Fontinalis Squamosa
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''Fontinalis'' is a
genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of submerged aquatic
moss Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...
es belonging to the subclass
Bryidae Bryidae is an important subclass of Bryopsida. It is common throughout the whole world. Members have a double peristome with alternating tooth segments. Classification The classification of the Bryidae.Buck, William R. & Bernard Goffinet. 2000. ...
. These mosses are also called willow moss, fountain moss, brook moss and water moss. The genus is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and includes both species that occur in still water and in flowing water.


Biology

Fontinalis is characterized by its dark green color, and irregularly branching stems covered with small to large glossy, sharply ridged leaves. However, different species of it may be characterized by different traits—'' Fontinalis antipyretica'' has keeled leaves, while '' Fontinalis novae-angliae'' has small teeth towards the tip and rolled leaves. Other variations are seen in size and curvature of the branches. Bruce Allen describes the genus's physical characteristics as such. "The axillary hairs are remarkably long, to over 900 μm. The leaves have a multistratose basal region that has been interpreted as a rudimentary costa. The perichaetial leaves are usually lacerated across their apices. There are sporophytic character-complexes within Fontinalis that show meaningful taxonomic patterns at the species level; however, since the genus is dioicous, sporophytes are rare. Aquatic adaptations of sporophyte-associated features in Fontinalis include: perigonia with few antheridia (1, 2, or 4–6); enlarged, well-developed vaginula; immersed or emergent, very thick-walled capsules; lack of stomata; and peristomes with endostomial trellises." The species '' Fontinalis antipyretica'' is the first aquatic
gametophyte A gametophyte () is one of the two alternating multicellular phases in the life cycles of plants and algae. It is a haploid multicellular organism that develops from a haploid spore that has one set of chromosomes. The gametophyte is the se ...
plant to have its genome documented, as well as the first of the Fontinalis genus to be documented. It has 16,538 total genes with a genome that's 385.2 Mbp in size. It is monophyletic.


Habitat

Fontinalis occurs primarily in clean, acidic freshwater across Afro-Eurasia,
Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
, and the Americas, attached to submerged rocks and logs. Some species of this genus can live in suboptimal conditions, like concrete ditches impacted by rocky substrata from run-offs. It generally prefers cool, darker environments – with temperature preferences varying between 10 and 15 °C depending on the species. However, higher temperatures don't necessarily kill them, as it generally only causes a temporarily cessation to their growth.


Ecology

This genus plays an important role in its ecosystem, often providing a habitat for stream invertebrates and even some fish eggs. The family of nematoceran flies,
Chironomidae Chironomidae , commonly known as non-biting midges or chironomids , are a family of Nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the families Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Although many chironomid ...
, is known to use these moss as a habitat, alongside other insects such as Pteronarcys,
Hydropsychidae The Hydropsychidae are a Family (biology), family-level taxon consisting of net-spinning Trichoptera, caddisflies. Hydropsychids are common among much of the world's streams, and a few species occupy the shorelines of freshwater lakes. Larvae o ...
,
Rhyacophila ''Rhyacophila'' is a genus of caddisflies in the family Rhyacophilidae. There are at least 640 described species in ''Rhyacophila''. ITIS Taxonomic note: *Type species: ''Rhyacophila vulgaris'' F.J. Pictet (selected by HH Ross, 1944, Bull Illin ...
, Ephemerella,
Leuctra Leuctra or Leuktra (, ) was a village in ancient Boeotia, situated on the road from Thespiae to Plataea, and within the territory of the former city. Leuctra is most notably for the Battle of Leuctra, fought in its neighbourhood between the Spa ...
,
Nemouridae The Nemouridae are a family of Plecoptera, stoneflies containing more than 700 described species, occurring primarily in the Holarctic region.Nelson, C. Riley. 1996. Nemouridae. Version 1 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Nem ...
, and even
Simulium ''Simulium'' is a genus of Black_fly, black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness). It is a large genus with almost 2,000 species and 38 subgenus, subgenera. The flies are pool feeders. Their saliva, wh ...
in areas where the water is sufficiently fast. These moss also provide a home for algae and many microorganisms. Fontinalis is also particularly sensitive to heavy metals, with water coming from copper pipes known to damage the genus over extended exposure. It is not known to be uniquely sensitive to cadmium, but it may be sensitive to other metals. However, this in turn can benefit the surrounding ecosystem, as these mosses are useful as heavy metal accumulators, making it useful in cleaning up surrounding ecosystems. Additionally, these plants do not release these metals when they die, adding to their usefulness.


Life cycle

Fontinalis produces largely asexually, with new organisms coming from either old stems or rhizomes from the previous year. Young Fontinalis mosses emerge between late winter and early spring, going through intense growth spurts in the mid-summer. However, growth slows in late summer, and in autumn these mosses adopt an unhealthy appearance, turning olive green, then brown, then black during the winter. This is when new life begins to form, jumpstarting the lifecycle. They predominantly use stolons, plant fragments, and spores to reproduce. However, the species is capable of sexual reproduction, developing these organs in late summer and early autumn. Janice M. Glime, a leading expert on the Fontinalis genus, speculates that "it is possible that these mosses, like many overwintering structures of higher plants, have experienced a required cold period (at 1 °C) and are preparing for a burst of activity similar to that exhibited by higher plants each spring."


Aquarium uses

Fontinalis is notable for its usage in
freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. The term excludes seawater and brackish water, but it does include non-salty mi ...
aquariums and garden ponds as a low-maintenance means of water oxygenation. The moss also can serve as a spawn receiver, especially for fish that breed towards the bottom of a tank such as '' Characidium fasciatum''. ''Fontinalis antipyretica'' in particular is sought after for its willow-like appearance that can resemble
Java moss Java moss is a common name for multiple plants and may refer to: *'' Taxiphyllum barbieri'' *'' Vesicularia dubyana'' Hypnaceae {{Short pages monitor