Succession of Epiphytic Bryophytes near Mountain Lake, Virginia

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Abstract
A total of 25 species of mosses and 9 spp. of liverworts, mostly facultative epiphytes, were present on the bases of 140 saplings of 6 tree species in a cove forest. Epiphytic communities on saplings showed greater mutual similarity than did those on trees. Only 1 epiphytic species was restricted to 1 host species and only 8 spp. showed strong single-host preferences. Most epiphytic communities on saplings were very dissimilar to those on mature trees of the same species. Epiphytic communities on oak, maple, beech, yellow birch, black birch and hemlock saplings were most similar to epiphytic communities on mature black birches, while those on beech saplings were most similar to those on mature beeches. By comparing epiphytes on saplings and trees, successional trends were inferred that led to the more sharply delimited host specificities of epiphytes on trees. These trends included: the persistence and expansion of some pioneer species, the disappearance of others and the appearance of additional species that were not present on saplings; these additional species often showed strong host preferences and (especially on oak and maple) mesophytic growth-forms.