Spatial pattern and dispersal in the leafy hepaticPtilidium pulcherrimum

Abstract

Occurrence of Ptilidium pulcherrimum in transects and spore dispersal from a single colony have been studied in a coastal spruce forest in northern Sweden. The main substrate type was rotting wood with 75% of all occurrences. Annual spore production was 68,500 spores/m2 forest, 640,000 spores/m2 substrate and 44,000,000 spores/m2 colony. Almost 50% of the spores were deposited within 2.5 m of the colony. Annual spore deposition between colonies was estimated to be between 24,000–39,000 and deposition on the main substrate, decaying logs, was about 340–600 spores/m2 forest. P. pulcherrimum showed a clumped distribution pattern up to about a 15 m neighbourhood distance. This pattern could not be explained by a similar clumping of the substrate. Instead a limitation by distance in establishment due to a deficit of spores is assumed.