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In my field study, I am investigating the species composition of mosses occurring on differing slope positions on rock outcrops. My hypothesis is that there will be different species of mosses growing in the different slope positions of the rock outcrops. The ecological theory is that abiotic environmental factors vary with slope position, such as the slope, aspect, and substrate, which may affect the suitability of the habitat for each species. Additional abiotic factors that may influence which species of moss will grow are the micro-climatic conditions, which is further influenced by the distance to the recently cleared forest edge and the resulting edge effect. In addition, biotic factors such as interspecific competition and the cover of overstorey and understorey vegetation may also influence which species of moss will grow. Each species may require a particular set of growing conditions or occupy a particular ecological niche, which thus influence where it will grow.
3 keywords are: mosses, rock outcrops, species composition
