Moss Growth Research Articles

Plug method allows measurement of apical and lateral growth of fen brown mosses

ABSTRACT Introduction: A reliable method for measuring brown moss production helps us to understand the functioning of fen peatlands and to quantify their peat formation rate. However, traditional methods based on height increment are not suitable for measuring the growth rate of brown mosses with numerous lateral branches. Methods: The growth rate of common brown moss species in temperate and boreal fens was measured using two methods: (i) the marking method – a moss shoot was marked with oil paint and its growth increment measured from the mark (in the laboratory and in the field); and (ii) the plug method – a fragment of a moss colony was ‘plugged' (i.e. cored), weighed and replanted in a small basket for a year, then weighed again; a similar and bottomless basket was fixed in the moss colony as a control. Key results and discussion: Despite promising laboratory results, the marking method gave low shoot survival in the field, probably due to the restriction of external water transport along the shoots. No differences in shoot elongation were found between the plug method and the control. The plug method comprises the measurement of both apical and lateral growth, and the authors of the present study therefore recommend it for measuring the growth of brown mosses with numerous lateral branches. Considering only the elongation of the top shoots leads to an underestimation of growth by 50% and consequently to an underestimation of the peat-forming potential of brown mosses.

Results of long-term studies of the annual growth of mosses of the genus <i>Sphagnum</i> L. In the central taiga of Karelia

The studies were carried out on the territory of the Kindasovo forest-bog research station of the Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, located in the middle taiga subzone (61°48′ N, 33°35′ E). The experiments were carried out in the Nenazvannoe natural mesoeutrophic bog of the aapa type in seven permanent bog areas located in different ecological and coenotic conditions. The paper presents long-term results (from 10 to 38 years) of studies of the dynamics of annual growth of 11 widespread hygro- and hydrophilic species of Sphagnum mosses. Based on fluctuations in the average annual growth data during the years of study, the largest increases were observed for Sphagnum riparium (140 mm) and S. obtusum (93 mm), growing in heavily watered bog areas and not withstanding drying out; medium growths of S. fallax (65 mm), S. subsecundum (57 mm), S. majus (42 mm), S. balticum (36 mm), and S. warnstorfii (28 mm) are found in low-flow watered bogs, hollows, and on carpets; the lowest growth was shown for S. divinum (17 mm), S. centrale (15 mm), S. papillosum (12 mm), and S. fuscum (8 mm), growing on ridges, low hummocks, and carpets under conditions of sharply variable conditions hydration. A correlation analysis to study the influence of precipitation and average temperature on the annual growth of Sphagnum mosses did not show any significant dependence of moss growth on temperature during the growing season. For S. fuscum, S. obtusum, and S. warnstorfii, negative dependences on the temperature of individual months are observed in different months of the growing season. Precipitation during the growing season is the main factor determining the dependence of the annual growth of Sphagnum mosses. A significant dependence of annual growth on precipitation during the growing season was shown for species S. obtusum, S. papillosum, S. centrale, S. fallax, and S. subsecundum, while the significance was weak for S. divinum, S. fuscum, and S. majus.

Evaluation of ten plant-derived biocides for the inhibition of photosynthetic organisms on the karst surfaces of heritage buildings

Biodeterioration is a significant problem in the conservation of stone heritage buildings. In this study, 10 plant essential oils were assessed for their effectiveness in biofilm inhibition on stone heritage building surfaces under laboratory and in situ conditions, and were compared with traditional biocides such as benzalkonium chloride. The plant extracts were tested against algae and mosses. The effect on algae removal was evaluated by measuring the color of the surface before treatment, after 24 h and after 1 month of treatment. The effect on mosses was assessed by measuring the photosynthetic pigment content of mosses after 24 h of treatment. The results showed that the different plant extracts exhibited different levels of antibiotic activity. Benzalkonium chloride, S. aromaticum and C. cassia extracts showed strong antibiotic activity against all algae and mosses tested. T. mongolicus extracts showed antibiotic activity against only some of the algae and mosses, while the application of P. cablin extracts increased chlorophyll b content in the mosses. The other plant extracts were less effective at inhibiting the growth of algae and mosses. GC–MS compositional analysis further indicated that the higher antibiotic activity of S. aromaticum and C. cassia extracts was related to the high content of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde.

