Irene Bisang

Extinction risk is not randomly distributed among species but depends on species traits, their relationship to climate and land use, and corresponding threats by global change. While knowledge of which factors influence extinction risk is increasingly available for some taxonomic groups, this is still largely lacking for bryophytes. Here, we used random forest models to study which biological and ecological traits and bioclimatic variables are important predictors for extinction risk in European bryophytes. We hypothesized that species with a high extinction risk have a short life span, low dispersal capacities, and are more likely specialists than generalists in terms of ecological traits and bioclimate. Overall, we found bioclimatic variables to be the most important predictors for extinction risk, most notably precipitation seasonality, and related ecological traits such as continentality and elevational range. Important biological traits were plant size, life strategy and sporophyte production. In general, species living at climatic extremes and/or those with a narrow environmental range are more likely to be threatened. In addition, small-sized species and/or species with low reproductive effort and/or larger spore size are more likely to be threatened. Our findings imply that climate change may become an important driver of bryophytes extinction risk and that biological and ecological traits will be most relevant for species in coping with future threats.

Bryophytes are a diverse group of organisms with unique properties, yet they are severely underrepresented in plant trait databases. Building on the recently published European Red List of bryophytes and previous trait compilations, we present the Bryophytes of Europe Traits (BET) dataset, including biological traits such as those related to life history, growth habit, sexual and vegetative reproduction, ecological traits such as indicator values, substrate and habitat, and bioclimatic variables based on the species’ European range. The dataset includes values for 65 traits and 25 bioclimatic variables, containing more than 135 000 trait values with a completeness of 82.7% on average. The dataset will enable future studies in bryophyte biology, ecology and conservation and may help to answer fundamental questions in bryology.

In der 17. Folge der ‚Beiträge zur bryofloristischen Erforschung der Schweiz' werden neue Fundorte von seltenen, gefährdeten oder anderweitig bemerkenswerten Moosen vorgestellt. Dabei handelt es sich um folgende Arten: Ephemerum recurvifolium, Leptophascum leptophyllum, Lewinskya killiasii subsp. killiasii, Microbryum starckeanum, Polytrichum nanum (=Pogonatum nanum), Polytrichum septentrionale, Riccia nigrella, Scapania verrucosa.

The 17th issue of the series 'Contributions to the bryofloristic exploration of Switzerland' comprises descriptions of new sites of rare, threatened or otherwise remarkable bryophyte species. The following species are included: Ephemerum recurvifolium, Leptophascum leptophyllum, Lewinskya killiasii subsp. killiasii, Microbryum starckeanum, Polytrichum nanum (=Pogonatum nanum), Polytrichum septentrionale, Riccia nigrella, Scapania verrucosa.

Ähnlich wie die Wildkräuter in Äckern sind auch die typischen, hochspezialisieren Ackermoose stark gefährdet und im Rückgang begriffen. Biodiversitätsförderflächen könnten dazu beitragen, ihren Rückgang zu stoppen. Entscheidend für den Erhalt der Ackermoose im Schweizer Kulturland ist jedoch, dass genügend und sorgfältig ausgewählte Getreidestoppelfelder nicht vor Ende Oktober gepflügt oder anderweitig bearbeitet werden.

Comme les plantes adventices, les mousses messicoles hautement spécialisées sont fortement menacées et en recul. Même si les surfaces de promotion de la biodiversité pourraient contribuer à endiguer ce déclin, l’absence de labour ou de tout autre travail jusqu’à la fin du mois d’octobre sur un nombre suffisant de champs de chaume soigneusement sélectionnés reste le facteur déterminant pour le maintien des mousses dans le paysage agricole suisse.