Lindbergia

Porella obtusata: distribution, ecology and threats at the west coast of Norway, the northern fringe of its European distribution

25 November 2015

Lindbergia 38: 30–38, 2015

Kristian Hassel, John Inge Johnsen, John Bjarne Jordal and Asbjørn Knutsen

K. Hassel (kristian.hassel@ntnu.no), Univ. Museum, The Natural History Dept, Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway. – J. I. Johnsen, Fylkesmannen i Rogaland, Box 59, NO-4001 Stavanger, Norway. – J. B. Jordal, Auragt. 3, NO-6600 Sunndalsøra, Norway. – A. Knutsen, Grønåsvågen 28, NO-5440 Mosterhamn, Norway

Porella obtusata is a liverwort with a southwestern distribution in Europe. In Norway it is confined to areas with oceanic climate along the west coast, where it also reaches its northern limit. Typically it is growing on sunlit, base rich rocks at sea level in southwestern Norway, a scarce habitat in these coasts dominated by granitic bedrock. There are some old records, but investigations after year 2000 have yielded much new information. Porella obtusata is a rare species in Norway, and the new information shows that its habitat is threatened by exploitation and shrub encroachment of the shoreline. 

3830-38 lindbergia.38.30-38.pdf