Pigment Complex, Growth and Chemical Composition Traits of Boreal Sphagnum Mosses (Mire System "Ilasskoe", North-West of European Russia).

Sphagnum mosses play a significant role in peat formation and carbon sequestration in mire ecosystems. It is critical to investigate the productivity and chemical composition of different Sphagnum species in order to assess their role in the global carbon cycle and potential in light of climate change. The data on productivity and growth characteristics during the growing season, group chemical composition and elemental composition at the beginning and end of the growing season, as well as aspects of the pigment complex operation, were collected for four Sphagnum species: Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp., S. fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr., S. divinum Flatberg & K. Hassel, and S. squarrosum Crome. High cover density and productivity, low ability to decompose, and constancy of the pigment complex of S. fuscum reflect a high degree of adaptation to the specific conditions of ridges. A constant chemical composition of S. lindbergii during the growing season can be explained by stable conditions of hollows that allow it to maintain its metabolic processes, but the light conditions in hollows bring the reaction of the pigment apparatus of this species closer to shaded S. divinum and S. squarrosum. S. lindbergii and S. squarrosum contain more nitrogen than other species and have a greater ability to decompose.

The moss growth optimization (MGO): concepts and performance

Abstract Metaheuristic algorithms are increasingly utilized to solve complex optimization problems because they can efficiently explore large solution spaces. The moss growth optimization (MGO), introduced in this paper, is an algorithm inspired by the moss growth in the natural environment. The MGO algorithm initially determines the evolutionary direction of the population through a mechanism called the determination of wind direction, which employs a method of partitioning the population. Meanwhile, drawing inspiration from the asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, and vegetative reproduction of moss, two novel search strategies, namely spore dispersal search and dual propagation search, are proposed for exploration and exploitation, respectively. Finally, the cryptobiosis mechanism alters the traditional metaheuristic algorithm’s approach of directly modifying individuals’ solutions, preventing the algorithm from getting trapped in local optima. In experiments, a thorough investigation is undertaken on the characteristics, parameters, and time cost of the MGO algorithm to enhance the understanding of MGO. Subsequently, MGO is compared with 10 original and advanced CEC 2017 and CEC 2022 algorithms to verify its performance advantages. Lastly, this paper applies MGO to four real-world engineering problems to validate its effectiveness and superiority in practical scenarios. The results demonstrate that MGO is a promising algorithm for tackling real challenges. The source codes of the MGO are available at https://aliasgharheidari.com/MGO.html and other websites.

Synergistic effects of zinc and cadmium on phytoremediation potential of Christmas moss (Vesicularia montagnei)

The hyperaccumulation potential of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) and their synergistic effects were examined in relation to Christmas moss (Vesicularia montagnei (Bél) Broth., Hypnaceae), an aquatic and terrestrial moss, dosed with Cd (Cd1 and Cd2), Zn (Zn1 and Zn2) and combined Zn and Cd (Cd1Zn1 and Cd2Zn2). Zinc promoted plant growth and development, particularly in the highest Zn and combined Zn/Cd treatments (Zn2 and Cd2Zn2). The Zn treatment resulted in substantial moss chlorophyll content and highest percentage relative growth rate in biomass value (0.23 mg L−1 and 106.8%, respectively); however, the Cd2Zn2 treatment achieved maximal production of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll (0.29 and 0.51 mg L−1, respectively) due to synergistic effects. These findings suggest that Christmas moss is a highly metal-tolerant and adaptable bryophyte species. Zinc was essential for reducing the detrimental effects of Cd while simultaneously promoting moss growth and biomass development. Furthermore, Christmas moss exhibited hyperaccumulation potential for Cd and Zn in the Cd2Zn2 and Zn alone treatments, as evidenced by highest Cd and Zn values in gametophores (1002 and 18,596 mg per colony volume, respectively). Using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry, atomic percentages of element concentrations in moss gametophores in the Zn2, Cd2 and combined Zn/Cd treatments were generally in the order: K > Ca > P > Zn > Cd. When comparing the atomic percentages of Zn and Cd in gametophores, it is likely that the higher atomic percentage of Zn was because this element is essential for plant growth and development.

