The ecological importance of moss ground cover in dry shrubland
restoration within an irrigated agricultural landscape matrix
Rebecca Dollery 1,*, Mike H Bowie1,
Nicholas M Dickinson1
1 Department of Pest-Management and Conservation,
Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
*Author for correspondence (Email:
Rebecca.Dollery@lincolnuni.ac.nz)
Data accessibility statement: We confirm that should the manuscript be
accepted, the data will be archived in an appropriate public repository
(Dryad) and the data DOI included at the end of the article.
Abstract
- Kānuka (Kunzea serotina , Myrtaceae) dryland shrubland
communities of the lowland plains of South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) New
Zealand (Aoteoroa) contain a ground cover largely consisting of
mosses, predominantly Hypnum cupressiforme . There has been no
previous study of the role of mosses in this threatened habitat which
is currently being restored within a contemporary irrigated and
intensively-farmed landscape that may be incompatible with this
component of the ecosystem.
- The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of moss
ground cover on hydrology, nitrogen (N) availability and vascular
plant interactions, and in relation to nutrient spillover from
adjacent farmland. Experimental work was a combination of glasshouse
experiments and field-based studies.
- Extremes of soil temperature and moisture were found to be mediated by
the moss carpet, which also influenced N speciation; available N
declined with moss depth. The moss layer decreased the amount of
germination and establishment of vascular plants but, in some cases,
enhanced their growth. Spillover of mineral nitrogen and phosphate
from farmland enhanced invasion of exotic grasses which may have
benefited from conditions provided by the moss carpet.
- Synthesis : We found the moss layer to be crucial to ecosystem
functioning in these dry habitats with low nutrient substrate.
However, when the moss layer is accompanied by nutrient spillover it
has the potential to increase exotic weed encroachment. Our results
emphasise the importance of non-vascular plant inclusion in
restoration schemes but also highlights the importance of mitigating
for nutrient spillover.
Keywords : biodiversity conservation; ecological restoration;
ecosystem function and services; Hypnum cupressiforme; kānuka;Kunzea; mineral nitrogen; soil moisture.