Orthotrichum Pallens Bruch Ex Brid
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Orthotrichum pallens Bruch ex Brid. Pale Bristle-moss ORTHOTRICHACEAE SYNONYMY: Orthotrichum arnellii Groenv. Orthotrichum aurantiacum Groenv. Orthotrichum boreale Groenv. Orthotrichum immersum Brid. Orthotrichum obscurum Groenv. Orthotrichum pallidum Groenv. Orthotrichum paradoxum Groenv. Orthotrichum polare Lindb. Status: Current GB status (www.jncc.gov.uk) - Natural England Species Recovery Programme Endangered (2008) Status in Europe: Not threatened UK BAP Priority Species (2007) Lead Partner: Plantlife International UK Biodiversity Action Plan: These are the current BAP targets following the 2001 Targets Review: T1 - Maintain populations of this species at all extant sites. T2 - Establish by 2005 ex situ stocks of this species to safeguard extant populations. Progress on targets as reported in the UKBAP 2002 and 2005 reporting rounds can be viewed on the BARS (Biodiversity Action Reporting System) website: http://www.ukbap- reporting.org.uk/status/species_habitat_nat_status.asp?C=1&X=%7B38BDA9AD-4F27-4FA9-A7A0- 2FD9B1728CB5%7D&P=&F=&S=Orthotrichum+pallens&submitted=1&txtLogout= The full Action Plan for Orthotrichum pallens (UK Biodiversity Group 1999) can be viewed on the following web page: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=488 UKBAP species actions are currently under review following the recent revision of UKBAP species (2007). The current UK list of Priority Species can be viewed on the following web page: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/PrioritySpecies.aspx?group=6 Contents 1 Morphology, Identification, Taxonomy & Genetics 1.1 Morphology & identification 1.2 Taxonomic & genetic considerations 2 Distribution & Current Status 2.1 World 2.2 Europe 2.3 United Kingdom 2.3.1 England 2.3.2 Northern Ireland 2.3.3 Scotland 2.3.4 Wales 3 Ecology & Habitat Requirements 3.1 Atmospheric pollution 3.2 Communities & vegetation 3.3 Dispersal & strategy 3.4 Habitat requirements in the UK - conclusion 4 Threats 5 Management Implications 6 Ex situ Conservation 7 Recommendations for Future Work 8 References 9 Acknowledgements 10 Contacts 11 Links 1 Morphology, Identification, Taxonomy & Genetics 1.1 MORPHOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION Description According to Hill et al. (1994), "Orthotrichum pallens is a somewhat characterless species, which may therefore be under-recorded." While it is rather small and inconspicuous, there are a number of useful characters that can help in determining material. When sporophytes are approaching maturity, in early summer, the calyptra stands out very clearly because of its pale, shining appearance, making the sporophyte look large in comparison with the gametophyte (Stephen Wharton, pers. comm.). Furthermore, the calyptra is glabrous, plicate and has an orange tip (not dark, as in O. stramineum). The capsules are emergent, not exserted (as in O. pulchellum). The leaves are rather dark green and obtuse (paler and more pointed in most other species), more or less straight and imbricate when dry (more neat-looking than O. affine), and rather opaque, because of the relatively strong papillae (more shining and translucent in O. affine). Microscopically, the stomata on the capsule are rather few, well-distributed and clearly immersed, but the guard cells hardly obscure them at all. O. affine has superficial stomata, and O. tenellum, O. stramineum and O. pumilum have the stomata much more obscured by the guard cells. In addition, the stomata of O. tenellum tend to be more restricted to the lower half of the capsule, and O. stramineum has numerous hairs on the vaginula. According to Crum & Anderson (1981), distinctive features of O. pallens include "the autoicous sexual condition (with perigonia terminating short branches), strongly ribbed, strangulate capsules, slightly to distinctly immersed stomata, peristome teeth united in 8 pairs, 16 slender endostome segments, and a naked calyptra." Figure 1 - Orthotrichum pallens at Green Bank, Weardale (Photograph by Stephen Wharton) Figure 2 - Orthotrichum pallens at Green Bank, Weardale (Photograph by Nick Hodgetts) 1.2 TAXONOMIC & GENETIC CONSIDERATIONS The specific status of Orthotrichum pallens appears to be taxonomically uncontroversial, at least at present. 2 Distribution & Current Status 2.1 WORLD Orthotrichum pallens is circumboreal and scattered in Europe, N. Asia and N. America. 2.2 EUROPE According to Hill et al. (1994) its main European distribution is in northern and central Europe, whereas it is rare in southern Europe and absent from most of the Mediterranean islands. Nyholm (1974) describes it as 'scattered' in Scandinavia, but present in most provinces in Sweden and Norway. It has been recorded in Ireland, where it is also very rare (Hill et al. 1994). It is classified by Hill & Preston (1998) and Hill et al. (2007) as European Boreo-temperate. 