BBS Survey of Reproductive Phenology of Common British Bryophytes

As recently announced by Jeff Bates in Field Bryology we would like to invite BBS members to submit annual records of sporophyte development for some widely distributed species from chosen localities that they can revisit annually. 

Guidelines

1. Species should be selected from the list provided
2. The selected localities must be easily accessible so that the critical stages are not missed
3. Each sequence of fruiting records for a given species should come from a limited area – the ‘patch’ should consist of a few square meters (at most) of ground, rock face or masonry with seemingly homogeneous conditions.  Equally, it might refer to a small group of trees, boulders or logs in a limited area.  It is most important that the same patch is studied from year to year
4. If possible, records should be accompanied by photographs illustrating the main features of each chosen habitat patch
5. The data-gathering procedure will be simple and non-destructive.  Please note the dates at which a small number of developmental stages (listed below) are reached
6. Please submit the data electronically by filling in the excel form provided and returning this to Silvia Pressel (s.pressel@nhm.ac.uk).  Alternatively, please fill in the word document provided and send this to: Silvia Pressel, Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD.

Please select as many or as few species as you wish from this list of common British bryophytes:

Atrichum undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Bryum capillare, Campylopus introflexus, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranoweisa cirrata, Diplophyllum albicans, Fissidens bryoides, Fissidens taxifolius, Grimmia pulvinata, Hypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Lophocolea heterophylla, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Orthotrichum affine, Orthotrichum diaphanum, Pellia epiphylla, Polytrichastrum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Pogonatum aloides, Radula complanata, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tortula muralis.

Please assign a unique plant ID to your species patch e.g. SP-A.und-01

Using the form provided please record the dates on which the following observations (stages) are made:

For a moss:

1m. The first five caplyptrae become noticeable among the perichaetial leaves
2m. Five emerging setae first become visible
3m. Five green capsules are deemed to be fully swollen
4m. Five green expanded capsules changing colour
5m. Calyptrae have fallen from five capsules
6m. Lids have fallen from five capsules

For a liverwort:

1l. The first five green capsules become visible inside perianths or (Pellia) calyptrae
2l. Five capsules first emerge from perianths or (Pellia) calyptrae
3l. Five setae are deemed fully elongated
4l. Five capsules have dehisced

Habitat - In the form, you are asked to provide details that might help interpretation, including patch size, substratum, shading and exposure.  Please provide any further information in the Additional comments column – the more information included, the more valuable are your records.

Under ‘year of study’ please select ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’, etc., so that the dates can be compared easily with those from previous or later observations of this species patch.

Looking forward to receiving your records,

Silvia Pressel

Examples of different stages of development:

	Ceratodon purpureus
	Ceratodon purpureus
	Ceratodon purpureus
	Grimmia pulvinata