Blanka Shaw's PROJECTS
1. Biosystematic study of genus Philonotis (Bartramiaceae, Bryophyta) in Europe
3. Diversity and dynamics of Bryophyte vegetation in spruce forests of the Šumava National Park
1. Biosystematic study of genus Philonotis (Bartramiaceae, Bryophyta) in Europe
The
genus Philonotis (Bartramiaceae, Bryophyta) is a species-rich genus of
mosses in the family Bartramiaceae SCHWÄGR., which includes mosses with acrocarpous
gametophytes and diplolepideous peristomes on globose or shortly ovoid capsules.
Philonotis has been placed in subfamily Breutelioideae GRIFFIN & BUCK on
the basis of morphological characters; axillary hairs consisting of 2 or more
short cells with the apical one usually globose and the basal one(s) colored,
papillose rhizoids, leaves usually not disposed in rows, exostome teeth not united,
and operculum umbonate to conic. Basic chromosome number for this group is n =
6 (Griffin & Buck 1989).
The genus Philonotis (Bartramiaceae, Bryophyta) is distributed worldwide in wet environments such as springs, mires, wet ditches, flushes, and on dripping rocks. Species of the genus display high levels of morphological variability and almost 500 species have been described. The huge number of described species, many with extremely broad distributions, and high levels of seemingly continuous morphological variability have caused taxonomic difficulties at the infrageneric and specific levels. While exceptionally high levels of morphological variation have led to difficult taxonomic problems, this same feature of the genus makes Philonotis especially exciting object for ecological and studying evolutionary processes in mosses.
I
have studied morphological and genetic variation in selected Philonotis
species. Investigation of the herbarium specimens of European taxa in Northern
Hemisphere, and natural populations including mixed stands in field conditions
in various parts of Europe, gave rise questions about variation in Philonotis
on the levels of both genotype and phenotype.
Published or ready-to-publish papers about Philonotis:
Buryová B. (2004): Genetic variation in two closely related species of Philonotis
based on isozymes. - Bryologist 107: 316-327.
Buryová B. & Shaw A.J. 2005.
Phenotypic plasticity in Philonotis fontana (Bryopsida: Bartramiaceae).
- Journal of Bryology 27:12-23.
Buryová B. & Hradílek Z.: Clonal
structure, habitat age, and conservation value in the moss Philonotis marchica
in Kotouč quarry (Czech Republic) [submitted]
Determination
key for Philonotis species in the Czech Republic is available online
in Czech as part of project "Bryophytes
of the Czech Republic" English version containing all European species
is available here).
This project was supported by the grant No. 101/1998/B BIO/PrF from the Grant Agency of Charles University in 1998-1999.
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2. Alpine biodiversity: A synthesis of bryological data from the selected biodiversity centres of two mountain ranges in the High Sudetes
The
project aim is to demonstrate significance of the alpine Bryophyte elements of
the High Sudetes to the world and European distribution of selected arctic-alpine
and boreo-montane species. These mountains represent the outposts for the alpine
elements to north of Alps and probable relict refugees from the period of glaciation.
Another aim of this project is objectivisation of the generally accepted or occasionally
doubted data on the distribution of selected phytogeographically important or
interesting elements from the mountains.
In co-operation with J. Kučera (University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice), M. Zmrhalová (The Šumperk District Museum), V. Plášek (The Silesian Museum, Opava and University of Ostrava, Ostrava), J. Váňa and I. Vacínová (Charles University, Prague).
This project was supported by the grant No. 206/01/0411 from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic in 2001-2003.
Published or ready-to-publish papers about Krkonoše Mts. (Sudetes, Central Europe):
Kučera J., Zmrhalová M., Buryová B., Košnar J., Plášek V., Váňa J. (2004): Bryoflora of the Upska jama cirque and adjacent localities of the Eastern Krkonoše Mts. – Časopis Slezského Muzea, serie A, 53: 143-173.
Kučera J., Zmrhalová M., Buryová B., Košnar J., Plášek V., Váňa J. (2004): Bryoflora of the glacial cirques of the Western Krkonoše Mts. – Časopis Slezského Muzea, serie A, 53: 1-47.
Kučera J., Hradílek Z., Buryová B. et Hájek P. (2003): Hypnum sauteri and Lescuraea patens, two additions to the moss flora of the Czech Republic. – Preslia 75: 255-262.
Kučera J. et Buryová B. (2002): Mechorosty vrcholových oblastí východních Krkonoš [Bryophytes of the summit regions in the Eastern Krkonoše Mts]. – In: Štursa J., Mazurski K.R. & Pałucki A. (eds.): Geoekologické problémy Krkonoš, sborník příspěvků, září 2000, Svoboda n. Úpou., Opera Corcontica 37 (2000): 259-264 [in Czech].
Kučera J. et Buryová B. (2001): Bryofloristic survey of the summit region of the Eastern Krkonoše Mts. (Czech Republic). – Opera Corcontica 36, 1999, 105-132.
Buryová B. et Kučera J. (1999): Two interesting bryofloristic records from the Krkonoše Mts - Racomitrium macounii subsp. alpinum and Grimmia reflexidens. – Preslia 71: 21-26.
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3. Diversity and dynamics of bryophyte vegetation in spruce forests of the Šumava National Park
In
recent years large spruce forest dieback in the Šumava
National Park can be attributed to the unsuitable age structure, genetic and
spatial composition of the spruce forests, to the effect of air pollution and
subsequent insect attack (namely bark beetles Yps sp.).
The aims of the study were:
- (1) Evaluation of the effect of different management practices (spontaneous tree-fall of damaged trees left in situ or removal of dead trees) on the diversity and dynamics of bryophyte populations (Wild et Buryová, in prep.)
- (2) study of bryophyte diversity in living spruce forest and in sites with different management of dead trees (Neuhäuslová Z. et Buryová B. (2001), Soldán Z. et Buryová B. (2001), Buryová 2002)
This study was part of the grant No. 206/99/1416 (Dr. Neuhäuslová) from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic.
Published or ready-to-publish papers about Šumava Mts. (Sudetes, Central Europe):
Buryová B. (2002): Zajímavé nálezy mechorostů na Šumavě v letech 2000-2001 [Interesting findings of bryophytes in the Šumava Mts in period 2000-2001]. – Bryonora 29: 10-12 [in Czech].
Neuhäuslová Z. et Buryová B. (2001): 15. Rašeliníková smrčina (Sphagno-Piceetum). – In: The map of potential natural vegetation of the Šumava National Park. Explanatory text. Silva Gabreta, Supplementum 1, pp. 61-62, 123-124, 182-183 [in Czech, English, German].
Soldán Z. et Buryová B. (2001): Recentní nálezy tří nezvěstných druhů bryoflóry České republiky [Recent findings of three missing species in the bryoflora of the Czech Republic]. – Bryonora 28: 14-19 [in Czech].
All projects were also kindly supported by the grants AV0Z6005908 and KSK6005114 from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic to the Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
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