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The article presents the results of tests of selected properties of plastering mortars that are based on natural gypsum binder, as well as on synthetic gypsum binder from the flue gas desulphurization process. The mortars were analyzed with regards to their durability. For the purpose of the publication, the recipe (quantitative) compositions of the plastering mortars, which differed in terms of the type of used setting retarder (PlastRetard PE and tartaric acid A200), were designed. The mortar recipes were determined experimentally, assuming that the beginning of the setting time was 120 min (the average beginning of the setting time for currently available building mortars), and that the content of the binder was 70%. The assumed research program included tests of flexural and compressive strength, surface hardness, and the adhesion to the substrate. The results of the research confirmed the possibility of modifying the recipe compositions of gypsum plastering mortars.

Molecular identification of species is especially important where traditional taxonomic methods fail. The genus Calypogeia belongs to one of the tricky taxons. The simple morphology of these species and a tendency towards environmental plasticity make them complicated in identification. The finding of the universal single-locus DNA barcode in plants seems to be ‘the Holy Grail’; therefore, researchers are increasingly looking for multiloci DNA barcodes or super-barcoding. Since the mitochondrial genome has low sequence variation in plants, species delimitation is usually based on the chloroplast genome. Unexpectedly, our research shows that super-mitobarcoding can also work! However, our outcomes showed that a single method of molecular species delimitation should be avoided. Moreover, it is recommended to interpret the results of molecular species delimitation alongside other types of evidence, such as ecology, population genetics or comparative morphology. Here, we also presented genetic data supporting the view that C. suecica is not a homogeneous species.

Seven soil samples have been collected on four islands of the Azores, in which 14 species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) were found. One new species Phthiracarus andreasi Niedbała sp. nov. from Faial Island is described. Four species have been recorded for the first time from the Azores. Molecular analysis showed that the differences in the sculpture patterns in Euphthiracarus excultus Pérez-Iñigo, 1987 represent within-species variability. However, the length of body setae can separate two different species: Phthiracarus atlanticus Pérez-Iñigo, 1987 sensu stricto and Phthiracarus falciformis Morell & Subías, 1991, despite the absence of any other morphological differences. On the basis of our morphological and molecular data, a key to species from the Azores is provided.

The cladistic classification of Phthiracaroidea (Niedbała 1986) and Euphthiracaroidea (Mahunka 1990) (Acari, Oribatida), based on morphological symplesio- and synapomorphic characters has been subjected to verification by molecular analysis of mitochondrial COI and nuclear ITS2, 18S and 28S DNA regions. Twenty-one selected species from representative genera of both superfamilies were analyzed. The phylogenetic trees generated by maximum likelihood method confirm the classification of ptyctimous mites resulting from the analysis of morphological characters. Mesoplophoridae, representing the supercohorts Enarthronota, were placed separately to the clade Mixonomata containing Phthiracaroidea and Euphthiracaroidea that are in a sister relationship. The percentage of genetic divergence between the main clades is high in three markers (COI, ITS2 and 28S), it ranges from 36.8% to 38.7% in the barcode marker COI from 26.0% to 35.4% in ITS2 and from 16.2% to 30.0% in 28S, while in 18S it is very low (1.1% - 3.3%). In the Phthiracaroidea, two sister clades Steganacaridae and Phthiracaridae are distinguished. Steganacaridae include three clades Atropacarus, Hoplophthiracarus and Steganacarus with Steganacarus and Tropacarus as the sister clades. Closely related S. (T.) carinatus and S. (T.) pulcherrimus are separate species. Within the Euphthiracaroidea, the four clades: Mesotritia, Microtritia, Acrotritia and Euphthiracarus are resolved. Mesotritia is the most distant, and Microtritia and Acrotritia show the closest relationship.

