Summary and conclusions
Bryophyte ecology has been little investigated in New Zealand. In the present study a northern dune area (under a dune reclamation and afforestation scheme) on the west coast, is divided into five community zones. Two of these are phases in the artificial sere leading from bare sand to exotic pine plantations. The others are seral stages in the development of the coastal forest climax.
The bryophyte flora is investigated both quantitatively and qualitatively for the terrestrial, epixylic and corticolous habitat in each of these communities.
It was found that mosses are not pioneers in the psammosere as is frequently the case in the northern hemisphere. They were secondary invaders at a late stage in the Lupinus-Psamma phase when the lupin bushes play an important part. The first bryophytes occupied epixylic stations (on logs and fallen branches). The bryophytic flora showed developmental changes in relation to the nature of the cover communities. Life form and drought tolerance of the bryophyte species are important factors. Long distance migration is by spores, but local dispersal by vegetative growth and the transportation of detached tufts is of great importance.
The size and shape of quadrat for terrestrial communities is fully investigated. It was found that shape was of no essential importance in bryocoenological methods The heavy needle litter of the pine plantations had no retarding effect on the moss carpet. Succession within the bryophyte community is from hepatics to acrocarpic and then to pleurocarpic mosses.
Corticolous mosses form a group apart and are affected by such factors as drainage patterns, nature of bark and exposure.
The bryophyte union is worked out for each cover community and three terrestrial unions and one corticolous union are recognised. It is suggested that one of the terrestrial unions is dynamic and that basically there are two distinct terrestrial unions as a climax to the bryophyte microsere; one for the Leptospermum scrub and the other for coastal forest.
My thanks are due to Prof. V. J. Chapman (Auckland University College N.Z.) for his advice and encouragement during the course of this investigation.
Résumé
Les dunes de sable très élevées sur la côte occidentale de la Nouvelle Zelande ont été fixées avec Psamma arenaria et Lupinus et plantées de Pins exotiques (Pinus radiata).
Le versant Nord d'une dune a été étudié au point de vue du développement de la végétation. Ce versant comprend une partie plantée de Pinus et une autre abandonnée à l'évolution naturelle de la végétation.
La flore bryophytique est divisée en trois catégories selon la station: Mousses vivant sur la terre nue, sur les arbres (Mousses corticoles) et sur le bois mort. Sur cette dune les Mousses n'apparaissent pas comme pionniers; elles s'installent après l'établissement de Lupinus d'abord sur des branches tombées (mortes).
Les formes biologiques des différentes Bryophytes et leur résistance contre le desséchement ont été étudiées en rapport avec les types de végétation.
Les spores des Mousses sont parfois apportées de très loin, mais dans le territoire même qui a été etudié la dispersion végétative par accroissement et par des parties détachées des touffes joue un grand rôle.
Quelques expériments avec des carrés de différente surface montrent que la forme des surfaces étudiées est de peu d'importance pour l'étude bryosociologique.
Même la litière épaisse sous le couvert du Pin ne retarde pas le développement des Mousses. Les Hépatiques apparaissent les premiers, suivies des Mousses acrocarpes et ensuite des Mousses pleurocarpes.
Les Bryophytes corticoles forment une unité à part. On a discerné en tout quatre groupements, trois groupements terrestres et un groupement corticole. Un des trois groupements terrestres constitue probablement un stage de développement tandis que deux autres semblent être des groupements terminaux permanents: stades terminaux l'un pour la brousse à Leptospermum, l'autre pour la forêt littorale.
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This work was carried out by the author while staying at the Auckland University College, New Zealand.
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Robbins, R.G. Bryophyte ecology of a dune area in New Zealand. Vegetatio Acta Geobot 4, 1–31 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00452923
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00452923