Ecological Studies on Growth-Form in Bryophytes: III. The Relationship Between the Growth-Form of Mosses and Ground-Water Supply

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Abstract
The 2 previous papers in this series suggest that in bryophytes growth-form and ecological amplitude are inter-dependent. The present paper describes field records of local distribution of species of several growth-forms with measurements of variation in micro-habitat factors, in a dune slack in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The chief variable factor was moisture supply, particularly ground-water derived from a fluctuating water-table. The general bryophytic zonation is described. Tall turfs (erect branches), short turfs, rough and smooth mats are best represented when out of reach of moisture derived from an underlying water-table; wefts and dendroid forms where the surface is moistened from this source in spring but not summer; tall turfs (divergent limited branches), tall turfs (rhizoidal) and some wefts where the water table is constantly near the surface; while other weft species are characteristic of intermediate conditions. Transplants and experimental cultures of various species showed that when supplied with a constant source of ground-water tall turfs (rhizoidal), tall turfs (divergent limited branches) and dendroid forms flourished for at least 7 months; whereas in the absence of ground-water supply only short turfs, rough mats and one dendroid species (Climacium dendroides) survived. Measurements of evaporation, pH and loss on ignition of sand surface, and some other factors in various parts of the dune slack showed little regular variation, indicating that the main cause of the pronounced zonation was the behavior of the water-table, changes in which were recorded along transects across the zones.

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