Bryophytes, with their more than 860 species, represent more than a quarter of higher plants native to the CR. They can reveal much more about the ecosystems they live in than we would expect, as their physiological contact with the surroundings is much closer than that of the vascular plants. and Jan Kučera.
The function of biofilms in natural waters is driven primarily by mutual interactions between algae, bacteria and their grazers. In turn, the grazers together with a hydraulic regime of the environment may control the biomass and the thickness of the biofilms and affect their ability to intake and retain nutrients and toxic pollutants. Thus biofilms represent the hot spots of metabolic activity which contribute substantially to water self-purification and serve as food for invertebrate organisms. However, biofilms may also show adverse effects on the surfaces they colonize. and Martin Rulík.
In contrast to the typical Central Bohemian landscape, the Sedlčany region is characterized by quite a high concentration of wet meadows; most of them discovered during the last few years. Though it is only a fragment of their original extent. Suitable management is absent at most localities, but a restoration of farming on selected meadows has recently been started. and J.Malíček.
Recent research in isolated Bulgarian mires has discovered many unknown disjunct populations of boreal vascular plant and bryophyte species. These findings draw attention to these recently endangered mires which represent a source of very important scientific information. and Michal Hájek, Petra Hájková.