XVI International Botanical Congess

An investigation is being undertaken to test the hypothesis that reproduction by spores may be important in maintaining populations of Phascum cuspidatum Hedw. and Pottia truncata (Hedw.) Furnr. Topics being studied are establishment from artificially sown spores and gametophyte fragments, spore dispersal, distribution of gametophyte colonies from one year to the next, occurrence of spores and viable gametophyte fragments in soil. Preliminary results suggest the distribution of colonies in P. truncata, but not P. cuspidatum, is significantly correlated with the previous years, that viable propagules of both species occur to 4cm depth in soil, spore deposition around colonies of P. truncata show a leptokurtic distrbution, aerial spore dispersal from P. cuspidatum is negligible. Colonies have been established from gametophyte fragments particularly in P. cuspidatum, the role of spores remains doubtful.