Effects of Fertilizers on the Species Composition of Bryophytes in Grazed Pastures in Rogaland, Norway

Abstract

This study has aimed at looking at how the species composition of bryophyte communities in grazed pastures is affected by fertilizers. Bryophyte species were collected from 25 different sites in Rogaland in Norway, of which 10 sites were unfertilized; 6 were fertilized with artificial fertilizer; 3 were fertilized with manure; and 6 were fertilized with both artificial fertilizer and manure. Bryophytes were collected from two types of substrates, namely from rocks and from soil. After additional data was collected, and all bryophyte species were identified, statistical analyses were performed using ordinations. Detrended correspondence analyses (DCA) and canonical correspondence analyses (CCA) were used. The results showed that fertilizers do have an effect on the species composition of bryophytes. The two main factors that affect the species composition of bryophytes are: (1) the fertilizing - are the pastures fertilized or unfertilized; and (2) the substrate - are the bryophytes growing on rock or on soil? Although it was clear that fertilizers did have an effect, it remains unclear which type of fertilizer has the biggest effect on the species composition.