Mosses and liverworts are bryophytes and they reflect habitat diversity at a big and micro-scale and the presence of rarities can reflect the health of the environment locally too. Volunteer Bryophyte County Recorder Richard Fisk carried out a bryophyte survey over targeted areas of Rougham Estate in 2019. Of Suffolk’s total of 319 mosses (288 since 1980), 101 species ie 26% of Suffolk’s species were found in this survey of Rougham Estate habitats. And of Suffolk’s total 79 liverworts (63 since 1980), 10 species ie 13% were recorded in this survey. Several rare and unusual species were recorded and a few of the common species were missing.
Many bryophytes grow on soil or on the persistent remains of their own growth, as well as on living or decomposing material of other plants. Some grow on bare rock surfaces, and several are aquatic. Most bryophyte species inhabit damp or humid places but some mosses can grow in areas with little water because they can dry out without dying and then rehydrate when it rains. Mosses are a habitat for wildlife in their own right for other plants, insects, frogs and fungi. Some insect larvae only feed on moss. Other insects hunt among moss for prey and, in turn, are eaten by bats and birds. Liverworts can be leafy and look similar to mosses, or can have a flattened, pancake-like appearance.
The UK’s bryophytes are of global significance, but they are threatened by human activities. Rougham Estate Trust is keen to incorporate management recommendations to improve their status at Rougham in various habitats: wood pasture with veteran trees, woodland, scrub, hedges, field margins, arable and ponds. These recommendations include leaving leaning trees and veteran trees where they are safe, leaving more dead wood lying on the ground, encouraging scruffy areas with bare, rabbit-scuffed ground and waterlogged areas.
Rougham Estate Trust is very grateful to Richard Fiske for giving his time to do this survey.
IMAGE: A sporophyte of Orthotrichum stramineum with calyptra. This species, growing on ash, is increasing with reduced air pollution but is still uncommon in Suffolk.
Photo: Des_Callaghan, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via