Anthoxanthum aristatumBoiss. is native to southern and western Europe and North Africa. In Central Europe this species is recognized as invasive. Its ability to colonize various habitats may result from a high level of polymorphic isozyme loci and high morphological variability. The aim of this study was to recognize the degree of genetic diversity of the studied invasive species at its non-native range limit using molecular markers. The examined plant material consisted of 70 samples collected from 7 populations originating from various habitats: arable fields, recently abandoned field and sandy grassland. Ninety-six the Directed Amplification of Minisatellite-region DNA loci and 82 Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism loci were detected. The genetic diversity at the species level was high. The majority of genetic variation was present within populations (68% and 66%), while the remaining molecular variation was distributed among populations within and among habitat types. Specimens originating from sandy grassland populations were grouped together in one cluster that was genetically distinct from the arable field and fallow populations. The high genetic diversity populations at theA. aristatumnon-native range limit in Central Europe and their marked diversity in arable field and sandy grassland habitats suggest that this species may systematically cross both geographical and ecological barriers.

The study focused on the verification of the preferential site-specific concept hypothesizing, that mineral elements could be playing an initiating role in the biological speciation within Aneura pinguis cryptic species. A. pinguis species A and soil materials were collected from three ecological sites of Poland. They underwent genetic (Aneura pinguis) and chemical analyses (soil materials) for pH, total and water soluble (active) forms of Ca, Mg, K, Na fractions. Data revealed trends in the site preference of three genetic lineages (A1, A2 and A3) of A. pinguis cryptic species A. Lineage adaptability index Ca/(Mg + K + Na) reflecting the dynamic character of site pH implied, that lineages A1 and A2 were both calciphilous. The A3 lineages were intrinsically acidophilous and this characteristics was also observed at some A1 lineages. Site concentrations of Ca and in some cases Mg too were crucial in shaping pH, but this process could have been controlled by each mineral element, individually. Calciphilous or acidophilous A. pinguis species may be “remotely” attracted by high or low Ca (or Mg) concentrations, for alkalinity or acidity emergence, respectively. Mineral richness at investigated ecological sites has possibly initiated opportunistic and specific site colonisation by A. pinguis lineages.

Aneura pinguis (L.) Dumort. is a representative of the simple thalloid liverworts, one of the three main types of liverwort gametophytes. According to classical taxonomy, A. pinguis represents one morphologically variable species, however, genetic data reveal that this species is a complex consisting of 10 cryptic species (named by letters from A to J), of which four are further subdivided into two or three evolutionary lineages. The objective of this work was to develop an efficient method for the characterisation of plant material using marker compounds. The volatile chemical constituents of cryptic species within the liverwort A. pinguis were analysed by GC-MS. The compounds were isolated from plant material using the HS-SPME technique. Of the 66 compounds examined, 40 were identified. Of these 40 compounds, nine were selected for use as marker compounds of individual cryptic species of A. pinguis. A guide was then developed that clarified how these markers could be used for the rapid identification of the genetic lineages of A. pinguis. Multivariate statistical analyses (principal component and cluster analysis) revealed that the chemical compounds in A. pinguis made it possible to distinguish individual cryptic species (including genetic lineages), with the exception of cryptic species G and H. The classification of samples based on the volatile compounds by cluster analysis reflected phylogenetic relationships between cryptic species and genetic lineages of A. pinguis revealed based on molecular data.

Background Molecular research revealed that some of the European Calypogeia species described on the basis of morphological criteria are genetically heterogeneous and, in fact, are species complexes. DNA barcoding is already commonly used for correct identification of difficult to determine species, to disclose cryptic species, or detecting new taxa. Among liverworts, some DNA fragments, recommend as universal plant DNA barcodes, cause problems in amplification. Super-barcoding based on genomic data, makes new opportunities in a species identification. Results On the basis of 22 individuals, representing 10 Calypogeia species, plastid genome was tested as a super-barcode. It is not effective in 100%, nonetheless its success of species discrimination (95.45%) is still conspicuous. It is not excluded that the above outcome may have been upset by cryptic speciation in C. suecica, as our results indicate. Having the sequences of entire plastomes of European Calypogeia species, we also discovered that the ndhB and ndhH genes and the trnT-trnL spacer identify species in 100%. Conclusions This study shows that even if a super-barcoding is not effective in 100%, this method does not close the door to a traditional single- or multi-locus barcoding. Moreover, it avoids many complication resulting from the need to amplify selected DNA fragments. It seems that a good solution for species discrimination is a development of so-called “specific barcodes” for a given taxonomic group, based on plastome data.