The role of deadwood substrates in promoting moss growth: Decay class and particle size effects

AbstractPlagiomnium acutum has a high value of landscape application and medicinal value, but there is a lack of related research on propagation and cultivation techniques. The deadwood substrate has rich nutrients and superior water retention properties, which will be conducive to promoting the growth of moss. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms by which deadwood influences moss growth are not yet fully unclear. In this study, we pulverized deadwood from five decay classes of Pinus massoniana into three distinct particle sizes. Through a pot experiment, we investigated the effects of decay class and physicochemical properties on the growth and physiology of Plagiomnium acutum, aiming to identify the most suitable growth substrate. The results indicated that both the decay class and particle diameter of deadwood significantly affect the substrate's physicochemical characteristics and the growth indexes of P. acutum, with the decay class exerting a more pronounced effect. The water‐holding porosity, water‐holding capacity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and lignin content of the substrate positively affected the growth of P. acutum, while the bulk density, void ratio, total carbon, carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, condensed tannin content and cellulose content had negative impacts. A comprehensive evaluation using a fuzzy membership function indicated that deadwood with higher decay classes (IV and V) was more conducive to the growth of P. acutum. Specifically, substrates from decay class IV with particle sizes of 10–20 mm provided the most favorable conditions for P. acutum and were recommended as the optimal cultivation substrate. The results of this study provide theoretical basis and technical support for the propagation and cultivation of P. acutum, and provide a foundation for further development of the industrial, pharmaceutical and environmental biotechnology potential of P. acutum.

Mosses for minimalist green roofs: A preliminary study of the effects of rooftop exposure, species selection, and lab-grown vs. wild-harvested propagule sources

Mosses are rarely explicitly included in urban green infrastructure projects in much of North America. Nevertheless, their opportunistic colonization of impervious surfaces in the absence of intervention, combined with successful tests of their suitability in other parts of the world, suggests that they may be suited to expanded use in applications such as green roofs, and beneficial to urban ecosystem services. Such inclusion requires more detailed knowledge of both general methods for incorporating mosses into green infrastructure, and species-specific knowledge on propagation methods and maximizing growth. In this report, we present a 3-year green roof trial with five types of moss replicated across both wild and lab grown inocula, on both sheltered and exposed asphalt roof surfaces in Atlantic Canada. The exposed roof surface was not conducive to bryophyte survival; repeated wind damage, combined with rapid onset of chlorosis from drought stress, resulted in a complete mortality of all species in that condition. In the sheltered habitat, all species were still present by the third year, but with much lower cover than was present post-installation. In general, wild-harvested shoots survived better than lab-cultivated ones, and those mosses transplanted from shady habitats fared better than those from sunny habitats. We conclude that surface attachment and degree of exposure are the most important factors for establishing moss growth on asphalt roofs, whereas selecting among species may be important only in the context of maximizing long-term growth under highly localized conditions, such as high litter deposition or partial vs. full shade from overhead trees.

A fibrous scaffold for in vitro culture and experimental studies of Physcomitrium patens

AbstractThe model moss, Physcomitrium patens, is routinely cultured on cellophane placed over a solid nutrient medium. While this culture method is convenient for moss propagation, it is not suitable for studying how topographical features and mechanical cues from the environment influence the growth and development of moss. Here, we show that P. patens can be grown on fibrous scaffolds consisting of nanoscale, randomly oriented fibers composed of polyvinylidene tri‐fluoroethylene (NRP). The moss adheres tightly to NRP in contrast to the lack of adhesion to cellophane. Adhesion to the scaffold is associated with slower tip growth of moss protonema for some time, followed by an increase in tip growth rate that is equivalent to that on cellophane. In addition, the orientation of the first subapical cell division plane differs between NRP‐grown and cellophane‐grown protonema. Nonetheless, moss colonies grown on NRP did not show signs of nutrient or photosynthetic stress and developed normal gametophores. Together, these data establish NRP as a suitable substrate for the culture of P. patens and to probe the influence of mechanical forces on tip growth and cell division of moss.

