ABSTRACT Introduction. Bryophyte diaspore banks are virtually ubiquitous in soil environments but remain poorly known and rarely given attention during conservation planning. This study investigates the frequency and composition of bryophyte diaspore banks of coastal dune slacks and considers conservation implications. Methods. A total of 327 soil samples was collected from 28 slacks at eight coastal dune systems in Wales (UK), subjected to germination trials in a growth chamber. Identification of emergent species was based on morphology supplemented by DNA barcoding. Species composition of above ground bryophytes was recorded at a subset of locations and compared to the diaspore bank composition. Results and conclusions. Viable bryophyte diaspores can be abundant in dune slacks, ranging from long-lived perennials to short-lived ephemerals, representing significant phylogenetic diversity. Bryophytes grew in 211 (63%) samples, including 34 taxa identified to species level (7 liverworts and 27 mosses) and a further four to aggregate. Five species of conservation concern were detected. DNA barcoding was sometimes useful but often equivocal in helping to inform species determinations. Occurrence of germination across soil samples at 0–5 cm depth was very high (97%), declining sharply to 17% at 15–20 cm. Compared to species in surface vegetation of mature slacks, those in diaspore banks tend to have significantly smaller adult gametophytes and produce asexual propagules more often. Bryophyte diaspore banks need to be considered carefully when making conservation assessments and land-use decisions, and there is an urgent need for further research to help understand and manage this important resource.

中文翻译：

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被忽视和处于危险之中：沿海沙丘系统的苔藓水铝石库

摘要介绍。苔藓水铝石库在土壤环境中几乎无处不在，但在保护规划期间鲜为人知且很少受到关注。本研究调查了沿海沙丘松弛区苔藓植物水铝石库的频率和组成，并考虑了保护意义。方法。从威尔士（英国）的八个沿海沙丘系统的 28 个松弛处收集了总共 327 个土壤样品，在生长室中进行了发芽试验。新兴物种的鉴定基于形态学，并辅以 DNA 条形码。在部分地点记录地上苔藓植物的物种组成，并与水铝石库组成进行比较。结果和结论。有生命力的苔藓植物水散在沙丘中可能很丰富，从长寿的多年生植物到短命的昙花一现，代表显着的系统发育多样性。苔藓植物在 211 个 (63%) 样本中生长，其中包括 34 个在物种水平上确定的分类群（7 个苔类植物和 27 个苔藓）和另外 4 个分类群。检测到五种保护问题。DNA 条形码有时是有用的，但在帮助确定物种方面往往是模棱两可的。0-5 厘米深度土壤样品的发芽率非常高（97%），在 15-20 厘米处急剧下降至 17%。与成熟马蹄草表层植被中的物种相比，水铝石岸上的物种往往具有明显较小的成年配子体，并且更频繁地产生无性繁殖体。在进行保护评估和土地使用决策时，需要仔细考虑苔藓水铝石库，