The radioecology of Pogonatum urnigerum (L.) Pal. Beauv.

Abstract

Within the area of the radiation anomaly near Kowary (Sudetes), the moss Pogonatum urnigerum grows on sites with natural gamma radiation of the soil within the limits of 0.05 to 0.91 mR/h. By way of detailed ecological analysis, five stenotopic habitats of P. urnigerum were singled out, differing, however, in radiation level. On these microhabitats the intrapopulation variability, radioactivity and ecological properties of the P. urnigerum populations were investigated. It was demonstrated that radiation within the above mentioned range is an essential ecological factor conditioning the ecotype differences in Pogonatum urnigerum, and among them the develop-mental anomalies.