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Novel biogenic aggregation of moss gemmae on a disappearing African glacier.


ABSTRACT: Tropical regions are not well represented in glacier biology, yet many tropical glaciers are under threat of disappearance due to climate change. Here we report a novel biogenic aggregation at the terminus of a glacier in the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. The material was formed by uniseriate protonemal moss gemmae and protonema. Molecular analysis of five genetic markers determined the taxon as Ceratodon purpureus, a cosmopolitan species that is widespread in tropical to polar region. Given optimal growing temperatures of isolate is 20-30 °C, the cold glacier surface might seem unsuitable for this species. However, the cluster of protonema growth reached approximately 10 °C in daytime, suggesting that diurnal increase in temperature may contribute to the moss's ability to inhabit the glacier surface. The aggregation is also a habitat for microorganisms, and the disappearance of this glacier will lead to the loss of this unique ecosystem.

SUBMITTER: Uetake J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4234412 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Novel biogenic aggregation of moss gemmae on a disappearing African glacier.

Uetake Jun J   Tanaka Sota S   Hara Kosuke K   Tanabe Yukiko Y   Samyn Denis D   Motoyama Hideaki H   Imura Satoshi S   Kohshima Shiro S  

PloS one 20141117 11


Tropical regions are not well represented in glacier biology, yet many tropical glaciers are under threat of disappearance due to climate change. Here we report a novel biogenic aggregation at the terminus of a glacier in the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. The material was formed by uniseriate protonemal moss gemmae and protonema. Molecular analysis of five genetic markers determined the taxon as Ceratodon purpureus, a cosmopolitan species that is widespread in tropical to polar region. Given optim  ...[more]

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