Assessing long-term diatom changes in sub-Arctic ponds receiving high fluxes of seabird nutrients.

Algal bioindicators, such as diatoms, often show subdued responses to eutrophication in Arctic lakes because climate-related changes (e.g., ice cover) tend to be the overriding factors influencing assemblage composition. Here, we examined how sub-Arctic ponds historically receiving high nutrient inputs from nesting seabirds have responded to recent climate change. We present diatom data obtained from 12 sediment cores in seaduck-affected ponds located on islands through Hudson Strait, Canada. All study cores show consistently elevated values of sedimentary ẟ15N, an established proxy for tracking marine-derived nutrients, indicating seabirds have been present on these islands for at least the duration of the sediment records (~100 to 400 years). We document diverse epiphytic diatom assemblages to the base of all sediment cores, which is in marked contrast to seabird-free Arctic ponds-these oligotrophic sites typically record epilithic diatom flora prior to recent warming. Diatoms are likely responding indirectly to seabird nutrients via habitat as nutrients promote the growth of mosses supporting epiphytic diatom communities. This masks the typical diatom response to increased warming in the Arctic, which also results in habitat changes and the growth of mosses around the pond edges. Changes in sedimentary chlorophyll a were not consistently synchronous with large changes in ẟ15N values, suggesting that primary production in ponds is not responding linearly to changes in seabird-derived nitrogen. Across all ponds, we recorded shifts in diatom epiphytic assemblages (e.g., increases in % relative abundance of many Nitzschia species) that often align with increases in chlorophyll a. The changes in diatoms and chlorophyll a, although variable, are most likely driven by climate change as they are generally consistent with longer ice-free conditions and growing seasons. Together, our results show that to effectively use diatoms in animal population reconstructions across the sub-Arctic and Arctic, a strong understanding of eutrophication and climate change, based on supplementary proxies, is also required.

Physcomitrium patens response to elevated CO2 is flexible and determined by an interaction between sugar and nitrogen availability.

Mosses hold a unique position in plant evolution and are crucial for protecting natural, long-term carbon storage systems such as permafrost and bogs. Due to small stature, mosses grow close to the soil surface and are exposed to high levels of CO2 , produced by soil respiration. However, the impact of elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) levels on mosses remains underexplored. We determined the growth responses of the moss Physcomitrium patens to eCO2 in combination with different nitrogen levels and characterized the underlying physiological and metabolic changes. Three distinct growth characteristics, an early transition to caulonema, the development of longer, highly pigmented rhizoids, and increased biomass, define the phenotypic responses of P. patens to eCO2 . Elevated CO2 impacts growth by enhancing the level of a sugar signaling metabolite, T6P. The quantity and form of nitrogen source influences these metabolic and phenotypic changes. Under eCO2 , P. patens exhibits a diffused growth pattern in the presence of nitrate, but ammonium supplementation results in dense growth with tall gametophores, demonstrating high phenotypic plasticity under different environments. These results provide a framework for comparing the eCO2 responses of P. patens with other plant groups and provide crucial insights into moss growth that may benefit climate change models.

