Ephemerum Cohaerens

Article Ephemerum cohaerens, an exquisite survivor of v E. cohaerens. Norbert Schnyder (Institut für Systematische Botanik, functional alluvial habitats Universität Zürich) here is a significant number of bryo- Many bryophytes are now so familiar to fact almost never observed in such a situation on the revised UK Red List (Hodgetts, 2011) phytes that are most often found in us in man-made habitats that it is often (Greven 2011). One could wonder where and in other countries’ Red Data Books. This artificial habitats. In the 20th cen- Rhynchostegium rotundifolium was growing species has a wide but discontinuous range in the difficult to understand what their natural tury, rapid urbanization and exploita- before human settlement. Holarctic, being mentioned in Eastern North tion of natural resources throughout habitat would be without human The study of the original habitats of America (Bryan & Anderson 1957; Crum & TWestern Europe have profoundly altered the synanthropic bryophytes (ecologically associ- Anderson 1981; Bryan 2005), in Asia (China intervention. Vincent Hugonnot and natural habitats of mosses and liverworts. ated with humans) can be a stimulating research and Japan; Bryan 2005) and Europe, where it Recording of bryophytes in cities and artificial colleagues takes a look at one such area. A population growing in an artificial extends from Spain to The Netherlands, and habitats has increased dramatically in the last species, Ephemerum cohaerens, habitat cannot be considered precisely equivalent from the United Kingdom to Poland. A recent few decades, and has significantly improved our with a natural one, and it is a well-established French distribution map showed a great scarcity familiar (although rare) to French and knowledge of the artificial ecology of bryophytes. fact that populations are liable to genetic of the species in France (Hugonnot et al., 2005). Tortula muralis is ubiquitous and abundant British bryologists from the inundation modification following colonization events. on concrete, mortared walls and roof tiles but zone of artificial reservoirs. From a management perspective, a good under- The inundation zone of reservoirs as a habitat is often present in only modest quantity on standing of natural habitats may be crucial for an for E. cohaerens calcareous rock outcrops in France or other crinita is almost always found on mortared accurate conservation action plan. The inundation zone of reservoirs provides parts of Europe. Riccia crystallina is found on walls in churchyards in southern France. Many Ephemerum cohaerens (Hedw.) Hampe is important habitats for mosses (Atherton et al., compacted, fine-textured substrates in gardens, bryophytes are adapted to arable land and some typically linked with artificial reservoirs in France 2010). Alternative flooding and exposure are but also in the inundation zone of natural ponds. particular species are difficult to spot outside this and in the UK, so its natural habitat is somewhat characteristic of the margins of water bodies In cities, Syntrichia papillosa is observed growing anthropogenic habitat (for example Dicranella obscure. We focused on this species because of its (Ellenberg, 1988; Rodwell, 2000), whilst on concrete, but it is a typical epiphyte of Quercus staphylina and Didymodon tomaculosus). In rarity worldwide and because it could be a useful open and moist, fine-textured substrates are in natural Mediterranean areas. Pseudocalliergon southern France, Leptophascum leptophyllum is tool in a conservation context. most characteristic. E. cohaerens shows special lycopodioides is often found in oligotrophic only observed along heavily disturbed paths in adaptations to this peculiar habitat, such as fens, but also in China clay quarries in France. or near urban areas, whilst its British occurrences The distribution ofE. cohaerens rhizoidal tubers (Pressel et al., 2005), fast Leptodictyum riparium is found growing at the are in arable fields in the south. Rhynchostegium Following the recent taxonomic revision of growth and abundant production of large base of deciduous shrubs in alluvial forests and rotundifolium is a specialist of castle walls and Holyoak (2010), six species of the genus spores (50–90 µm) that enable it to cope with also in greenhouses and on sloping tarmac roads. is never found in natural biotopes in France, Ephemerum are known to occur in Europe. specific seasonal constraints (alternating cycles For such species, it is not difficult to explain whereas its two British populations are both E. cohaerens is one of the rarest species and of waterlogging and drying). As it has been occurrences in artificial habitats as chance adjacent to lanes. In these cases, the original and is included in the Red Data List of European demonstrated that