Changes in moss-dominated wetland ecosystems

• Main Author: Vitt, Dale h.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: Oxford University PressOxford 1992
• Subjects: Arctic; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198542919.003.0007; https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/52553772/isbn-9780198542919-book-part-7.pdf

Abstract The Bryopsida, or mosses, are a diverse assemblage of species that form the second largest group of green land plants (Vitt 1982). In general, mosses are poikilohydric and drought tolerant (Proctor 1972; Levitt 1980). As a result of these two characteristics, species can maintain active photosynthesis only when water is available. The ability of this group of plants to tolerate frequent dry periods by coming to thermodynamic equilibrium with their surroundings has enabled them to occupy highly stressed habitats. The abundance and species richness of mosses in tropical montane rain forests; on montane cliff faces and canyons; in boreal forests; in subarctic, boreal, and temperate peatlands; and in arctic meadows, indicates that this group of plants can exist under water- and nutrient-stressed conditions, and also be a dominant component of the ecosystem. Recent studies of tropical montane rain forests (Coxson and Vogel 1989), boreal forests (Oechel and Lawrence 1985), peatlands (Bayley et al. 1987), and arctic meadows (Vitt and Pakarinen 1977) have all suggested that the moss component can have a great influence on the nutrient dynamics and water retention of the ecosystem. However, it is only in peatlands in which continuous records of past species occurrences are found.