The Genus Plagiothecium Schimp. (Plagiotheciaceae, Bryophyta) in Eurasia: An Annotated Checklist with Distribution and Ecological Data

An annotated checklist of the pleurocarpous moss genus Plagiothecium in Eurasia is presented for the first time based on a thorough review of the literature. Data have been compiled from previous relevant works conducted on the genus over more than 70 years and published up to the end of June 2020 for 107 Eurasian countries (and islands). Sectional classification is based on molecular phylogeny of the genus published recently. A total of 41 taxa are reported, including 29 species and 12 infraspecific taxa (nine varieties and three forms) belonging to eight sections. The highest numbers of taxa were found in China (20 taxa), the Russian Federation (20 taxa) and Japan (18 taxa), while the smallest numbers of taxa were recorded in the Middle East, Central Asia and the islands area. Not a single species of Plagiothecium was recorded in 26 regions, whereas P. denticulatum, P. nemorale and P. cavifolium turned out to be the most widespread species in the entire study area. They were recorded in most of the surveyed countries and islands. For each accepted taxon, information on relevant literature, synonyms, distribution within Eurasia and globally are provided. Comments on each taxon, ecological preferences, and notes on doubtful records are also included. Additionally, distribution maps for each recognised taxon are supplied. This checklist can enlighten and foster a better understanding of the distribution, diversity, and ecology of Plagiothecium in Eurasia and provides an incentive for future research on the genus.

INFLUENCE OF INCREMENT FELLING ON RECOURSES OF BILBERRY IN NORTH URALS MID-MOUNTAIN FOREST GROWING PROVINCE

Представлены результаты изучения влияния проходных рубок на запасы черники обыкновенной Vaccinium myrtillus L. в условиях насаждений ельников мшистого и зеленомошно-ягодникового Североуральской среднегорной лесорастительной провинции Свердловской области. В данных лесорастительных условиях такие исследования были проведены впервые. Необходимость изучения влияния хозяйственной деятельности на ресурсы дикорастущих плодов и ягод обусловлена значительной вовлечённостью в рубку участков произрастания промышленных зарослей дикорастущих ягодников. В основу исследования был положен метод пробных площадей. Всего заложено 8 пробных площадей: из них 4 в насаждениях, прой- денных проходной рубкой, и 4 контрольных. Для контроля были подобраны аналогичные по лесорасти- тельным условиям насаждения, в которых проходные рубки не проводились. На пробных площадях опре- делялись показатель надземной фитомассы растений живого напочвенного покрова в абсолютно сухом состоянии и текущая урожайность ягод черники обыкновенной в свежесобранном виде. Было установле- но, что следствием проходной рубки является увеличение надземной фитомассы черники обыкновенной в 3–12, а урожайности плодов в 6–15 раз. Заросли черники обыкновенной во всех насаждениях ельника зеленомошно-ягодникового после проходной рубки имеют большое хозяйственное значение и могут быть использованы для организации промышленной заготовки. Урожайность плодов черники обыкновенной в свежесобранном виде составляет 98,2–326,0 кг/га. Наибольшими запасами черники обыкновенной об- ладают насаждения с преобладанием сосны обыкновенной в составе древостоя, где урожайность черники обыкновенной – 211,9–326,0 кг/га в свежесобранном состоянии. При отсутствии проходной рубки в при- спевающих насаждениях заросли черники не имеют хозяйственной значимости. Для черничников в на- саждениях ельника мшистого интенсивности проходной рубки недостаточно для формирования зарослей, пригодных для промышленной заготовки ягод. The paper presents results of a study of infl uence of increment felling on recourses of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. in conditionals of «spruce mossy» and «pleurocarpous moss and berry spruce» forests types of North Ural Mid-mountain forest growing province. This study is fi rst in this forest growing conditions and this aria. Sites of growth of productive thickets of wild-growing fruit and berry plants are signifi cantly involved in clear cutting, for this reason there is a need to study the infl uence of cutting of trees on resources of wild growing berries. The method of test plots forms the basis of the study. We have created 8 test plots. Of these, 4 test plots is located in forest after increment felling and 4 test plots is located in forest without increment felling. Index of the above-ground phytomass of plants in air dry condition of above-ground cover and mass of berries freshly picked of bilberry was determined. It has been found that above-ground phytomass of bilberry increases by 3–12 times, and mass of berries freshly picked by 6–15 times after increment felling. Bilberry of «pleurocarpous moss and berry» spruce forest type after increment felling has great value for the organization of industrial harvesting. Mass of berries freshly picked of bilberry is 98,2–326,0 kg/ha in conditions of this forest type. The pine- dominated forest has the largest reserves of bilberry. Harvest of freshly picked bilberry in pine-dominated forest is 211,9–326,0 kg/ha. Recourses of bilberry of forest without increment felling does not economic signifi cance. Increment felling in forest of «spruce mossy forests type» not enough for highly productive of bilberry.