Chemical constituents of cryptic species detected within the liverwort Aneura pinguis were identified using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Fibre coating with divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) was used. A total of 48 samples of A. pinguis were analysed. The studied plants were identified genetically based on barcode DNA sequences and represented three cryptic species (A, B and F) of A. pinguis. Cryptic species A and B are genetically diverse; both represent three evolutionary lineages: A1, A2, A3 and B1, B2, B3, respectively. The cryptic species F that was recently detected is not diverse. The most characteristic compounds in analysed samples were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (up to 17.7% for A1; 15.7% for A2; 20.6% for A3; 7.7% for B1; 2.0% for B2; 3.7% for B3; 10.2% for F), oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (up to 68.0% for A1; 54.7% for A2; 52.6% for A3; 63.5% for B1; 88.7% for B2; 82.7% for B3; 78.8% for F), and linear aliphatic hydrocarbons (up to 14.8% for A1; 1.1% for A2; 12.1% for A3; 6.9 for B1; 5.2% for B2; 1.1% for B3; 7.0% for F). The dominant compound in the studied samples was pinguisone. The second dominant compound present in the tested plant material was deoxopinguisone, except for lineage B2, where only a small relative concentration of this compound was found. A high content of deoxopinguisone in cryptic species A (lineages A1, A2 and A3) was accompanied by the presence of isopinguisone and methyl norpinguisonate, whereas these two compounds were not detected in cryptic species B (lineages B1 and B3) and F. The chemical compounds detected in the studied samples of A. pinguis were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that the chemical composition depends mainly on the genotype of the plant and slightly on the habitat. However, there was no clear correlation between the volatile compounds and the date of collection of the studied plants.

Liparis loeselii is a rare orchid species protected in Europe, in some parts of North America and worldwide in scope of the Washington Convention (CITES). Nowadays, the range of L. loeselii is declining, mainly due to loss of its natural habitat. In this study, we reported the complete plastid (cp) genome of L. loeselii from Next-Generation Sequencing. The whole genome was 153,687 bp, consisting of a pair of inverted repeats of 25,709 bp, large single copy region and a small single copy region (84,596 and 17,673 bp in length, respectively). The cp genome contained 140 genes, including 81 protein-coding genes, 40 trRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the whole genome was 36.9%. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between L. loeselii and Dendrobium officinale.

DNA barcoding is a standard and efficient method, frequently used for identification, discrimination and discovery of new species. Although this approach is very useful for classifying the world's biodiversity, little is known about its usefulness in barcoding at lower taxonomic level and its discrimination rate for closely related species, like conifers. In this study, we compared the genetic variation of eight chloroplast DNA barcode regions (matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF, rpl20-rps18, trnV, ycf1, ycf2) in 17 conifers - three closely related pines from Pinus mugo complex and 14 more distant conifers representing two genera and four sections of the Pinaceae family. The discrimination rate for a single and for multiple DNA barcode regions analyzed in this study was estimated using the Tree-Building and PWG-Distance methods. The usefulness of the DNA barcoding approach for analyzing and resolving taxonomic inconsistency among closely related and more phylogenetically distant conifers was evaluated and discussed.

The main aim of this study was to describe the variation between the populations of the dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo Turra based on the morphological and anatomical traits of their needles, and to investigate the relationship between the observed variation and environmental conditions (altitude and substrate). Two-year-old needles were collected from 180 individuals of six populations of P. mugo growing in the Tatra Mts. Two populations were classified as dense, located at 1360–1450 m altitude, and the remaining four formed loose clusters and were situated at 1500–1650 m altitude. Four of the populations are growing on granite and two on a limestone substrate. The natural variation of 10 morpho-anatomical and 3 synthetic needle traits was measured. In addition to descriptive statistics, the analyses of variance (ANOVA) with a Tukey test and principal component analysis were computed. We also estimated Pearson correlation coefficients for the examined needle traits and altitude as well as substrate. Our results indicate that the P. mugo populations differ significantly with regard to the investigated traits for which the Trzydniowiański Wierch population was the most distinct. The observed pattern of variability is largely caused by differences in stomatal traits and these features are positive correlated with altitude. Additionally, populations growing on granite have larger values for most of the examined traits compared to populations growing on limestone.

