The ratio between bryophyte functional groups impacts vascular plants in rich fens
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2019 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Applied Vegetation Science |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12454 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12454 |
| Keywords | brown mosses; conservation ecology; diversity hotspots; endangered species; mires; sphagna |
| Attached files | |
| Description | We test whether the ratio between the two major bryophyte functional groups accounts for the species composition of vascular plants in fens. At the community level, the ratio accounted significantly for species composition of specialized vascular plants, more obviously in the regional scale data set. At the species level, more fen species were significantly directly affected by the ratio than by water pH and by measured water table depth (WTD) in the regional data set. In the continental data set, the comparable proportions of species were directly affected by the ratio and WTD inferred by soil moisture indicator values. Most of the species affected significantly by the ratio preferred the fens rich in nonsphagnaceous bryophytes. They were largely those with a low capability of vegetative reproduction. Our findings demonstrate the important role of the bryophyte layer in the structuring of vascular plant communities in fens and highlight urgent conservation needs for brown moss patches. |
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