Bryophytes under a moss “canopy” on the Stradch Mountain (Ukraine)
2023
Pundiak, Oleh
The aim of this work was to investigate the ability of some mosses to grow under a “canopy” of larger life-forms of the other moss species, because at the moment this subject is poorly studied. On the northern slope of the Stradch Mountain (Yavoriv District, Lviv Region, Ukraine) in a 100-year old Pinus sylvestris planting, two moss species were identified under a moss “canopy”: a common species of Ukrainian bryoflora Plagiomnium rostratum and rare Buxbaumia viridis. The latter one is included in European Red List of mosses in the category Least Concern but is a threatened species in Ukraine, where it is considered as vulnerable. On the investigated site, B. viridis grew exclusively on the ground adjacent to tree roots, with its gametophytes under the “canopy“ of moss Dicranella heteromalla. P. rostratum occured freely on the ground or hidden under the “canopy” of wefts of Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum or tufts of Polytrichastrum longisetum. Without a moss “canopy”, P. rostratum occurred only on a quite shaded ground. On well-illuminated sites P. rostratum occurred exclusively being fully hidden. This study brings new information about the ecology of B. viridis and P. rostratum: the ability of their gametophytes to grow on the ground under a “canopy” of other moss species.
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