Table Of Contentedited by T.L. Blockeel, S.D.S. Bosanquet, M.O. Hill & C.D. Preston
Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1) v
ATLAS OF BRITISH & IRISH
BRYOPHYTES
The distribution and habitat of mosses and liverworts
in Britain and Ireland
Compiled from the records of members of the British Bryological Society
and edited by
T.L. Blockeel, S.D.S. Bosanquet, M.O. Hill & C.D. Preston
2014
Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1) 1
Published 2014 by Pisces Publications on behalf of the British Bryological Society
Copyright © British Bryological Society (2014)
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without the prior permission of the publishers.
First published 2014.
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Volume 2: ISBN 978-1-874357-62-9
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Front cover photographs
From top, left to right: Sphagnum fimbriatum Peter Creed (PC), Sphagnum skyense Gordon Rothero, Mastigophora woodsii Des Callaghan,
Racomitrium lanuginosum PC, Lophozia obtusa Dave Genney, Racomitrium aciculare PC, Riccardia palmata PC, Bazzania trilobata PC,
Adelanthus decipiens Stan Phillips, Andreaea rothii PC, Petalophyllum ralfsii Des Callaghan, Riccia cavernosa David Rycroft, Plagiochila
punctata PC, Sphagnum cuspidatum PC, Gymnomitrion obtusum PC, Cololejeunea calcarea PC, Atrichum crispum Jonathan Sleath,
Grimmia pulvinata PC, Scapania undulata PC, Barbilophozia floerkei PC, Metzgeria conjugata PC, Nowellia curvifolia PC,
Physcomitrium pyriforme PC, Jubula hutchinsiae PC, Schistidium maritimum Tom Haynes, Moerckia flotoviana Dave Genney, Seligeria
calycina PC, Sphaerocarpos michelii PC, Grimmia tergestina PC, Encalypta vulgaris PC, Cephaloziella nicholsonii PC, Polytrichum
juniperinum PC, Sphagnum pulchrum Sharon Pilkington, Pallavicinia lyellii Howard Wallis, Microlejeunea ulicina PC
Back cover photographs
Top left: Bengower, Twelve Bens, West Galway, Ireland Rory Hodd
Top right: Manish Beg, Raasay, North Ebudes, Scotland Joanne Denyer
Bottom left: Coed y Rhygen, Merioneth Des Callaghan
Bottom right: Wildmoor, Shropshire, England Des Callaghan
The British Bryological Society (BBS), www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk, exists to promote the
study of mosses and liverworts. With a full programme of field meetings, a paper reading meeting,
recording and research projects, an international academic journal and a lively membership magazine
there is something for everyone interested in learning about bryophytes.
The Biological Records Centre (BRC), www.brc.ac.uk, was established in 1964 and is a national focus in
the UK for terrestrial and freshwater species recording. BRC works closely with the voluntary recording
community, principally through the support of national recording schemes and societies such as the
BBS. BRC is supported by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology within the Natural Environment Research Council.
ii Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1)
Contents
Volume 1
page
iv Foreword
H.J.B. Birks
1 1: Introduction
2 2: Recording bryophytes in Britain and Ireland, 1990–2013
C.D. Preston
12 3: Spatial variation in recording, 1950–2013
C.D. Preston & S.L. Rorke
26 4: Some environmental factors influencing the distribution of bryophytes in Britain and Ireland
O.L. Pescott & C.D. Preston
34 5: Changes in distribution and abundance, 1960–2013
M.O. Hill & C.D. Preston
50 6: Format of the species accounts
54 Hornworts
edited by S.D.S. Bosanquet
58 Liverworts
edited by S.D.S. Bosanquet
361 Mosses (Part 1: Sphagnales–Archidiales)
edited by T.L. Blockeel
535 Bibliography: Volume 1
Volume 2
page
1 Mosses (Part 2: Dicranales–Hypnales)
edited by T.L. Blockeel
616 Acknowledgements
618 List of recorders
620 Gazetteer
626 Glossary
628 Bibliography: Volume 2
639 Index: Volumes 1 and 2
Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1) iii
ATLAS OF BRITISH & IRISH
BRYOPHYTES
The distribution and habitat of mosses and liverworts
in Britain and Ireland
Volume 1
Compiled from the records of members of the British Bryological Society
and edited by
T.L. Blockeel, S.D.S. Bosanquet, M.O. Hill & C.D. Preston
2014
Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1) 1
Foreword
Despite their relatively small total area, Britain, Ireland interpretation of changes in the distribution and abundance
and the Channel Islands support a remarkably rich and of bryophytes between 1960 and 2013. This study
geographically diverse flora of mosses, liverworts and highlights the value of basic systematic recording of species
hornworts with over 1000 native species currently occurrences in hectads or the smaller 2 km tetrads. There
known. Species with markedly contrasting geographical are, of course, limitations in using such grid-square records
distributions, such as Arctic-montane, Wide-boreal, as occurrence data because of, for example, the problems of
Temperate, Mediterranean-Atlantic and Hyperoceanic, occur uneven recording effort. Mark Hill in the chapter on change
together within Britain and Ireland, especially in western attempts to allow statistically for uneven recording effort
areas. Some species have spectacular disjunct distributions and detects a surprisingly large number of taxa showing
and also occur in Macaronesia, the Sino-Himalayan significant changes in their distribution between 1960 and
region, or in tropical areas of South America or Africa. This 2013 – decreasing generally, decreasing in the lowlands,
bryophyte flora is one of the most important components increasing non-epiphytes, increasing epiphytes, etc.
