ABSTRACT Introduction. Leptoscyphus cuneifolius has a very limited distribution in Europe and is threatened with extinction in several regions. This study investigates its ecology at Coed y Rhygen, the most important site in Wales. Methods. GPS-based surveys documented the distribution of L. cuneifolius within the study site. Hillshade analysis was used to investigate preference for topographic locations in relation to solar illumination. Thirty relevés were recorded to describe habitat conditions and community composition. Four monitoring plots for L. cuneifolius, first recorded in 1997, were re-visited. Results. A total of 309 locations of L. cuneifolius was recorded, distributed across 226 10 m grid cells. Hillshade analysis showed a preference for shaded topography. The liverwort comprised only sterile material at all locations and occurred almost exclusively on the trunks of trees. Results from relevés show a marked preference for micro-habitats with a northerly aspect. The most common associates are the liverworts Frullania tamarisci and Plagiochila punctata. Trend in abundance of four monitored colonies of L. cuneifolius during 1997–2019 shows a decline at all locations, including extinction at two. Conclusions. Within the study area, L. cuneifolius prefers shaded locations at both macro- and micro-habitat scales, and is almost exclusively an epiphyte, with a clear preference for the acidic bark of Betula pubescens. It is entirely dependent on asexual reproduction, via tiny caducous leaves, produced abundantly. The tiny size of L. cuneifolius makes it particularly vulnerable to competitive exclusion from habitat patches, not only due to over-growth by larger bryophytes, but also mucilaginous algae.

中文翻译：

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远洋苔草 Leptoscyphus cuneifolius (Hook.) Mitt 的生态学。在不列颠群岛的一个关键地点

摘要介绍。Leptoscyphus cuneifolius 在欧洲的分布非常有限，并在几个地区面临灭绝的威胁。这项研究调查了它在威尔士最重要的地点 Coed y Rhygen 的生态。方法。基于 GPS 的调查记录了 L. cuneifolius 在研究地点的分布。山体阴影分析用于调查与太阳光照相关的地形位置偏好。记录了 30 个相关性来描述栖息地条件和群落组成。重新访问了 1997 年首次记录的楔叶松的四个监测地块。结果。总共记录了 309 个 L. cuneifolius 位置，分布在 226 个 10 m 网格单元中。山体阴影分析显示了对阴影地形的偏好。地衣在所有位置都只包含无菌材料，并且几乎只出现在树干上。relevés 的结果显示出对北向微型栖息地的明显偏好。最常见的同伙是苔类植物 Frullania tamarisci 和 Plagiochila punctata。1997 年至 2019 年期间，四个受监测的 L. cuneifolius 菌落的丰度趋势显示，所有地点均呈下降趋势，其中两个已灭绝。结论。在研究区域内，L. cuneifolius 更喜欢宏观和微观生境尺度的阴影位置，并且几乎完全是一种附生植物，明显偏爱 Betula pubescens 的酸性树皮。它完全依赖无性繁殖，通过大量产生的微小早落叶。L 的微小尺寸。