tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1572836115424987671.post289863771428776685..comments2023-09-27T16:38:49.018+01:00Comments on South Wales Bryophytes: Onllwyn Coal TipsBarry Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1572836115424987671.post-82809084535421028452015-11-29T23:22:03.784+00:002015-11-29T23:22:03.784+00:00Well done lads, onward and upwards.....Well done lads, onward and upwards.....Charles Hipkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1572836115424987671.post-61451859258808006322015-11-29T23:04:41.796+00:002015-11-29T23:04:41.796+00:00Fascinating. I wasn't aware of this relationsh...Fascinating. I wasn't aware of this relationship between bryos and cyanobacteria. I'll certainly make a note of it when I come across such associations in my samples.GMThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08759152282751126808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1572836115424987671.post-57222895730840383422015-11-29T22:04:02.315+00:002015-11-29T22:04:02.315+00:00Thanks Charles, yes I've seen that type of mat...Thanks Charles, yes I've seen that type of material fairly frequently. I've just been checking samples from last Friday's visit to Cwm Ivy Tor and there were colonies mixed in with some curiously small Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum (also with a few scattered shoots of Saccogyna viticulosa) found growing on a soil ledge over Limestone.Barry Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1572836115424987671.post-82192835605178577002015-11-29T20:31:59.317+00:002015-11-29T20:31:59.317+00:00Field identification is impossible! But you may co...Field identification is impossible! But you may come across them when you examine bryos under the microscope. It's only casual observation, but even that may lead to interesting insights. As far distinguishing nitrogen-fixing Cyanobacteria from eukaryotic algae is concerned, just look for heterocysts like those in the photo. The Nostoc-type filamentous forms are fairly easy to identify as Cyanobacteria and the large colourless heterocysts are easy to see even at low power. The colonies tend to be organised into mucilagenous masses, but you may also see smaller groups of filaments in close contact with leaves. Filaments that don't have heterocysts don't fix nitrogen so they are irrelevant in this context (whatever they are).Charles Hipkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1572836115424987671.post-91984335928302975442015-11-29T19:12:20.463+00:002015-11-29T19:12:20.463+00:00Great selection of species Charles and some lovely...Great selection of species Charles and some lovely images too - coal tips really are fascinating habitats. I've looked at various slimy things under the microscope and their forms always intrigue me, but I've never really thought too much about their identification or ecological significance. I'll certainly attempt to note the presence of association where it's obvious, though I'm not familiar with distinguishing filamentous algae from cyanobacteria (certainly not in the field), so will have to resort to generic slime/gunk.Barry Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.com