Search

The Tropical Peruvian Andes host a great ecosystem diversity such as the montane cloud forest at the southern east slopes. The subaerial moist habitats along the Alccamayo creek belong to Aguas Calientes, Cusco . They were evaluated in winter (august 2017) between 2184 and 3000 m of elevation with the mean temperature between 16 and 18°C. In the southern highland Andean, the cryosphere of the Allincapac glaciers, Carabaya Cordillera, Puno, was evaluated in summer season (february 2018) between 4500 and 4700 m elevation. The thermogradients were between 0 and 10°C and pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Collections of subaerophytic assemblages with litophilic, and chasmolithic microalgae and cyanobacterial were carried out by scraped the biofilms or crusts from the cliffs of calcareous rock surfaces or ice layers. Highland colonization (Allincapac glacier) by the cryophilic streptophyte Mesotaenium berggrenii morphospecies showed its adaptation to freeze and desiccation conditions as well as deglaciation and hydrated periods. At tropical lowland elevation gradient the Andean mesophilic species M. macrococcum, and M. chlamydosporum were recognized by its morphotypes (colonial, unicells) as well as survival strategies and propagation (complex extracellular polymers, chromatic adaptation). M. berggrenii, M. macrococcum, and M. chlamydosporum are new record species for the Peruvian microalgae flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peruvian terrestrial ecosystems encompass an extension about 71% of the world's tropical glaciers. The cryosphere in the surroundings of Allincapac mountain glacier, Carabaya Cordillera, southern Peruvian Andes was evaluated between 4500 and 4700 m of altitude. Standard collections of cyanobacteria and microalgae were done by scraping the biofilms or crusts from cliffs or slopes of calcareous mountains. They were carried out in summer season (February 2018) and winter (August 2017). The thermogradients were between 0 and 10 °C and pH between 6.0 and 6.5. This extreme ecosystem, threatened by the climate change, has habitats colonized by litophilic, chasmolithic and subaerophytic communities. Colonization of cryophilic cyanobacteria and microalgae with dominance of colonial thalli of Nostoc commune showed their adaptation to freeze and desiccation, as well as deglaciation and hydration periods. Phenotypic variability in N. commune was recognized by its morphotypes (hormogonial stage, seriate and aseriate growth, sheath structure, heterocysts and akinetes development) during the stages of the life cycle. In addition, its phenotypic plasticity is favored by morphophysiological strategies against freeze and thaw, desiccation, ultraviolet radiation (complex mucilage), by its diazotrophic ability, and ecological strategies for propagation and survival (akinetes) in the highlands. Therefore, this cryophilic species can be considered as candidate for extraterrestrial experiments during space missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical terrestrial ecosystems have diverse habitats such as the aerophytic communities in the Central Highlands of Peru (3200 m of altitude) at Huancahuasi town, department of Lima, in the western region of South America. We made cyanobacterial collections of aerophytic and subaerophytic communities with gelatinous biofilms which colonized substrates with carbonates and iron cumulations from thermal water effluents with thermogradients between 35 and 40 °C and pH 6.0-6.5. Phenotypic variability in the filaments of the Andean morphospecies of Brasilonema with its morphological and functional differentiation (trichome constriction, celular dimensions, sheath structure and thickness, hormogonia) showed its potential as criptic species. This genus with the Brasilonema cf. tolantongense species is a new record for our country. Phenotypic plasticity of this species with diversity of morphotypes with sheath and calyptra protectors, branches and hormogonia are life and ecological strategies for its dispersion in aerophytic extremophile habitats for successful colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "tara" or "taya" Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kuntze (Fabaceae) is a South American species of biological, economic and cultural importance. Its fruits and seeds are used in medicine, food and industry, and mainly come from wild populations. Peru is the main exporter of "tara" and the Cajamarca Region is the second largest producer in this country. However, studies on the morphological variability of the species are scarce and confusing, which limits its use, study and conservation. Studies indicate that the discriminating morphological characters are found in the fruit (pod) and the seed. Fifty-six samples of pods from nine provinces of the Cajamarca region were gathered. Through direct observation and specialized literature, eleven basic descriptors of fruit and seed were established to determine the variability of germplasm. The data was entered into a basic data matrix and processed with the NTSYS 2.2 program. Seven morphotypes (clusters) were identified: Giant, distributed in Cajamarca, Contumazá and Chota; White and Red, distributed in the nine provinces; Bearded, exclusive of Celendín; Jancos, distributed in Cajamarca, San Pablo and Santa Cruz; Ista, distributed in Cajamarca and Contumazá; and Globose, distributed in Cajamarca. The first five main components explained 73% of the total variance and the characters that contributed the most to this variance were yarn location, seed shape, pod length/width ratio, color of the opposite side to the sun, surface appearance of the pod, presence of glandular hairs in the pod, weight of the seed and long/wide relation of the seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical coastal desert ecosystems are widely distributed in the west of South America. In spite of the arid lands, the water availability from the wet sea fog drifted from the Pacific Ocean to coastal hills (lomas) and the annual winter fluctuating drizzles favor the development of extreme cyanobacterial communities. The evaluated area was located in Pachacamac lomas, south of Lima and the standard cyanobacterial collections (crusts, biofilms or terrestrial mats) were carried out irregularly in 1995 and 2012. Cyanobacterial cultures in BBM and N8 media generated the population growth of Pseudophormidium tenue Anagnostidis & Komárek with diverse morphotypes. This species, new record for our country, was part of the biofilm structure mainly and it was reassigned to the present taxa according to the polyphasic approach already established. Phenotypic plasticity of P. tenue with morphotypes formation is related to its life strategies such as its thalli ramifications with a notorious sheath formation under stress conditions for successful colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]