Endozoochory of large bryophyte fragments by waterbirds

• Published in: Cryptogamie, Bryologie
• Main Authors: Wilkinson, David M., Lova-Kiss, Ádám, Callaghan, Des A., Green, Andy J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017
• Subjects: Didymodon; Dispersal; Endozoochory; Waterbirds; Vanellus vanellus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/149432; https://doi.org/10.7872/cryb/v38.iss2.2017.223

We provide observations confirming that viable fragments of bryophytes are dispersed by migratory birds after surviving transit through the alimentary canal. A specimen of Didymodon insulanus was cultured from a large fragment extracted from faeces of Mallard Anas platyrhynchos at Lake Windermere in Cumbria, England. Similar fragments were recorded elsewhere in England in faeces of Mallard and Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. Endozoochory is likely to be an important dispersal mechanism for bryophyte fragments as well as spores. Peer reviewed