Feasibility of aquaculture cultivation of elkhorn sea moss (Kappaphycus alvarezii) in a horizontal long line in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Seaweed aquaculture has become a profitable and an attractive alternative of cultivation thanks to its quick biomass production for food, feed, and other non-food applications. In addition, the ecosystem services generated by seaweed cultivation towards carbon fixation represents a more sustainable solution to the ocean’s acidification. The growth of elkhorn sea moss (Kappaphycus alvarezii) was evaluated in three plots with 200 propagules during a period of 70 days in a floating raft system covered by a fishing net underneath. Initial weight of propagules was 159.3 ± 12.74 g in wet biomass and 15.3 ± 1.43 g in dry biomass and were sampled up to 19 days (in the lag growth phase; period I), up to 33 days (in the exponential growth phase; period II) and up to 70 days (in the stationarity growth phase; period III). The variations of sea surface water temperature, salinity, turbidity (Secchi depth), total ammonium, nitrites, nitrates, and phosphate were determined. The growth increase was more evident in the exponential phase II when a dry biomass of 28.0 ± 2.48 (1153.3 ± 6.25 g in wet mass) was reached, more than 7 times the biomass of propagules with an average daily growth rate of 15.2% g.day–1. The carrying capacity of the zone was estimated at 86.2% in the area where 53 cultivation units would be projected. The economic analysis presented a financial feasibility with a net profit of 19% over the projected income and an IRR of 16.5%, recovering the investment in an estimated period of 4.3 years. We recommend to continue with larger-scale studies to optimize the cultivation of K. alvarezii in the study area.

Inventarisasi Keanekaragaman Lumut Di Kawasan Kampus 1 UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

The diversity of vegetation on the UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung Campus has good potential because even though the campus is in the middle of an urban area with moderate rainfall intensity it can have an impact on moss growth. Moss has a very important role within the scope of the ecosystem because it is useful for reducing the danger of flooding, helping to maintain humidity, as a producer of O2 because it can carry out photosynthesis in a short time and has a function as an absorbent of pollutants so that it can be used as a bioindicator of polluted air, besides that can be used as medicine. Observations of moss plants were carried out in the campus area 1 of UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung by tracing to several location points and documenting the mosses found and identification using related literature studies by looking at their morphology. The observation results obtained 6 species of moss namely Calymperes erosum, Dumortiera hirsuta, Funaria hygrometrica, Tortula muralis, Leucoloma molle, and Candelariella spraguei. One of the roles of mosses in ecosystems is as an inhibitor of erosion, mosses can be used as medicinal ingredients, as well as organisms capable of decontaminating water and soil.

APLIKASI VARIASI PUMAKKAL TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN FLAME MOSS DI AQUASCAPE DENGAN MEDIA PASIR MALANG SEBAGAI SUMBER BELAJAR

The aquarium is a medium made of glass, which is currently favored by ornamental fish enthusiasts because apart from being easy to make an aquarium, it is also practical. Aquascape is the art of creating underwater scenery in an aquarium area. To ensure the success of creating a beauty from the art of aquascape, it takes many balance factors in the ecosystem of an aquarium. The objectives of this study include knowing whether there is an influence of pumakcal variation on the growth of Flame Moss in aquascape with poor sand media, knowing the most appropriate pumakcal variation for the growth of Flame Moss and analyzing the potential of learning resources for biology learning material for growth and development. From the results of this study, it was found that variations in pumakkal liquid fertilizer had no significant effect on the growth of flame moss plant height, and variations in pumakkal liquid fertilizer had a significant effect on water pH in flame moss plants. The variety of isolates of pumakkal fertilizer with P4 treatment which gave the best effect on the growth of flame moss plant height was the highest average of 6.88 cm. And the variation of pumakkal fertilizer isolate with P5 treatment was found to have the highest pH value of 7.4. And research results can be used as potential sources of learning biology material for growth and developmen. Kata kunci: aquascape, flame moss, organic fertilizer, pumakkal

MOSSES OF THE WESTERN PART OF THE CHUKCHI HIGHLANDS. 3. INTERDEPENDENCE OF PERCENT COVER VALUES OF MOSSES AND VASCULAR PLANTS

