Ecological diversification among nine species of Pohlia (Musci) in western North America

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Author: Shaw, A. Jonathan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Plant Science; Tundra
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b81-290; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b81-290

Nine North American species of Pohlia, section Pohliella, form a complex of morphologically and ecologically similar species. In western North America, where there is a broad region of overlap in geographic ranges, they frequently grow together in various combinations. Over 300 soil samples representative of these species were analyzed with respect to organic matter content, pH, and concentrations of exchangeable calcium and magnesium ions, and each species was found to be distinctive in terms of these environmental factors. Morphologically variable species tend to be ecologically and geographically widespread, while less variable species tend to be more restricted. Species with a predominance of primitive morphological features occur primarily on tundra soils of intermediate pH, while morphologically advanced species inhabit road banks or other disturbed sites where the pH may be high or low.