1. Amphidium lapponicum (Hedw.) Schimp.Contributor. R. OchyraPoland. Western Carpathians, Western Beskidy Mountains: Beskid Żywiecki Range, Babia Gora massif, on the northern slope of Diablak peak,...

Aneura pinguis and Aneura maxima belong to the simple thalloid liverworts. Previous isozyme studies revealed that A. pinguis is a complex of cryptic species difficult to distinguished based on morphology. In the present study four cryptic species of the A. pinguis complex and A. maxima were examined by means of ISSR method to assess genetic variation and to develop species-specific markers. Eight ISSR primers used generated 460 bands, of which 453 were polymorphic. The highest values of resolving power 28.4 and marker index 18.1 were noted for primer 835 (AG) 8 -YC, while polymorphism information content for primer 842 (GA) 7 -AYG. The total gene diversity (H T ) based on polymorphic loci was 0.284 for A. pinguis and 0.06 for A. maxima . ISSR markers supported existence of cryptic species in A. pinguis and showed genetic isolation between them. Species-specific bands were found for all studied cryptic species of A. pinguis and A. maxima , thus ISSRs can be used for their identification. A. maxima clearly differ from all the A. pinguis cryptic species in each amplified ISSR primer. The AMOVA conducted for the A. pinguis complex showed that most of genetic variation (Φ PT 0.586) was present among species.

Calypogeia azurea, a widespread, subboreal-montane liverwort species, is one of a few representatives of the Calypogeia genus that are characterized by the occurrence of blue oil bodies. The aim of the study was to investigate the genetic variation and population structure of C. azurea originating from different parts of its distribution range (Europe and North America). Plants of C. azurea were compared with C. peruviana, another Calypogeia species with blue oil bodies. In general, 339 gametophytes from 15 populations of C. azurea were examined. Total gene diversity (HT) estimated on the basis of nine isozyme loci of C. azurea at the species level was 0.201. The mean Nei’s genetic distance between European populations was equal to 0.083, whereas the mean genetic distance between populations originating from Europe and North America was 0.413. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 69% of C. azurea genetic variation was distributed among regions (Europe and North America), 15% - among populations within regions, and 16% - within populations. Our study revealed that C. azurea showed genetic diversity within its geographic distribution. All examined samples classified as C. azurea differed in respect of isozyme patterns from C. peruviana.

The genetic diversity of five populations of Liparis loeselii from two regions of Poland, Podlachia and Silesia, was compared with respect to minisatellite markers. Moreover, the standard 2-loci barcode DNA regions, rbcL and matK genes, as well as an additional region trnL-F from chloroplast and ITS2 from nuclear genome were studied. The total genetic diversity at the species level amounted to HT = 0.356. The analysis of molecular variance revealed that 58% of genetic variation was distributed within populations, 2% among populations, and 40% between regions from NE Poland (Podlachia), and S Poland (Silesia). Nei's genetic distances indicated that specimens from the Podlachia population were genetically isolated from Silesian ones. Two genetic barriers among the studied populations were found: one barrier separated the Podlachian population from all Silesian populations and another barrier divided Kuźnica Warezynska population from other Silesian populations. Based on barcode sequences it was found that a...

The genus Aneura is represented in Poland by two species - A. pinguis and A. maxima. A. pinguis in contrast to A. maxima is a complex of cryptic species temporarily named A. pinguis species: A, B, C, and E. All species of the A. pinguis complex and A. maxima differ in their geographic distribution and habitat preferences. A. pinguis species A grows mainly on humus over limestone rocks in the Western Carpathians, A. pinguis species B occurs mainly on clay soil in Bieszczady Mts. and in clayish areas of lowlands, A. pinguis species C grows both in lowlands and mountains and it occupies mostly wet sandy soils, on the shores of oligotrophic lakes and river and mountain stream banks, A. pinguis species E is connected with calcareous rocks in flowing water in mountains. A. maxima grows over the country - both in lowlands and mountains, in marshes situated on the river banks.