2.3 UNITED KINGDOM Overview In Britain Orthotrichum pallens has a predominantly northern distribution. Recorded from 20 sites to date in the United Kingdom (18 in northern England, and 3 from Scotland), recent records for O. pallens are restricted to Weardale in Co. Durham, Wharfedale in Yorkshire and an outlying southern occurrence in Hertfordshire. Hodgetts (2003) reviewed the status of O. pallens in Britain, and visited all known extant populations in Weardale. Subsequently, O. pallens was rediscovered in Wharfedale (Hodgetts 2006) and a new colony was found in Watford (Rothero 2008). O. pallens is listed as Endangered in the British Red Data Book for mosses and liverworts (Church et al. 2001). This information in this dossier updates and corrects the first edition (Hodgetts 2007). Figure 4 - British distribution of Orthotrichum pallens Open circles: pre-1980. Closed circles: 1980-2008. The total number of reliable records of O. pallens went down considerably when Tom Blockeel revised the specimens for the Census Catalogue (Blockeel & Long 1998). Those that are confirmed are listed in Table 1. Table 1 - Records of Orthotrichum pallens – historical and extant Locality County Vice- Grid ref. Alt. Date Recorder Notes county Watford, Hertfordsh 20 TQ089974 60 2007 C.T.W. On willow branch Cassiobury Park ire Tipper in wet willow/alder scrub by river. Specimen in BBSUK Near Calder Lancashire 60 - - 1900 A. Wilson & Blackstock & Bridge, Garstang A. Wheldon Rothero (1999). Specimen in NMW York, Clifton Ings Yorkshire 62 SE55 - 1842 R. Spruce Baker (1906) York, Clifton Ings Yorkshire 62 SE55 - pre-1888 H. Ibbotson Lees (1888). 'West side of R. Ouse, above Clifton Ings' Addingham Yorkshire 64 SE05 - 1855 B. Braithwaite Carrington (1905) Addingham Yorkshire 64 SE05 - 1858 Unknown Specimen in BM Addingham Yorkshire 64 SE08215054 100 4.5.2005 N.G. On ash tree on Hodgetts bank of R. Wharfe. Specimen in BBSUK Addingham Yorkshire 64 SE08215054 100 17.10.200 N.G. At least 15 5 Hodgetts cushions on ash tree on bank of R. Wharfe Bolton Abbey Yorkshire 64 SE05 - 25.3.1856 B. Specimen in BM Woods Carrington Bolton Abbey Yorkshire 64 SE05 - 1934 H.N. Dixon Cheetham (1945) Woods Mickley, nr., S. Yorkshire 64 SE27 - pre-1888 J.G. Baker Lees (1888) side of R. Ure Crook Beck Durham 66 NZ167353 145 20.6.1999 T.S. & J. Bole of ash in Wharton dense scrub above Crook Beck Crook Beck Durham 66 NZ167353 145 21.6.1999 T.S. & J. Branch of elder Wharton in dense scrub above Crook Beck Crook Beck Durham 66 NZ16733533 145 21.1.2003 N.G. One tiny tuft ca. Hodgetts & 1 x 1 cm on ash T.S. bole Wharton Frosterley Dam, Durham 66 NZ034 43674 160 22.4.2004 N.G. On three ash Weardale Hodgetts et trees by river al. Frosterley Dam, Durham 66 NZ03513690 160 22.4.2004 N.G. On alder Weardale Hodgetts et between lay-by al. and river Green Bank, lay- Durham 66 NZ050369 167 4.6.1999 T.S. & J. On branch of by, Weardale Wharton, wych elm in conf. T.L. hedge by old Blockeel road Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ047369 - 1999-2000 T.S. & J. On roadside ash roadside, Wharton Weardale Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ04693694 150 20.1.2003 N.G. Single small tuft roadside, Hodgetts & of about four Weardale T.S. shoots seen on Wharton the SE side of one tree Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ05003697 150 20.1.2003 N.G. Small scattered roadside, Hodgetts & tufts in thrashed Weardale T.S. hedge at the side Wharton of lay-by over a length of ca. 200 m Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ04593694 150 20.1.2003 N.G. Single colony of roadside, Hodgetts ca. 7 x 2 cm Weardale found on an ash tree on the south side of the main A689 road Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ050369 150 22.4.2004 N.G. Several tufts roadside, Hodgetts et Weardale al. Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ047369 150 22.4.2004 N.G. Large amount of roadside, Hodgetts et fruiting material Weardale al. in stand of field maple in strip between lay-by and main road Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ046369 150 22.4.2004 N.G. Very unhealthy roadside, Hodgetts et Weardale al. Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ048369 160 4.6.1999 T.S. & J. Wych elm woodland, Wharton branch, bole of Weardale ash & branch of dead tree in woodland by R. Wear Green Bank, Durham 66 NZ04933688 160 20.1.2003 N.G. Tiny tuft of two woodland, Hodgetts & fertile shoots Weardale T.S. seen on ash tree Wharton Harehope Gill, Durham 66 NZ033360 190 14.5.2000 T.S. & J. Bole of ash in Weardale Wharton open woodland near ruined building Harehope Gill, Durham 66 NZ033359 205 29.5.2000 T.S. & J. Bole of mature Weardale Wharton ash on bankside above wood Harperley Hall, Durham 66 NZ117346 - 15.5.2000 T.S. & J. Trunks of ash at Weardale Wharton edge of riverside wood Harperley Hall, Durham 66 NZ11693466 120 22.1.2003 N.G. Single 5 x 5 mm Weardale Hodgetts sterile tuft of ca. 5 shoots on riverside ash Harperley Hall, Durham 66 NZ11723460 120 22.1.2003 N.G. Small scattered Weardale Hodgetts colonies with O.