Moss Response to Urbanisation Gradient in Greensboro, North Carolina (2013)

Undergraduate: Jordan Preuss

Faculty Advisor: Peter White
Department: Biology

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Cities are typically hotter and drier than the surrounding countryside, with the greatest alteration of the ecological regime occurring at the focal point of urbanisation, often the downtown area. Even natural areas which persist within cities experience the effects of urbanisation. This study examines the response of mosses to an urbanisation gradient, seeking a correlation between presence of moss and distance from downtown. Moss abundance and species diversity were assessed for relatively unmaintained wooded areas in Greensboro, North Carolina at varying distances from the city centre. Sampling sites were situated near apparent water sources and edges of natural areas to gauge the impact of these elements on overall moss presence. No significant relationship was found between moss abundance and species diversity and proximity to downtown. Distance to apparent water source was also not a useful criterion, though edge effect did show influence on moss abundance. Greensboro exhibits an even distribution of mosses across its urbanisation gradient, indicating that this may not be a valuable metric in the case of moss ecology. Moss abundance correlation with edge effect, however, may merit future investigation.