Reproduction of the mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Pohlia nutans in the surroundings of copper smelters at Harjavalta, SW Finland



: Huttunen S

Publisher: MANEY PUBLISHING

: 2003

 Journal of Bryology

: JOURNAL OF BRYOLOGY

: J BRYOL

: 25

: 41

: 47

: 7

: 0373-6687

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/037366803125002644


The reproduction of Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) Lindb. and Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. were compared in the surroundings of copper smelters at Harjavalta, Finland. Samples of both species were collected from 16 sample plots, which were situated on a 12-km transect at intervals of half a kilometre from the smelters. As a result of pollution the production of gametangia decreased in P. schreberi, and near the smelters most of the shoots were sterile. The biomass of shoots seems to have an effect on the production of perichaetia; reproducing females were always the largest ones in the colonies. The reproductive strategy of Pohlia nutans also varied. While, in moderately clean areas, colonies reproduced sexually and formed sporophytes, in the vicinity of the smelters caducous shoot apices were produced. The numbers of sporophytes in colonies were highest in moderately polluted areas and decreased further away from the smelters. The numbers of spores per capsule in P. nutans decreased at polluted sites and the proportion of aborted spores increased.



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