1652 individuals of Aneura pinguis from Poland were surveyed for variation in 12 putative gene loci. Based on isozyme data, we distinguished three cryptic species. No evidence for gene flow between these species was found. To date, no qualitative morphological characters are available, which would allow delimitation of the cryptic species of A. pinguis. Hence, these species are not formally described, but assigned as cryptic species A, B, and C. The mean genetic distance (D) between them is 1.3393. The highest genetic variation within populations (Hs ) was found in species A, and the lowest in species B. Individual species of A. pinguis differ in their habitat preferences. Species A is the most common, it occurs mostly in the Western Carpathians, grows mainly on calcareous rocks and humus. Species B is the most frequent in the Eastern Carpathians on clay soil. Species C is the rarest, it can be found both in lowlands and mountains, but mainly in lowlands and on various substrata. All studied cryp...

Oil bodies are the unique feature of most liverworts. Their shape, color and distribution pattern in leaf and underleaf cells are important taxonomic features of the genus Calypogeia. Most species of the genus Calypogeia have pellucid and colorless oil bodies, whereas colored, including gray to pale brown, purple-brown or blue oil bodies, are rare. To date, C. azurea was the only species with blue oil bodies to have been considered as a species of the Holarctic range. This species has been noted in various parts of the northern hemisphere-from North America, through Europe to the Far East. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of C. azurea from different parts of its distribution range and to ascertain whether blue oil bodies appeared once or several times in the evolution of the genus Calypogeia. The phylogenetic analyses based on four plastid regions (rbcL, trnG, trnL, trnH-psbA) and one nuclear region (ITS2) revealed that C. azurea is presently a paraphyletic taxon, with other Calypogeia species nested among C. azurea accessions that were clustered into four different clades. Based on the level of genetic divergence (1.03-2.17%) and the observed morphological, ecological and geographical differences, the evaluated clades could be regarded as previously unrecognized species. Four species were identified: C. azurea Stotler & Crotz (a European species corresponding to the holotype), two new species from Pacific Asia-C. orientalis Buczkowska & Bakalin and C. sinensis Bakalin & Buczkowska, and a North American species which, due to the lack of identifiable morphological features, must be regarded as the cryptic species of C. azurea with a provisional name of C. azurea species NA.

Calypogeia fissa is a suboceanic-mediterrean and amphiatlantic species, which comprises two subspecies: C. fissa subsp. fissa occurring in Europe and C. fissa subsp. neogea Schust. known from North America. Recently, within the European part of distribution, three groups (PS, PB and G) were distinguished with the aid of genetic and molecular markers. The flow cytometry results revealed that two of the detected groups of the European C. fissa, which are frequent in Poland (PS and PB), differ in ploidy level: the PS group is haploid, whereas the PB group is diploid. Isozyme pattern at two loci may suggest an allopolyploid origin of the diploid PB group.

Currently, two subspecies are formally recognized within Calypogeia fissa: C. fissa subsp. fissa occurring in Europe and C. fissa subsp. neogea known from North America. Genetic studies have revealed a complex structure of this species. Within the European part of distribution, three genetically distinct groups PS, PB and G are distinguished. The combination of the SCAR marker Cal04 and PCR-RFLP markers with three restriction enzymes (SmaI, TaqI and TspGWI) allowed the recognition of all groups within the C. fissa complex. The TaqI enzyme recognizing the restriction sites in the PCR product of SCAR marker Ca104 turned out to be the best marker

The aging granulate is to activate the blowing agent during the manufacturing process to granulate models can re-expand and shape the model of well-sintered granules, smooth surface and a suitable mechanical strength. The article presents the results of studies which aim was to determine the optimum time for aging pre-foamed granules for pre-selected raw materials. The testing samples were shaped in an autoclave, with constant parameters sintering time and temperature. Samples were made at 30 minute intervals. Models have been subjected to flexural strength and hardness.

Liverwort mitogenomes are considered to be evolutionarily stable. A comparative analysis of four Calypogeia species revealed differences compared to previously sequenced liverwort mitogenomes. Such differences involve unexpected structural changes in the two genes, cox1 and atp1, which have lost three and two introns, respectively. The group I introns in the cox1 gene are proposed to have been lost by two-step localized retroprocessing, whereas one-step retroprocessing could be responsible for the disappearance of the group II introns in the atp1 gene. These cases represent the first identified losses of introns in mitogenomes of leafy liverworts (Jungermanniopsida) contrasting the stability of mitochondrial gene order with certain changes in the gene content and intron set in liverworts.