In previous publications (Kholod, Afonina, 2023a, b) the dependences of the number of moss species and the values of moss percent cover in the western part of the Chukchi Highlands on a number of abiotic factors were considered. This article discusses the interdependence of the percent cover values of mosses and vascular plants in this area. On the slopes of most aspects, an increase in the percent cover values of vascular plants to a value of 65–75% is accompanied by an increase in the percent cover values of mosses (up to 40–70%), which decreases with a further increase in the percent cover values of vascular plants. Two groups of bryocenotypes, one of them being formed on dry, relatively steep slopes of the southern and western aspects with rapidly descending snow, and the other on wet, snow-covered gentle slopes of the northern and eastern aspects, characterize 2 types of natural environments of the Pleistocene-Holocene: cooling with active freezing of loose strata of slopes, and warming with intense permafrost melting and activation of slope processes, respectively. The linear relationship between the values of the percent cover of vascular plants and mosses, on the one hand, and the area of unpaved soil, on the other, is considered as a model of the settlement of soils by mosses during the transition from cold climatic epochs to warm ones. In such transitional epochs, vascular plants have an advantage in the percent cover values at the initial stage, then, with the growth of mosses, the increase in the percent cover values of vascular plants slows down, which is a manifestation of the regulatory influence of mosses through the availability of accessible water and a number of other parameters.

Free-ranging livestock cause forest understory degradation in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitat

Free-ranging livestock are common in reserves established for giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), which rely almost exclusively on bamboo in the montane forests of southwestern China. Previous studies have showed that overgrazing by livestock had led to a reduction in bamboo abundance. However, there is limited knowledge of how livestock impact the structure of the understory vegetation. Conducted in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve with a livestock exclosure experiment, our study aimed to fill this gap by examining the impact of livestock grazing on two important elements of forest understory bamboo and moss in giant panda habitat, and quantifying their recovery after excluding livestock. Measurements of bamboo and moss showed that both elements were severely degraded. With a closer examination, we found moss growth was worse in areas with dense bamboo or no bamboo at all, but better when there were many dead stems in bamboo clump, suggesting bamboo exerted both negative competition and positive shelter effects from livestock trampling on moss. Livestock exclusion with fence indeed exempted bamboo and moss from continuous damage which were exemplified by more bamboo shoots inside the fence and significantly decreased moss height outside the fence. However, we observed no recovery of damaged bamboo and moss inside fenced quadrats in two years. Neither the sprouted bamboo shoots matured into stems after the growing season, nor the height of moss increased. Collectively, our results suggested that long-term livestock grazing drastically altered understory layer of bamboo and moss and interactions in between, and there was hardly recovery of the understory bamboo and moss in a short term. Therefore, we recommend artificial intervention with bamboo and moss planting in severely degraded areas and long-term monitoring of understory vegetation to restore the habitat of giant panda.

Forest edge effects on moss growth are amplified by drought.

Forest fragmentation increases the amount of edges in the landscape. Differences in wind, radiation, and vegetation structure create edge-to-interior gradients in forest microclimate, and these gradients are likely to be more pronounced during droughts and heatwaves. Although the effects of climate extremes on edge influences have potentially strong and long-lasting impacts on forest understory biodiversity, they are not well understood and are not often considered in management and landscape planning. Here we used a novel method of retrospectively quantifying growth to assess biologically relevant edge influences likely caused by microclimate using Hylocomium splendens, a moss with annual segments. We examined how spatio-temporal variation in drought across 3 years and 46 sites in central Sweden, affected the depth and magnitude of edge influences. We also investigated whether edge effects during drought were influenced by differences in forest structure. Edge effects were almost twice as strong in the drought year compared to the non-drought years, but we did not find clear evidence that they penetrated deeper into the forest in the drought year. Edge influences were also greater in areas that had fewer days with rain during the drought year. Higher levels of forest canopy cover and tree height buffered the magnitude of edge influence in times of drought. Our results demonstrate that edge effects are amplified by drought, suggesting that fragmentation effects are aggravated when droughts become more frequent and severe. Our results suggest that dense edges and buffer zones with high canopy cover can be important ways to mitigate negative drought impacts in forest edges.

