Abstract
Fifty-eight species of mosses (37 genera, 18 families) and 4 species of liverworts (3 genera, 3families) are reportedfrom Konza Prairie Research NaturalArea, a 3, 487-hectare tallgrass prairie preserve in northeastern Kansas. Factors affecting the growth and persistence of bryophytes on the prairie are discussed. The occurrence of bryophytes in presettlement tallgrass prairies was probably influenced by natural disturbance due to grazing and recurring fire. Bryophytes of temperate grasslands have tended to receive less study than those of other areas. The vascular plant flora of the central plains of North America is now well documented (Great Plains Flo- ra Assoc. 1986), but as yet no comparable treatment is available for the mosses of the region. Even less is known about the hepatics. Churchill (1976) pub- lished a catalog of the mosses of the Great Plains, based on literature reports, followed by a series of supplementary lists, including two for Kansas (Churchill 1979, 1980). He also (1985) provided a summary of the distribution of Kansas mosses, list- ing 151 species in 77 genera and 31 families. Sub- sequent collecting in the state has increased this number to 165 species (Merrill 1989, 1991a,b).
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