Ecology of the invading moss species Orthodontium lineare in Sweden: Spatial distribution and population structure

Abstract

The moss species Orthodontium lineare, originally from the southern hemisphere, has been spreading in Europe during this century. We have monitored the distribution patterns of the species in Sweden.The age distribution differed between localities due to variation in the proportion of colonies in old age classes. We attributed this to differences in colony mortality. Although O. lineare had a high spore output in most localities, the colonies showed a clumped pattern, indicating strong neighbourhood effects in the colonization of new spots within the locality.The regional distribution was uneven and markedly southwestern. The distribution was related to regional and local availability of suitable habitats (decaying wood in not‐too‐dense forests), and to a lesser extent to climatic variables.Spore transport and establishment are suggested to be the limiting factors for colonization of suitable habitats of O. lineare.