Integrative Descriptions of Two New Tardigrade Species along with the New Record of Mesobiotus skorackii Kaczmarek et al., 2018 from Canada

Two new tardigrade species from a moss sample collected in Canada, one representing Macrobiotus hufelandi complex and the second one belonging to the genus Bryodelphax, are described. Integrative analysis was undertaken based on morphological and morphometric data (using both light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) combined with multilocus molecular analysis (nuclear sequences, i.e., 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2 as well as mitochondrial COI barcode sequences). Based on COI sequences, Macrobiotus birendrai sp. nov. is most similar to Mac. canaricus (p-distance 17%), whereas Bryodelphax mareki sp. nov. is most similar to Bry. parvulus (p-distance 16%). Both species differ also from their congeners in some morphological and morphometric characters of adults and/or details of egg chorion. Additionally, a large population of Mesobiotus skorackii was found in the sample and this is the first report of this species outside its terra typica in Kirghizia. The original description of this species was prepared based solely on the morphology and morphometry, therefore, here we provide updated data for this species enclosing morphometric and molecular data for the Canadian population.

Water capacity of red-stemmed feathermoss (Pleurozium schreberi Mitt.)

<p>Mosses (bryophyta) have the ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water. This property results from the specific way in which these organisms uptake, conduct, and store water.</p><p>The aim of the study was to investigate the water storage capacity (S) of red-stemmed feathermoss<strong> </strong>Pleurozium schreberi (Mitt.) in the fresh state (current capacity) and after drying (maximum capacity), depending on the initial moisture content, and depending on the percentage of the various structural parts of the moss sample which included soil.</p><p>Forty moss samples of equal size were used in the study; they were sprayed with a constant dose of water in laboratory conditions. The actual water capacity was obtained from the difference in the weight of the sample after spraying with a constant dose of water, and the weight of the sample in the fresh state. After the stimulated rainfall cycle, the samples were divided into individual fractions (part with green leaves, stalks and rhizoids, and soil) and dried in an airoven for 24 hours at 105<sup>o</sup>C.</p><p>The weight of the dry sample, the initial moisture, the maximum water capacity, and the current water capacity were calculated. The analyses conducted led to the conclusion that water capacity of moss is extremely important for the water cycle as it retained, on average, as much as 29% of the total rainfall.</p><p>The initial moisture depends above all on the amount of soil that dominated the entire sample volume. <strong>Retention capacity of the moss must be higher than that of the soil, as each additional gram of soil reduced the initial moisture content of the samples.</strong></p><p><strong>Experiments have additionally shown that the higher the initial moisture, i.e. the more water in the fresh moss samples collected with the soil lump, the higher the maximum capacity.</strong> The calculated maximum water capacity relates to the dry weight of the entire sample. This conclusion can be compared to the water properties of soil where the wetter fresh soil is able to retain more water, and the excessively dry soil becomes hydrophobic.</p><p><strong>In turn, the higher the initial moisture, the less water is retained in the fresh moss sample after rainfall.</strong> This observation is similar to the actual situation that occurs in natural conditions, e.g. in a forest. This may be due to the fact that the more water is contained in the moss assimilation apparatus, the higher the cell turgor pressure, which makes the surface tighter. The moss absorbs water from the atmosphere, and the largest increases in retained water are recorded for drier samples. This may also result from external and internal structure of moss, which is different than in vascular plants. The leaves of bryophytes have characteristic vertical rows of cells of the collenchyma on their upper surface. Such arrangement of cells promotes water absorption.</p><p>The obtained results remain in line with the research on the hydrological properties of forest ecosystems, and they show that the role of moss in the forest is very important but not yet fully understood.</p>

Mimicking the Martian Hydrological Cycle: A Set-Up to Introduce Liquid Water in Vacuum

Liquid water is well known as the life ingredient as a solvent. However, so far, it has only been found in liquid state on this planetary surface. The aim of this experiment and technological development was to test if a moss sample is capable of surviving in Martian conditions. We built a system that simulates the environmental conditions of the red planet including its hydrological cycle. This laboratory facility enables us to control the water cycle in its three phases through temperature, relative humidity, hydration, and pressure with a system that injects water droplets into a vacuum chamber. We successfully simulated the daytime and nighttime of Mars by recreating water condensation and created a layer of superficial ice that protects the sample against external radiation and minimizes the loss of humidity due to evaporation to maintain a moss sample in survival conditions in this extreme environment. We performed the simulations with the design and development of different tools that recreate Martian weather in the MARTE simulation chamber.

Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of the Soil Ciliate Cyrtohymena seorakensis sp. n. (Ciliophora, Hypotricha, Oxytrichidae)

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Cyrtohymena seorakensis sp. n., discovered in a moss sample from South Korea, were investigated. The new species is distinguished from congeners by having rather fewer, randomly scattered, yellowish cortical granules, 23–30 adoral membranelles, invariably four transverse cirri in morphostatic specimens, and a total of 62 dorsal bristles on average. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA sequences showed that the new species clusters with an Indian population of C. citrina.

Physical and Thermal Studies of Carbon-Enriched Silicon Oxycarbide Synthesized from Floating Plants

In the present study, amorphous mesoporous silicon oxycarbide materials (SiOC) were successfully synthesized via a low-cost facile method by using potassium hydroxide activation, high temperature carbonization, and acid treatment. The precursors were obtained from floating plants (floating moss, water cabbage, and water caltrops). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the amorphous Si–O–C structure and Raman spectra revealed the graphitized carbon phase. Floating moss sample resulted in a rather rough surface with irregular patches and water caltrops sample resulted in a highly porous network structure. The rough surface of the floating moss sample with greater particle size is caused by the high carbon/oxygen ratio (1: 0.29) and low amount of hydroxyl group compared to the other two samples. The pore volumes of these floating moss, water cabbage, and water caltrops samples were 0.4, 0.49, and 0.63 cm3 g−1, respectively, resulting in thermal conductivities of 6.55, 2.46, and 1.14 Wm−1 K−1, respectively. Floating plants, or more specifically, floating moss, are thus a potential material for SiOC production.

New Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada) from Amber Mountain (Northern Madagascar)

A moss sample from the local biodiversity hotspot in lowland rainforest in the vicinity of Amber Mountain, Madagascar, yielded the discovery of twoEchiniscusC.A.S. Schultze, 1840 species, of which one is new to science.Echiniscussuccineussp. nov.is related to other members of thespinulosusgroup, but differs from them by the highly complicated structure of the dorsal plates, with intricately thickened parts of the armour forming ornamented pattern. The validity of the intraporal dark rings as a taxonomic trait is discussed in the context of the recovered intraspecific variability for the new taxon. Besides, rareEchiniscusafricanusMurray, 1907 is reported for the first time from the island.

Humics—Their History in the Radiocarbon Intercomparison Studies

ABSTRACTOver the past 30 years, the format of the radiocarbon (14C) intercomparison studies has changed, however, the selection of sample types used in these studies has remained constant—namely, natural and routinely dated materials that could subsequently be used as in-house reference materials. One such material is peat which has been used 12 times, starting with the ICS in 1988. Peat from Iceland (TIRI), Ellanmore (TIRI), Letham Moss (ICS, VIRI, and SIRI), and St Bees, UK (FIRI and VIRI) have been used, as well as a near-background peat from Siberia. In the main, these peat samples have been provided as the humic acid fraction, with the main advantage being that the humic acid is extracted in solution and then precipitated (the solution phase providing the homogenisation) which is a key requirement for a reference material. In this paper, we will revisit the peat results and explore their findings. In addition, for the last 8 years, the Letham Moss sample has been used in the SUERC 14C laboratory as an in-house standard or reference material. This has resulted in several thousand measurements. Such a rich data set is explored to illustrate the benefits arising from the intercomparison program.