Aneura pinguis is known as a species complex with several morphologically indiscernible species, which are often reproductively isolated from each other and show distinguishable genetic differences. Genetic dissimilarity of cryptic species may be detected by genomes comparison. This study presents the first complete sequences of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of six cryptic species of A. pinguis complex: A. pinguis A, B, C, E, F, J. These genomes have been compared to each other in order to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and to gain better understanding of the evolutionary process of cryptic speciation in this complex. The chloroplast genome with the nucleotide diversity 0.05111 and 1537 indels is by far more variable than mitogenome with π value 0.00233 and number of indels 1526. Tests of selection evidenced that on about 36% of chloroplast genes and on 10% of mitochondrial genes of A. pinguis acts positive selection. It suggests an advanced speciation of species. The phylogenetic analyses based on genomes show that A. pinguis is differentiated and forms three distinct clades. Moreover, on the cpDNA trees, Aneura mirabilis is nested among the cryptic species of A. pinguis. This indicates that the A. pinguis cryptic species do not derive directly from one common ancestor.

Progeny from 19 family lines of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) from a small, native and isolated population from the Tisovik Reserve (Belarusian part of Białowieża Primeval Forest) growing in an experimental plot near Hajnówka (Polish part of Białowieża Primeval Forest) were analysed in terms of 4 nuclear microsatellite DNA loci and 9 isozyme systems with 14 loci. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variation within and between progeny lines. Analysis of isozyme loci showed that all progeny lines, except the progeny lines T6 and T16, were characterised by an excess of heterozygotes and 20% of the detected variation occurred between progeny. Progeny formed two groups. Microsatellite loci showed that 6 progeny lines demonstrated an excess of heterozygotes and 12 an excess of homozygotes. On an average, the population was in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 14% of the detected variation occurred between offspring and the remaining 86% within progeny lines. The most distinct progeny line was Tl, where the highest number of alleles per locus was detected. Generally, progeny of Tisovik is characterised by high level of differentiation as the offspring of isolated population that have limited number of individuals to crossing (only 20). In some progeny line, the private alleles that are detected may be the result of pollination from Polish part of Białowieża Forest where in 1920s and 1930s of XX century had planted the seedling of silver fir of unknown origin. The substructuring of population is observed, and the detected deficiency of heterozygotes may be ostensible as a result of the Wahlund effect. Such pattern of genetic structure could also be an effect of harsh environmental conditions exerting selection pressure and modifying the genetic composition of this population.

Aneura pinguis is a thalloid liverwort species with broad geographical distribution. It is composed of cryptic species, however, the number of cryptic species within A. pinguis is not known. Five cpDNA regions (matK, rbcL, rpoC1, trnH-psbA and trnL-trnF) and the entire nuclear ITS region were studied in 130 samples of A. pinguis from different geographical regions. The relationships between the cryptic species of A. pinguis, A. maxima and A. mirabilis were analyzed. All of the examined samples were clustered into 10 clades corresponding to 10 cryptic species of A. pinguis (marked A to J). Aneura mirabilis and A. maxima were nested among different cryptic species of A. pinguis, which indicates that A. pinguis is a paraphyletic taxon. Subgroups were found in cryptic species A, B, C and E. As single barcodes, all tested DNA regions had 100% discriminant power and fulfilled DNA barcode criteria for species identification; however, the only combination detected in all subgroups was trnL-trnF with trnH-psbA or ITS2. The distances between cryptic species were 11- to 35-fold higher than intraspecific distances. In all analyzed DNA regions, the distances between most pairs of cryptic A. pinguis species were higher than between A. maxima and A. mirabilis. All cryptic species of A. pinguis clearly differed in their habitat preferences, which suggests that habitat adaptation could be the main driving force behind cryptic speciation within this taxon.

