Silver hair moss (Fabronia pusilla) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 6

Biology

General

Fabronia pusillais a perennial, creeping moss that grows on semi-exposed rock or bark substrata. Both of the known sites for this species in British Columbia have hot summers and cool to cold winters. More specific biological information on F. pusilla is lacking.

Reproduction and dispersal

Fabronia pusilla is an autoicous moss (both sexes are on the same plant) that produces sporophytes and spores frequently across its range. Both Sumas Mountain collections have sporophytes, although they are not abundant in the collections, and, since some of the Macoun material also has sporophytes, it appears that the Canadian populations were also able to produce spores. Spores are most frequently wind-dispersed, but there is no information on spore dispersal distances, viability, or germination success for this species. There is no evidence of asexual reproduction by specialized propagules or by fragmentation.

Interspecific interactions

There is no information available on interspecific interactions, although it usually grows admixed with other moss species. Many of these species are larger than F. pusilla and may out-compete it in its habitat.

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