Competition Between Mosses (Splachnaceae) in Patchy Habitats

The boreal mosses Tetraplodon angustatus, T. mnioides, Splachnum ampullaceum and S. luteum (Splachnaceae) grow on the droppings of large mammals and have their spores dispersed by flies (Diptera). This study was conducted to determine if (i) the interactions between these mosses on droppings (within-patch interactions) and (ii) the influence of habitat and type of dropping on such interactions promote their coexistence. Comparisons of two-species competition experiments with single-species growth experiments in which the mosses were grown from spores on moose droppings in the laboratory and field indicated that the mosses compete for resources (...)