Bryophytes are helpful in soil conservation. Explain? What are the importance of bryophytes in soil conservation?
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Bryophytes are of great ecological importance due to following reasons:
(a) Pioneer of the land plants. Bryophytes are pioneer of the land plants because they are the first plants to grow and colonize the barren rocks and lands.
(b) Soil erosion. Bryophytes prevent soil erosion. They usually grow densely and hence act as soil binders. Mosses grow in dense strands forming mat or carpet like structure.
They prevent soil erosion by:
(i) Bearing the impact of falling rain drops
(ii) Holding much of the falling water and reducing the amount of run-off water.
(c) Formation of soil. Mosses and lichens are slow but efficient soil formers. The acid secreted by the lichens and progressive death and decay of mosses help in the formation of soil.
(d) Bog succession. Peat mosses change the banks of lakes or shallow bodies of water into solid soil which supports vegetation e.g., Sphagnum.
(e) Rock builders. Some mosses in association with some green algae (e.g., Chara) grow in water of streams and lakes which contain large amount of calcium bicarbonate. These mosses bring about decomposition of bi-carbonic ions by abstracting free carbon dioxide. The insoluble calcium carbonate precipitates and on exposure hardens, forming calcareous (lime) rock like deposits.
(a) Pioneer of the land plants. Bryophytes are pioneer of the land plants because they are the first plants to grow and colonize the barren rocks and lands.
(b) Soil erosion. Bryophytes prevent soil erosion. They usually grow densely and hence act as soil binders. Mosses grow in dense strands forming mat or carpet like structure.
They prevent soil erosion by:
(i) Bearing the impact of falling rain drops
(ii) Holding much of the falling water and reducing the amount of run-off water.
(c) Formation of soil. Mosses and lichens are slow but efficient soil formers. The acid secreted by the lichens and progressive death and decay of mosses help in the formation of soil.
(d) Bog succession. Peat mosses change the banks of lakes or shallow bodies of water into solid soil which supports vegetation e.g., Sphagnum.
(e) Rock builders. Some mosses in association with some green algae (e.g., Chara) grow in water of streams and lakes which contain large amount of calcium bicarbonate. These mosses bring about decomposition of bi-carbonic ions by abstracting free carbon dioxide. The insoluble calcium carbonate precipitates and on exposure hardens, forming calcareous (lime) rock like deposits.
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Answer:
The bryophytes show alternation of generations - the haploid gametophyte(producing gametes for sexual reproduction) alternates with diploid sporophyte (producing spores for asexual reproduction). The gametophyte generation is dominant, conspicuous and independent.
Explanation:
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