Monday, August 11, 2014

New article published - A new species of Sematophyllum (Sematophyllaceae) from South Africa and a key to the southern African species of the genus

Authors: Paulo E.A.S. Câmara, Jacques van Rooy

Abstract

During a revision of the Sematophyllaceae for the Flora of Southern Africa project, we found a new species of Sematophyllum. Aquatic with poorly developed alar region, it is one of the biggest of the genus in southern Africa. It is only known from the Afromontane region and is not particularly threatened inasmuch as it occurs in a number of protected areas. Details of its morphological characters are illustrated and the geographical distribution mapped. A key to the species of Sematophyllum in southern Africa is also provided.

Published in  The Bryologist 117(3): 297-300. 2014: Click Here

New dissertation published - Survey of the bryophytes of a gallery forest in the National Park of Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Author: Ronaldo Viveiros de Sousa
Advisor: Paulo Eduardo Aguiar Saraiva Câmara 

Abstract

The Serra do Cipo has attracted the interest of many researchers over the years because of its unique characteristics, among them, because it is the site of transition between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. The sampled area of Serra do Cipo in this study is located along the Gallery Forest córrego Três Pontinhas, coordinates 19°16'00" S and 43°32'49" W, altitude of 1,188 meters. The objective of this study was to survey the Division Bryophyta in gallery forest of stream Três Pontinhas in the National Park of Serra do Cipo, MG. A collection was held during the month of November 2009. A second collection was conducted in July of 2011, and both samples followed the methodology of collecting random samples being collected from all visible material. In total 176 herbarium specimens were examined. Were inventoried 15 families, 26 genera, 43 species and 4 varieties. The families with the largest number of species were: Leucobryaceae (10 species), Sematophyllaceae (9 spp.) and Calymperaceae (6 spp.). Fissidentaceae had 3 spp., Bryaceae, Pylaisiadelphaceae, Pottiaceae and Orthotrichaceae had 2 spp. each and Brachytheciaceae, Cryphaeaceae, Fabroniaceae, Helicophyllaceae, Hypnaceae, Polytrichaceae and Sphagnaceae had only 1 sp. each family. Was recorded three new records for the state of Minas Gerais. Descriptions, keys and illustration are presented.

Language: Portuguese

Published in Institutional Repository of the University of Brasilia: Click here

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

New article published - A Molecular Phylogeny of the Moss Genus Taxithelium (Pylaisiadelphaceae) Based on Plastid, Mitochondrial and Nuclear Markers

Authors: Paulo E.A.S. Câmara, Jonathan Shaw

Abstract

To test infrageneric classification and species delimitation within the pantropical moss genus Taxithelium (Pylaisiadelphaceae), we constructed a molecular phylogeny using three chloroplast loci (trnL, psbT and rps4), three mitochondrial loci (rps3, nad5 and nad4–5) and the nuclear marker ho1. Analyses of each locus separately and in various combinations, all support the monophyly of Taxithelium. Two major clades corresponding to taxonomically recognized subgenera were resolved within the genus. The first clade is composed of at least five smaller groups, four of which only include Southeast Asian plants and one is from the Americas and Africa; the latter is nested within the Southeast Asian groups. The second group appears to have a Southeast Asian origin with two dispersal events into America. Taxithelium is highly variable morphologically and includes plants with pluripapillose leaf cells as well as plants that lack papillae. Our data show that species T. nepalense, T. leptosigmatum, T. concavum, T. instratum, T. lindbergii and T. isocladum are each demonstrably monophyletic. On the other hand, T. planum and T. kerianum as circumscribed today are polyphyletic. The ho1 nuclear locus is used for the first time, with promising results for moss phylogenetic investigation.

Published in Systematic Botany (2013), 38 (4) - Full article: Click here

Saturday, January 4, 2014

New article published - Morphology and development of leaf papillae in the Pilotrichaceae

Authors: Ana Gabriela Duarte-Silva, Micheline Carvalho-Silva, Paulo Eduardo Aguiar Saraiva Câmara

Abstract

Sporophyte morphology has been traditionally used in pleurocarpous moss taxonomy. However, in the Pilotrichaceae gametophytic morphology still holds interesting and under-investigated characters. We investigated in greater depth the morphology and development of leaf papillae in the family and assess their usefulness to infer the family’s evolutionary history. Specimens were observed under the scanning electron microscope and seven morphological kinds of papillae were identified, as well as two different pathways of development. Results suggest that papilla morphology and development are phylogenetically informative in the Pilotrichaceae.

Published in Acta Botanica Brasilica, Vol. 27, No 4 (2013) - Full article: Click here