The Fate of Bryophyte Sporophytes-Phenology and Vectors of Buxbaumia viridis in the Kalkalpen National Park, Austria.

Michaela Kropik,Christian Fuxjäger,Harald G Zechmeister

doi:10.3390/plants9101320

Michaela Kropik, Christian Fuxjäger + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101320

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Abstract

Knowledge about the epixylic moss Buxbaumia viridis has increased significantly due to the monitoring obligation under the Habitats Directive. However, there are still open questions about its dispersal, as the wind plays a limited role in forest ecosystems, and vectors have been suspected but not yet studied systematically for this species. Here, we present data on potential vectors of Buxbaumia viridis collected for the first time with the help of cameras, completed by monitoring the fate of sporophytes during their life cycle in the Limestone Alps National Park in Austria over a period of two years. Young, green sporophytes appeared mainly in autumn, with the highest number in October. Most of them survived winter and spring but did not exceed the age of 14 months. The sharpest decline in capsules occurred in summer when mature, and the lowest number of sporophytes appeared at the end of August. Most likely, mice seem to be responsible for this loss, as the photos from the wildlife cameras suggest, and should be considered both as predators and vectors. Birds should be considered as vectors, too. In summary, most of the reproductive biomass is sacrificed in favor of more effective dispersal, including over longer distances.

Highlights

Buxbaumia viridis is a species of special concern, as it is listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive
It is distributed all over Europe, and according to the monitoring process demanded by Article 11 of the Habitats Directive, an increasing number of sites have been identified in the last 10 years [1]
Buxbaumia viridis has received increasing attention, and several studies have focused on its biology

Summary

Introduction

Buxbaumia viridis is a species of special concern, as it is listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive.It is distributed all over Europe, and according to the monitoring process demanded by Article 11 of the Habitats Directive, an increasing number of sites have been identified in the last 10 years [1].As a result, Buxbaumia viridis has received increasing attention, and several studies have focused on its biology. Buxbaumia viridis is a species of special concern, as it is listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive It is distributed all over Europe, and according to the monitoring process demanded by Article 11 of the Habitats Directive, an increasing number of sites have been identified in the last 10 years [1]. Studies on the life cycle of Buxbaumia viridis were conducted by Wolf [2] and Callaghan and Taylor [3]. They have described the various life stages within a life cycle, from the first development of a sporophyte to its decay. These studies were not based on the observation of a single sporophyte, but characteristics were illustrated by observing different sporophytes at different sites

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