Bryostroma popei — a new bryophilous ascomycete from the British Isles, with a worldwide key to the genus Bryostroma

SummaryThe bryophilous Bryostroma popei is a novel ascomycete that infects the pleurocarpous moss Leptodictyum riparium. The morphology of the new species is described, illustrated and compared to other species in the genus. A key to the nine species of Bryostroma is provided.

Cleaning a taxonomic dustbin: placing the European Hypnum species in a phylogenetic context!

The pleurocarpous moss genus Hypnum s.l. is a species-rich (> 40 species) cosmopolitan genus, of which 21 taxa occur in Europe. Although several of these species show high morphological resemblance there are strong indications that the genus is highly paraphyletic, which may be masked by convergent morphological evolution. Using molecular information, we analyse whether the morphological similarity of gametophytes of the European Hypnum taxa is explained by common ancestry or convergence. We provide a phylogenetic reconstruction of the relationships of the currently recognized European Hypnum taxa in a broad pleurocarpous moss context (192 taxa) using the nuclear ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, the plastid rps4 gene and trnL-F, and the mitochondrial nad5 intron. Bayesian tree topologies show that the genus is polyphyletic, and we retain only the Hypnum cupressiforme complex within Hypnum. The genus originally represented half of the moss species diversity, as it accommodated basically all pleurocarpous mosses; here we retain only seven species and one variety. The remainder of the species where resolved either within the three families Amblystegiaceae, Entodontaceae, and Pylaisiaceae, or in an independent clade that we describe as the new family Stereodontaceae. The Stereodontaceae includes five European species, all in the genus Stereodon, where they were already placed in the 18th century. In addition, we describe the four new genera Aquilonium, Insomniella, Jochenia, and Lignocariosa, and make new combinations for several Hypnum species.

The Influence of the Composition of the Forest on Spruce Drying

Plantions of pleurocarpous moss spruce forest type are dominant in the area of coniferous-deciduous (mixed) forests of the European part of the Russian Federation in Perm region. The problem of drying of spruce forests has aggravated dramatically in recent years. However, among scientists there is no consensus on the causes of the drying of spruce forests, which hinders the development of recommendations on improvement of forest management in spruce forests. In this regard spruce plantations in Perm region are not exceptions. On the basis of acts of forest pathology survey, drying of pleurocarpous moss spruce forest with different composition of forest stands is analyzed. The drying area for the period from 2010 to 2016 at Ocherskoe forestry in Perm region (forest area of coniferous-deciduous (mixed) forests of the European part of the Russian Federation) is mapped to a planted area of pleurocarpous moss spruce forest of different species composition. It was found that there was no drying out spots for the analyzed period in plantings of pleurocarpous moss spruce forest with a mixture of softwood species. As well as stands with admixture of fir and birch are characterized by high resistance. Among the identified drying out spots of spruce the most represented are plantations which contain of spruce, fir and pine (28.1 % of the total area of drying out spots), as well as spruce, fir, pine and birch (22.56 % of the total area of drying out spots). Data on the influence of the composition of the forest on mortality of spruce in the conditions of pleurocarpous moss spruce forest can be used in forming thinnings, as well as creation of forest crops.

Phylogeny of Neckeropsis and Himantocladium (Neckeraceae, Bryophytina)

Two closely related tropical genera from the pleurocarpous moss family Neckeraceae are revised: the second largest genus in the family, Neckeropsis, currently with 29 species, and Himantocladium, comprising six species. Twenty-one species of Neckeropsis and five of Himantocladium were included in this study, which is based on phylogenetic analyses using sequence level data from the plastid (rps4)-trnT-trnL-trnF cluster and rpl16 as well as nuclear ITS1 & 2. Neckeropsis appeared as polyphyletic. Neckeropsis s. str. comprises 12 species and a further four species, not included in the analysis, are tentatively retained in the genus based on morphology. Four new genera are segregated from Neckeropsis: Pengchengwua (with one sp.), Planicladium (two spp.), Pseudoparaphysanthus (five spp.), and Neckeromnion (five spp.). Neckeropsis gracilis is synonymized with Neckeromnion urocladum and reported for the first time from Laos. Four molecular analyzed species are resolved in the Himantocladium s. str. clade, with a fifth species being added solely on morphological basis. Himantocladium formosicum is transferred to Neckeropsis. Leaf-like paraphyses (ramenta), unique in Neckeropsis s. str., have evolved two times. In addition, the rare Noguchiodendron sphaerocarpum from the Himalayan region, the single species in its genus, was included in a phylogenetic analysis for the first time and it was found to be closely related to the Asian genus Taiwanobryum.

Molecular and morphological circumscription of Brachythecium coruscum as a separate taxon from Brachythecium albicans (Brachytheciaceae, Bryophyta)

Nuclear ITS, and chloroplast rpl16 and trnG sequences, together with morphological data, were used to circumscribe some problematic taxa within the complex around the pleurocarpous moss Brachythecium albicans. Brachythecium coruscum is consistently different from B. albicans, and its description is here amended. On the contrary, segregation of Brachythecium dumetorum from B. albicans is unsupported both according to molecular and morphological data, and the two taxa are therefore considered to be synonyms.