the spore bank is of utmost colonization of secondary ecological niches. natural habitat can be rather difficult to trace. Bryophytes with the status ‘Vulnerable’ (ECCB relevance in the strategy of Physcomitrium On the other hand, some species have artificial It is not difficult to see G. crinita as a typical 1995). It is also listed in the British Red Data sphaericum (Furness & Hall, 1981), it is likely habitats as their primary niches. Grimmia inhabitant of calcareous outcrops, but it is in Books mosses and liverworts (Church et al., 2001), to play a major role in the case of E. cohaerens 20 FieldBryology No108 | Nov12 FieldBryology No108 | Nov12 21 Article Ephemerum cohaerens, an exquisite survivor of v E. cohaerens. Norbert Schnyder (Institut für Systematische Botanik, functional alluvial habitats Universität Zürich) here is a significant number of bryo- Many bryophytes are now so familiar to fact almost never observed in such a situation on the revised UK Red List (Hodgetts, 2011) phytes that are most often found in us in man-made habitats that it is often (Greven 2011). One could wonder where and in other countries’ Red Data Books. This artificial habitats. In the 20th cen- Rhynchostegium rotundifolium was growing species has a wide but discontinuous range in the difficult to understand what their natural tury, rapid urbanization and exploita- before human settlement. Holarctic, being mentioned in Eastern North tion of natural resources throughout habitat would be without human The study of the original habitats of America (Bryan & Anderson 1957; Crum & TWestern Europe have profoundly altered the synanthropic bryophytes (ecologically associ- Anderson 1981; Bryan 2005), in Asia (China intervention. Vincent Hugonnot and natural habitats of mosses and liverworts. ated with humans) can be a stimulating research and Japan; Bryan 2005) and Europe, where it Recording of bryophytes in cities and artificial colleagues takes a look at one such area. A population growing in an artificial extends from Spain to The Netherlands, and habitats has increased dramatically in the last species, Ephemerum cohaerens, habitat cannot be considered precisely equivalent from the United Kingdom to Poland. A recent few decades, and has significantly improved our with a natural one, and it is a well-established French distribution map showed a great scarcity familiar (although rare) to French and knowledge of the artificial ecology of bryophytes. fact that populations are liable to genetic of the species in France (Hugonnot et al., 2005). Tortula muralis is ubiquitous and abundant British bryologists from the inundation modification following colonization events. on concrete, mortared walls and roof tiles but zone of artificial reservoirs. From a management perspective, a good under- The inundation zone of reservoirs as a habitat is often present in only modest quantity on standing of natural habitats may be crucial for an for E. cohaerens calcareous rock outcrops in France or other crinita is almost always found on mortared accurate conservation action plan. The inundation zone of reservoirs provides parts of Europe. Riccia crystallina is found on walls in churchyards in southern France. Many Ephemerum cohaerens (Hedw.) Hampe is important habitats for mosses (Atherton et al., compacted, fine-textured substrates in gardens, bryophytes are adapted to arable land and some typically linked with artificial reservoirs in France 2010). Alternative flooding and exposure are but also in the inundation zone of natural ponds. particular species are difficult to spot outside this and in the UK, so its natural habitat is somewhat characteristic of the margins of water bodies In cities, Syntrichia papillosa is observed growing anthropogenic habitat (for example Dicranella obscure. We focused on this species because of its (Ellenberg, 1988; Rodwell, 2000), whilst on concrete, but it is a typical epiphyte of Quercus staphylina and Didymodon tomaculosus). In rarity worldwide and because it could be a useful open and moist, fine-textured substrates are in natural Mediterranean areas. Pseudocalliergon southern France, Leptophascum leptophyllum is tool in a conservation context. most characteristic. E. cohaerens shows special lycopodioides is often found in oligotrophic only observed along heavily disturbed paths in adaptations to this peculiar habitat, such as fens, but also in China clay quarries in France. or near urban areas, whilst its British occurrences The distribution ofE. cohaerens rhizoidal tubers (Pressel et al., 2005), fast Leptodictyum riparium is found growing at the are in arable fields in the south. Rhynchostegium Following the recent taxonomic revision of growth and abundant production of large base of deciduous shrubs

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