Ignatov, M.S., E.A. Ignatova, O.L. Makarova & M.B. Potapov. 2021. Schistostega “pollinators” and their attraction

Arctoa (2021) 30: 451–462

doi: 10.15298/arctoa.30.30

Schistostega is a moss with long shoots terminated by one group of either male or female gametangia. Although it is usually described as dioicous, the protonemata may link such male and female shoots, and most populations comprise homogeneous mixtures of both sexes. Thus, dispersal of male gametes at a certain distance is important for Schistostega to avoid inbreeding. In addition to stochastic dispersal by small arthropods, male gametes of Schistostega attract attention of Acari of the order Sarcoptiformes, suborder Oribatida belonging to families Damaeidae, Oribatulidae, Astegistidae, and Ceratozetidae, and springtails (class Collembola) of the family Entomobryidae, genera Entomobrya and Orchesella. Short videos in supplementary material demonstrate the intentional consumption of antheridial contents of Schistostega by these arthropods in forests in the Moscow Province. Schistostega is likely the first moss where this type of nourishment is demonstrated. These events seem to be not rare, but rather difficult to overwatch in most mosses where antheridia are well protected in bud-like perigonia. Antheridia of Schistostega are scarcely hidden and readily accessible for microarthropods, as well as easy to observe.