XVI International Botanical Congess

Bryophyte growth determination methods are numerous, however, lack of conformity of methods makes data cross-referencing challenging. This investigation refined an existing bryophyte growth method. Centrifugation brought groups of boreal mosses (Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Aulacomnium palustre, Sphagnum angustifolium, S. fuscum, S. jensenii, S. fuscum) to equilibrium. Regression analyses indicated that dry weight was significantly dependent on wet weight. Predicted dry weights were not significantly different from actual dry weights for most species. Field testing this summer is expected to further substantiate these data. Use of this methodology will enable transplant of shoots for growth experiments without relying on a weight estimated from shoots external to the investigation.