Survival ability of moss diaspores in water - an experimental study

Spores and fragments of Schistidium rivulare, Racomitrium aciculare, Dicranoweisia crispula, Oligotrichum hercynicum and Ceratodon purpureus were stored dry or in water for up to six months. Diaspores of all studied species survived for some time in water. Spores of S. rivulare showed a higher survival rate over time than spores of any of the other species, and the regeneration frequencies of fragments were highest in S. rivulare. For all species except S. rivulare, the germination frequencies of spores kept in water were significantly lower than of the spores kept dry at almost all time intervals. Hence, of the studied species, S. rivulare is thought to have the highest probability for surviving water transport, although water dispersal is not ruled out for any of the species. In general, the absolute regeneration frequencies of fragments were lower than the germination frequencies of spores. However, the fragments of all species generally survived as well in water as when stored dry, indicating a better tolerance towards water submergence for fragments than for spores.