Bryological Database for European Mosses and Liverworts

[polyglott]

Hi KL, hello all,
I'll come back, to point out another interesting bryophyte site: http://www.brc.ac.uk/resources.htm
There is a document that describes attributes of British/Irish mosses and liverworts.
You can learn which species grow in aquatic habitats, their synonyms, life-forms and environment. It is described if the species are rare or common and where they can be found. I assume that all interested people will not foray the natural inventories and will handle them with care.
This information may also be a starting point to identify or exclude a species, that has been found in a known habitat or to check in front of harvesting, if it could be able to survive submerged or if it is protected.
You could say that no tropical mosses are included, but I did some very positive experiences with native (European) mosses and several species are distributed worldwide. Anyway, I think it is an very interesting reading just for a spreadsheet.
Regards Uwe

[timebomb]

Hi, Uwe,

Thanks for the link. It sure is a comprehensive list.

There are almost 1,200 mosses on the list but only a handful are known to be truly aquatic, in the sense that under "Ellenberg values for moisture", they are described as mosses that are found "normally submerged". Most are species of Fontinalis. The only aquatic moss that isn't a Fontinalis is Octodiceras fontanum which I think is the same as Fissidens fontanus or what is now commonly known as "Fountain Moss".

Is that correct, Uwe?

Loh K L

[imported_stephan]

I hope I am not butting in but I think an F value at most, 9 to 10, sets a moss to be aquatic. I found alot of Fissidens crassipes submerged in a shallow stream in Italy, last month and its given an F value of 9 on the L sheet.

In the site http://dbiodbs.univ.trieste.it/global/mosses1 both Fissidens rivularis and F rufulus are given the same status as Fontinalis, and I've seen a number of publications listing them as aquatics but they are only given F 9 on this spreadsheet. Maybe its because they can also be found on rocks by the side of streams? Using the same principal most of the Vesicularia and Taxiphyllium species used in tropical aquaria would classify in the 8-9 region.

Hi KL you're right, Octodiceras fontanum = Fissidens fontanus.

It would be interesting if Uwe would list the species he found useful as aquarium subjects please.


best regards
Stephan
Malta

[timebomb]

I hope I am not butting in ..

Stephan,

You don't have to have reservations taking part in the discussions here. You're definitely someone who knows quite a lot about mosses so your input is always welcomed.

I think the F values shouldn't be taken too seriously. The people who made up the spreadsheet probably aren't as obsessed over the aquatic nature of the mosses as much as we are.

I'm curious about the Taxiphyllum wissgrillii though. It's F value is listed as 5 which indicates that it's a moss found on either moist soils or humid places. I would say, despite the low F value, there's a fairly good chance this Taxiphyllum can be grown under water. After all, all the Taxiphyllum's we've seen so far have no problems surviving in our tanks.

Loh K L

[polyglott]

Hi KL,
you are right, there just around 31/30 species classified as submerged lifeforms (At;Aq) or with moisture value >=10 and additive 4 with a floating substrate classification. I agree that aquatic bryophytes will start at F=9 but I suggest not all will survive submerged for a long period. You should also have a look to the habitat classification for aquatic or marshland, but the most informative values are the acidity, light and nitrogen classes.

Hi Stephan,
yes it is curious, some species are very various but sometimes very special. Times ago I tried to farm some Marchantia polymorpha subsp. polymorpha against all prophecies of doom, I failed. But I now guess the reason is not my inability but my ignorance. My PH is around 6,8, the aquatic subspecies will need an alkaline setup/substrate. I also failed with Plagomnium affine, it survived since 5 month but does not look very attractive. I think it is unsuitable, but I heard about an aquatic subspecies (?).
At the other hand I had a big success with Fissidens rivularis, because it is rare I harvested just a small piece on a pebble. It grows submerged in its natural habitat and is very tolerant (I solved a red algae disaster with the refrigerator). It is the smallest Fissidens that I know and very pretty. Unfortunately it grows very slow, I doubled it within 19 month.

Regards Uwe

Edit: Using the database, we should have in mind, that it is based on records of GB. This approves the variability of some species, if you are sure that you identified the moss well.

[imported_stephan]

Thanks Uwe for the reply. I am also trying out a number of European mosses in an aquarium.

All the Fissidens appear to grow well, although they grow at different rates.

Even in Asia it appears that Fissidens splachnobryoides and F nobilis are not naturally aquatic but do adapt quite readily to submersed conditions. As you said the pH may affect some species. I do not use CO2 but flourish excel and it has given good results with mosses.

Light and temperature are also very important. Strong lighting always is appreciated even by mosses naturally found in shade and low temperatures are essential for others. In fact I think its temperature which limits most mosses ability to live in tropical aquariums.

Another thing is aereation. Aquatic mosses live in running water. Amphibious mosses are found in waterfalls so oxygen content in the water is also a factor to look out for. Last week I found a nice light green Fissidens growing submerged in a stream. I thinks its not a true aquatic since it was also growing well out of the water, but it was growing very well submerged even in nature. The fast flowing water must be providing it with enough oxygen.

I also think that mosses from a naturaly alkaline environment are more easily adapted to living submersed in the aquarium. Aquarium water tends to have some calcium content which would kill mosses from low pH environments such as Sphagnum species.

In Germany you should be able to find alot more mosses near or in streams (in summer). However I would not place any bets on Marchantia polymorpha .

Another useful site that complements your database to help you id the species is http://hosting.sleath.co.uk/bbs/mosses_am.php

If I was in Germany I would look out for the Thamnobryum, Bryum pseudotriquetrum which should be common and Synthrichia latifolia.

Good luck
Stephan