Diversity of Moss Species (Bryophyta) In Senggani Ravine Tourism Area, Tulungagung Regency

Moss plants (Bryophyta) are found in every habitat, and their presence in an ecosystem is controlled by environmental circumstances. The Senggani Ravine tourism area is a popular tourist attraction comprising a pine forest with extensive moss communities. This work aimed to assess the diversity of mosses (Bryophyta) in the Senggani Ravine tourism area for the first time. In June 2022, exploratory descriptive research of moss diversity was undertaken by a free walk around the Senggani Ravine tourism area from a predetermined position point (purposive sampling) using observation, documentation, literature study, and measurement of abiotic elements for data collection. Based on the results, twenty species of mosses were identified and can be divided into four classes, namely the Bryopsida, Polytrichopsida, Jungermanniopsida, and Marchantiopsida. The species identified were Barbulla indica, Fissidens purpusillus, Fissidens biformis, Fissidens biformis, Octoblepharum albidum, Rhizonium punctatum, Mnium hornum, Philonotis marchica, Fontinalis antipyretica, Hypnum cupressiform, Polytrichastrum formosum, Lejeunea flava, Lejeunea cavifolia, Bazzania prareupta, Bazzania vittata, Riccia junghuhniana, Marchantia emarginata, Marchantia polymorpha, Dumortiera hirsuta, and Lunularia cruciate. Abiotic factor measurements revealed that zone 3, which has a soil pH of 6, an air temperature of 24.1 C°, an 84% humidity level, and 200 Cd of light cm-1, is the most favorable area for moss growth. We can infer that the Senggani Ravine tourism area is still primarily undisturbed because the moss flora is still quite diverse and varied.

Patterns of species richness and micro-habitat occupancy among bryo-flora in mixed oak-conifer forest at Naina Peak, Nainital

We studied the bryophyte species richness and micro-habitat occupancy in a mixed oak-conifer forest (2100-2600 m) at Naina Peak, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. The north-facing mesic site of the forest supported a greater diversity of bryophytes than that of the south-facing drier site. Altogether 146 species of bryophytes including 16 thalloid, 15 leafy liverworts, 2 hornworts and 113 mosses belonging to 48 families were documented. Amongst hepatics, leafy forms particularly the members of Frullaniaceae were found dominant over thalloid liverworts. The forest was found to support the dominant growth of acrocarpous mosses (57) followed by pleurocarpous (56). Amongst acrocarpous, the family Pottiaceae was recorded as predominant followed by the members of the pleurocarpous family Brachytheciaceae. The bryophyte species and communities associated with oak phorophytes were found to be richer and more abundant than that of the coniferous ones. Interestingly, 21 species of both liverworts and mosses turned out to be gemmiferous.

C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics of mosses in Picea crassifolia forest in Helan Mountains, Ningxia, China.

To explore the stoichiometric characteristics of C, N and P and adaptive mechanism of mosses in mountain forest ecosystems, we set up 15 plots along the altitude gradient in Picea crassifolia forest in Helan Mountains, Ningxia. We analyzed the C:N:P stoichiometry of moss aboveground tissues and its relationship with environmental factors. The results showed the mean values of C, N and P concentration in moss aboveground tissues were 336.67, 20.31 and 0.66 mg·g-1, respectively. The mean value of aboveground tissue N:P was 33.4, indicating that the growth of mosses was limited by P. The C concentration in the aboveground tissues of mosses was positively correlated with soil total nitrogen concentration and negatively correlated with soil total phosphorus concentration. The N concentration in aboveground tissues of mosses was significantly negatively correlated with soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen concentrations. Results of redundancy analysis showed that the interpretation rate of environmental factors on the stoichiometry was 48.5%, with canopy closure, soil total nitrogen and soil total phosphorus as the main factors. Canopy closure was the main environmental factor affecting the growth of mosses in P. crassifolia forest in Helan Mountains. High canopy closure facilitated the growth of mosses.