Many species of liverworts (Hepaticae) are morphologically plastic to such an extent that their proper recognition may cause difficulties even for a specialist. Central European species of the genus Pellia are notorious in this respect. Searching for less malleable diagnostic characters (than morphological and/or anatomical ones) we showed recently that the electrophoretic phenotypes (obtained by means of separation of enzyme proteins on starch gels) can be used for reliable identification of Pellia species with much reliability. During the last 20 years we performed electrophoretic identification of over 500 (exactly 541) colonies and discovered that at least two of the "classic" species of the genus Pellia are in fact species complexes comprising taxa having the character of sibling species. In this paper we have mapped all stations of electrophoretically identified Pellia species, including the sibling species mentioned; marked differences in their geographical distributions are discussed. Our work clearly shows that using more natural taxa (i.e.genetically defined sibling species instead of weakly characterised species complexes) in bryogeography, one can obtain meaningful results even in a geographically restricted area as, for instance in Poland.

The study presented in this research paper is the first taxonomic investigation focusing on Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) mites with a brief discussion of the genetic differences of two very closely related species from the genus Oodinychus Berlese, 1917, i.e. O. ovalis (C.L. Koch, 1839) and O . karawaiewi (Berlese, 1903). These two morphologically similar species are quite common and they have a wide range of occurrence in Europe. They also live in almost the same types of habitat. However, O. ovalis usually exhibits higher abundance and frequency of occurrence. The major aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the systematic position, morphological and biological differences, as well as habitat preferences and distribution of O. ovalis and O. karawaiewi . The next aim was to ascertain whether the differences in number and frequency of these species may stem from the genetic differences at the molecular level (16S rDNA and COI). The study shows that O. ovalis , which is a more abundant species than O. karawaiewi , turned out to be genetically more polymorphic.

Nine species of the genus Calypogeia Raddi are currently known from Europe: C. azurea, C. integristipula, C. neesiana,C. suecica, C. muelleriana, C. sphagnicola, C. fissa, C. arguta, and C. azorica. Recently, another species, morphologically resembling C. muelleriana but genetically distinct from it, was detected using isozyme markers. In the present study, relationships between the newly detected species (C. sp. nov.) and typical C. muelleriana were analyzed using the DNA sequencesdata of three regions from the chloroplast genome: introns of trnG and trnL genes and intergenic spacer trnH-psbA. Calypogeia sp. nov. differs from C. muelleriana s. str. (typical form) in all examined chloroplast regions. It differs as well from C. azurea, which was used as a reference species. The number of fixed nucleotide differences between C. muelleriana s. str. and C. sp. nov. is almost the same as between C. muelleriana s. str. and C. azurea. The results of the present study suggest a closer affinity of C. sp. nov. to C. azurea than to C. muelleriana s. str. in Europe, C. muelleriana s. str. was noted in Poland, Germany, Holland, United Kingdom and Azores. Samples determined as C. sp. nov., besides Poland, were so far detected also in North America

Within Calypogeia fissa, two subspecies connected with geographic distribution are formally recognized: C. fissa subsp.fissa in Europe and C. fissa subsp.neogea in North America. Isoenzyme studies have shown that the European subspecies is genetically differentiated and composed of three genetically distinct groups PS, PB and G. The PS group has the most distinctive morphological features, but no morphological diagnostic traits have been found for groups PB and G. The sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers developed on the basis of ISSR markers, applied in the study, allowed the delimitation of all groups distinguished in Europe within the C. fissa complex (PS, PB and G). The markers also revealed genetic differences between the European and American subspecies. Five primer pairs (Cal01, Cal03-Cal06) of the six pairs studied are useful as the diagnostic tool for the identification of particular groups from the C.fissa complex. The examined SCAR markers showed that the PS group of C.fissa subsp.fissa was the most distinct; it differed from both groups PB and G as well as from C.fissa subsp.neogea. All plants determined on the basis of diagnostic isozyme loci as the PS group amplified a longer product (380 bp) of the Cal04 primer pair than the rest of studied groups and yielded no amplification products in Cal03, Cal05 and Cal06 primers. The primer pair Cal03 distinguished the plants of the PB group from the remaining groups, since only the PB group generated a PCR product of about 290 bp. The genetic differences between all four studied groups of the C.fissa complex were supported by DNA sequences of the SCAR marker Cal04.

