aves silvestres com interações documentadas envolvendo fungos. No entanto, apenas 32 tiveram as espécies de fungos consumidas ou usadas para nidificação completamente identificadas. Nestes casos, há uma correlação entre os hábitos de forrageamento das aves e os habitats dos fungos. De acordo com os resultados desta revisão, os hábitos de forrageamento das aves estão intimamente ligados aos habitats dos fungos em relação às interações entre os grupos. Além disso, a indústria avícola está utilizando cada vez mais cogumelos como suplemento nutricional devido aos seus benefícios. Apesar do conhecimento limitado sobre os benefícios nutricionais dessas associações na natureza, os resultados da indústria indicam que os benefícios podem ser similares.
Understanding the influence of soil-forming factors and processes in ornithogenic soils is important to predict impacts of climate change on Antarctic ecosystems. Herein, we analyzed the ...soil-landscape interplays and development of ornithogenic soils at Harmony Point (HP), Nelson Island. We collected, described, and classified 24 soil profiles, combined with vegetation and landforms descriptions. Geoprocessing techniques were employed for mapping. Soil physical, chemical, geochemical, and mineralogical analyses were applied. Patterned ground, "Ornithogenic"/Typic Gelorthent, and moss carpets were the dominant landform, soil and vegetation classes, respectively. Soils from rocky outcrops were more structured, acidic, with higher organic carbon, organometallic complexes, and secondary phosphate minerals, due to former bird influence. Soils from cryoplanated platforms presented higher water pH, base saturation, clay content, and secondary silicate minerals. Soils from marine terraces presented high exchangeable bases, phosphorous, and amorphous phosphate minerals. Soil chemical weathering is enhanced by ornithogenesis and widespread in HP. Besides ornithogenesis, organic matter accumulation, cryoturbation, and cryoclastic processes are also important to pedogenesis of ornithogenic soils. The soils of the cryoplanated platforms exhibited a gradient of pedogenetic development corresponding to increasing biota influence and distance from glacier. In contrast, soils of rocky outcrops were more developed even close to the glacier, due to ornithogenesis.
In association with lichens, bacteria can play key roles in solubilizing sources of inorganic phosphates that are available in the environment. In this study, the potential of bacteria isolated from ...15 Antarctic lichen samples for phosphate solubilization was investigated. From 124 bacteria tested, 66 (53%) were positive for phosphate solubilization in solid NBRIP medium, with a higher prevalence of
Pseudomonas
, followed by
Caballeronia
and
Chryseobacterium
. Most of the phosphate-solubilizing bacteria were isolated from
Usnea auratiacoatra
, followed by
Caloplaca regalis
and
Xanthoria candelaria
. Two isolates showed outstanding performance,
Pseudomonas
sp. 11.LB15 and
Pseudomonas
sp. 1.LB34, since they presented solubilization in the temperature range from 15.0 to 30.0 °C, and maximum quantification of soluble phosphate at 25.0 °C was 511.21 and 532.07 mg/L for
Pseudomonas
sp. 11.LB15 and
Pseudomonas
sp. 1.LB34, respectively. At 30.0 °C soluble phosphate yield was 639.43 and 518.95 mg/L with pH of 3.74 and 3.87 for
Pseudomonas
sp. 11.LB15 and
Pseudomonas
sp. 1.LB34, respectively. Fumaric and tartaric acids were released during the solubilization process. Finally, bacteria isolated from Antarctic lichens were shown to have the potential for phosphate solubilization, opening perspectives for future application in the agricultural sector and contributing to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.
In the Antarctic environment, yeasts are versatile eukaryotes that have shown wide dispersion in different substrates, producing active enzymes in extreme conditions, but their relevance in ...biotechnological applications is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of extracellular hydrolases by yeasts isolated from Antarctic lichens and molecularly identify these isolates. From a total of 144 isolates on the screening, 109 (76%) produced at least one of the hydrolases tested, with most activities for proteases 59 (41%), cellulases 58 (40%), esterases 57 (39%), lipases 29 (20%), amylases 23 (16%) and pectinases 20 (14%). Among these isolates, 76 were identified, most belonged to the phylum Basidiomycota (n=73) with the dominance of Vishniacozyma victoriae (n=27), Cystobasidium alpinum (n=3), Mrakia niccombsii (n=3), Cystobasidium laryngis (n=2), Bannozyma yamatoana (n=2), Holtermanniella nyarrowii (n=2), and Glaciozyma martinii (n=2). This study is the first one reporting extracellular enzyme production by yeasts isolated from thallus of the species of Antarctic lichens Lecania brialmontii, Polycauliona candelaria, Usnea capillacea, Cladonia metacorallifera, and Polycauliona regalis. With these data, it's possible to confirm lichens as a source of hydrolase-producing yeasts, reinforcing the potential of these microorganisms in bioprospecting studies of catalytic molecules from polar regions that may be useful in promising biotechnological applications.
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