Abstract
The liverwort Arnellia fennica has a circumarctic distribution with disjunct and scarce localities in the Alps, Carpathians, and Pyrenees. Within the Carpathians, it is only known from the Tatra Mountains (in Poland), where so far only four occurrences have been documented in the forest belt of the limestone part of the Western Tatras. The species is considered a tertiary relict, which owes its survival during the last glaciation period to low-lying locations in areas not covered by ice. Previously, it has been demonstrated that this plant does not produce gemmae in the Tatra Mountains, nor does it reproduce sexually, hence it has not spread in this massif despite the high availability of potential habitats. These studies address the following questions: (1) why A. fennica, an arctic-alpine species, has only been found at low elevations in the Tatra Mountains so far, (2) what were the possibilities of its survival during the glaciation period as verified based on the latest paleoglaciological map, (3) how this species persists in the Tatras and why it remains a rare plant. As a result, nine additional new occurrences were found, bringing the total to 13 throughout the massif. Some of the sites were found in the high mountain area. For the first time, the production of gemmae in the Tatra population of A. fennica was observed and documented, along with the presence of male specimens of this dioecious species. Genetic studies have shown that individuals from all three groups of sites are genetically homogeneous, indicating a lack of sexual reproduction. The only way of dispersal for A. fennica in the Tatras is through propagule production. The uniqueness and specificity of these structures have been described, which differ significantly from the common model known in liverworts. The rarity of the species in the Tatra massif is attributed to the inefficient mode of vegetative reproduction and the absence of sexual reproduction. Paleoglaciological analysis of all montane sites (historical and new) of A. fennica showed that half were located in areas covered by glaciers. The hypothesis of this liverwort's survival during the glaciation period, at lower elevations, should be rejected. In light of the new data obtained, montane localities should be considered as secondary, which could have arisen after the glacier retreated only from high-mountain populations producing propagules transported downhill.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Nine additional new occurrences of Arnellia fennica were found in the Tatra Mountains, bringing the total to 13.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Outcome
- new occurrencese0
- Value
- nine additionale0
- Setting
- massife0
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e0“As a result, nine additional new occurrences were found, bringing the total to 13 throughout the massif”
Claim · model-written summary
Production of gemmae was observed and documented for the first time in the Tatra population of Arnellia fennica.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Material
- Tatra populatione1
- Outcome
- production of gemmaee1
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e1“For the first time, the production of gemmae in the Tatra population of A. fennica was observed and documented, along with the presence of male specimens of this dioecious species”
Claim · model-written summary
Male specimens of the dioecious Arnellia fennica were present in the Tatra population.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Outcome
- presence of male specimense1
- Qualifier
- dioecious speciese1
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e1“For the first time, the production of gemmae in the Tatra population of A. fennica was observed and documented, along with the presence of male specimens of this dioecious species”
Claim · model-written summary
Individuals from all three groups of sites are genetically homogeneous.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Material
- individuals from all three groups of sitese2
- Outcome
- genetically homogeneouse2
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e2“Genetic studies have shown that individuals from all three groups of sites are genetically homogeneous, indicating a lack of sexual reproduction”
Claim · model-written summary
The genetic homogeneity of Arnellia fennica indicates a lack of sexual reproduction.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Outcome
- lack of sexual reproductione2
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e2“Genetic studies have shown that individuals from all three groups of sites are genetically homogeneous, indicating a lack of sexual reproduction”
Claim · model-written summary
The only way of dispersal of Arnellia fennica in the Tatras is through propagule production.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Outcome
- dispersale3
- Qualifier
- through propagule productione3
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e3“The only way of dispersal for A. fennica in the Tatras is through propagule production”
Claim · model-written summary
The rarity of Arnellia fennica in the Tatra massif is attributed to an inefficient vegetative reproduction mode and the absence of sexual reproduction.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Outcome
- rarity of the speciese4
- Qualifier
- inefficient mode of vegetative reproduction and the absence of sexual reproductione4
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e4“The rarity of the species in the Tatra massif is attributed to the inefficient mode of vegetative reproduction and the absence of sexual reproduction”
Claim · model-written summary
Half of the montane sites of Arnellia fennica were located in areas covered by glaciers, per paleoglaciological analysis.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Material
- montane sites (historical and new)e5
- Outcome
- located in areas covered by glacierse5
- Value
- halfe5
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e5“Paleoglaciological analysis of all montane sites (historical and new) of A. fennica showed that half were located in areas covered by glaciers”
Claim · model-written summary
Some sites of Arnellia fennica were found in the high mountain area.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Material
- Some of the sitese6
- Outcome
- found in the high mountain areae6
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e6“Some of the sites were found in the high mountain area”
Claim · model-written summary
The hypothesis of Arnellia fennica surviving the glaciation at lower elevations should be rejected.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Outcome
- survival during the glaciation period, at lower elevationse7
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e7“The hypothesis of this liverwort's survival during the glaciation period, at lower elevations, should be rejected”
Claim · model-written summary
Montane localities of Arnellia fennica should be considered secondary, arising after glacier retreat from high-mountain propagule-producing populations.
- Taxon
- Arnellia fennicaArnellia fennicat0
- Outcome
- considered as secondarye7
Verbatim
t0“Arnellia fennica”
e7“montane localities should be considered as secondary”