Forest Edges Rich in Mosses

The edges of remnant old-growth forests harbour a mix of mosses and liverworts that favour interior forest habitat as well as disturbed sites.

Between 5 and 25 years after logging, the influence of forest edges on mosses and liverworts extends at least 45 m into old-growth remnants of dry Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic subzone forests.

Near edges, wind-toppled trees create a variety of habitats conducive to a substantial array of mosses.

Of the 30 liverworts and 50 mosses identified, a total of 70 species were found near forest edges and 51 species in interior forest. Among these, 12 species grew only near forest edges and 7 species occurred exclusively under trees located over 75 m inside forest patches. Though interior forests contain fewer species, moss cover is considerably more extensive there than at the edges.