Calypogeia sphagnicola is one of nine species of the genus Calypogeia known in Europe. Occurrence of the species is closely connected with peat bogs. Nowadays, two forms of this species are distinguished—C. sphagnicola f. sphagnicola and C. sphagnicola f. paludosa. The results of the present study, based on two classes of markers—isozymes and sequences of chloroplast genom (trnH-psbA, rpoC1)—unanimously support the genetic differentiation within the taxon and show that the present-day forms represent genetically distinct species. Phylogenetic analysis resolved two lineages that correspond with the present-day forms with high bootstrap support, which differ in ploidy level: C. sphagnicola f. sphagnicola is haploid, whereas C. sphagnicola f. paludosa is a diploid form. Allopolyploid origin of the diploid form was revealed by the isozyme pattern. Nei’s genetic distance between the two present-day forms of C. sphagnicola was 0.472. The forms in Poland have an allopatric pattern of geographic distribution: C. sphagnicola f. sphagnicola occurs exclusively in the lowlands of the northern part of the country on raised peat bogs, whereas C. sphagnicola f. paludosa is found only in the mountains of southern Poland, mainly in the subalpine zone, where it grows on Sphagnum-Polytrichum hummocks on the upper part of north-facing slopes. Plants regarded in this study as C. sphagnicola f. sphagnicola morphologically correspond to the syntype specimen of C. sphagnicola.

The genus Calypogeia belongs to one of the most difficult groups of leafy liverworts, with about 90 species. Nine species of the genus are currently known from Europe: C. azurea, C. integristipula, C. neesiana, C. suecica, C. muelleriana, C. sphagnicola, C. fissa, C. arguta, and C. azorica. Recently, another species, morphologically resembling C. muelleriana but genetically distinct from it, was detected using isozyme markers. In the present study, C. muelleriana and C. sp. nov. were further characterized by 13 and 14 specific inter-simple sequence repeat band patterns, respectively. Nei’s genetic distance between the two species was 0·61. Three species-specific bands were converted into sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. The first SCAR primer pair amplified a product of 360 and 600 bp in C. muelleriana and C. sp. nov., respectively. The two other SCAR markers were diagnostic for other European Calypogeia species.

Two morphologically distinct groups of the Calypogeia fissa complex were found in Europe Two genetically distinct groups (PS and PB) detected previously within the C. fissa complex in Europe were studied with respect to 47 morphometric characters. The two examined groups differed statistically significantly with respect to 34 morphological traits. The forward stepwise method of discriminant analysis showed that the set of diagnostic characters could be limited to nine. The best diagnostic features were morphological characters describing the shape of leaf: length and width of leaf, height of dorsal part and distance from the apex to the ventral base of the leaf, length of the 3rd coordinate of the leaf, and underleaf width as well as characters of the stem: length of internodes and size of internode cells. Plants of the PS group were smaller (shoot width range from 922-1780 μm) than plants of the PB group (1600-3900 μm). Based on genetically identified samples, classification functions for each group were computed and the derived functions were used for the classification of samples from the herbarium collections. The principal component analysis and dendrogram constructed on the basis of Euclidean distance, using the set of diagnostic characters, divided the examined samples into two groups that correlated with groups detected by isozyme markers. Results of multivariable analysis showed that it is possible to satisfactorily characterise morphologically both genetically distinct groups of the C. fissa complex.

The distribution of Bazzania trilobata in Poland coincides with two parts of the natural distribution range of Norway spruce: the mountains of southern Poland and the northeastern lowlands. The occurrence of this species is connected with primeval forest communities and it was recognized as a relict of them. Genetic variation of 10 populations of B. trilobata from two different regions of Poland (lowlands and mountains) was studied in order to establish the genetic structure of this species and to compare the level of genetic variation within and among populations originating from primeval and managed forests. An analysis based on polymorphic inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) loci revealed a high level of total gene diversity in B. trilobata (H T=0.308). A higher amount of polymorphism was found among than within populations. Genetic variation of populations from the primary forest (Tatras and Bialowieza National Park) was higher than for those originating from disturbed habitats. The Bayesian m...