Abstract
The effect of decreased light quantity and light quality (red/far-red ratio) on growth, morphology and competitive interaction of two pleurocarpous chalk grassland bryophytes was studied in a garden-experiment. Shoots of Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (Hedw.) Warnst. and Calliergonella cuspidata (Hedw.) Loeske were grown under conditions of reduced irradiance (56%, 24% or 8%) or reduced red/far-red ratio (0.25) for a period of 9.5 months.Responses were small because negative effects of low light availability were counteracted by more favourable water conditions at low irradiance. Nevertheless, at low irradiance, dry weight increase of R. squarrosus was reduced. Biomass production of C. cuspidata was not affected. At low irradiance, morphology of shoots of R. squarrosus changed: the main axis lengthened and the branches were shorter. No effect of decreased red/far-red ratio could be found on the morphology of either species.A higher tolerance of C. cuspidata than of R. squarrosus for both higher evaporation rates and lower levels of irradiance probably explains why the larger and faster growing R. squarrosus shoots are not able to overtop and outcompete C. cuspidata shoots at both high and low irradiances. This also corresponds with the natural distribution of the two species in the field.
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