Peat moss Sphagnum riparium follows a circatrigintan growth rhythm in situ: A case report. (9th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mironov, V. L.; Kondratev, A. Y.
• Is Part Of: Chronobiology international. Volume 34:Number 7(2017)
• Page Start: 981
• Page End: 984
• Publication Date: 2017-08-09
• Subjects: Growing season -- growth rate -- infradian rhythms -- length increment -- lunar synodic cycle -- mire site -- method of geotropic curvatures -- Sphagnum mat; Chronobiology -- Periodicals; Biological rhythms -- Periodicals; Circadian rhythms -- Periodicals; 571.77
• DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2017.1329208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-0528

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In situ growth of Sphagnum riparium Ångstr. shoots were monitored during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons in Karelia, Russia. It was established that shoot growth rates fluctuated with a period of around 30 days, that is, showed a circatrigintan rhythm. Such rhythms from mosses have not been previously reported. Correlation of growth rates with the percentage of the illuminated portion of the Moon was statistically significant (p<0.01) in both years. Shoot growth rates were reliably higher around the new Moon compared to the full Moon. This phenomenon may be due either to causality or to a pure coincidence of processes with similar rhythms.