of the biodiversity of Britain and Ireland when viewed at The British and Irish bryophyte flora appears to be much
a European scale or at a global scale. The two volumes more dynamic than I and many other ecologists had ever
of this Atlas are a major contribution in documenting the imagined and these findings are of considerable importance
geographical and elevational occurrences and the ecology to conservationists, plant geographers, ecologists and
of all the bryophyte species of this internationally important palaeoecologists. Much remains to be discovered and
part of British and Irish biodiversity. understood about species dynamics at a range of spatial
Summarising and displaying the occurrence of and temporal scales and the Atlas contains a rich treasure-
individual taxa of plants and animals as ‘data’ in 10 km grid trove of challenging data about recent changes.
squares (‘hectads’) have become the standard approach This Atlas presents maps of 1096 taxa. Hectad records
to presenting occurrence data since the pioneering for pre-1950, 1950–1989 and 1990–2013 are plotted with
publication by the late Franklyn Perring and the late Max different symbols on a coloured topographical map of
Walters in 1962 of the Atlas of the British Flora for the then Britain and Ireland. There are informative notes about
Botanical Society of the British Isles. The British Bryological each taxon (ecology, reproductive success, geographical
Society (BBS) started recording bryophyte occurrences in distribution outside Britain and Ireland, etc.), habitat
a similar way in 1960. In conjunction with the Biological pictures for some species, and the known elevational
Records Centre (celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014) occurrences are illustrated along a transect from south to
– then part of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology at Monks north which shows the maximum elevation possible at each
Wood near Huntingdon and now at the Centre for Ecology stage of the transect. The maps and accounts for hornworts
and Hydrology at Wallingford near Oxford – the BBS and liverworts are in Volume 1; the mosses start in Volume
published between 1991 and 1994 a three-volume Atlas of 1 and continue into Volume 2. In Volume 1 there are also
the Bryophytes of Britain and Ireland edited by Mark Hill, Chris chapters on recording, on environmental factors influencing
Preston and the late Tony Smith. The maps in that Atlas were bryophyte distributions in Britain and Ireland, and on
based on 777,000 records largely collected by BBS members changes in distribution and abundance. This two-volume
between 1960 and 1990. Since then an amazing two million Atlas is a tour de force which, along with BRYOATT – Attributes
records have been added, representing a four-fold increase of British and Irish mosses, liverworts and hornworts by Mark
in the average number of grid-square records received Hill and colleagues published in 2007, provides uniquely
annually. detailed accounts of the occurrence, geography, habitat,
Some laboratory-based plant-molecular biologists or ecology, ecological and life-history attributes, and recent
computer-based ‘data-miners’ cynically ask “is bryology dynamics of all the species in the British and Irish bryophyte
dead?” My answer is emphatically no! This new two-volume flora – a major component of Europe’s biodiversity.
Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes abundantly bears witness to This two-volume Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes is
the very high level of activity and expertise of bryologists, a truly magnificent achievement by all field bryologists,
mainly amateurs but some professional, in Britain and young and old, amateur and professional, who have
Ireland today. meticulously surveyed (and subsequently identified) the
Another question frequently asked by my laboratory- bryophytes in so many hectads or tetrads in all parts of
bound colleagues is “what possible use does such an Atlas Britain and Ireland, including rain-soaked ultra-oceanic
have?” There are, of course, many answers to this question: areas with over 240 wet days a year; remote cold and windy
biogeographical and macroecological studies; broad- mountain tops in Scotland; seemingly dull arable fields in
scale ecological studies to develop hypotheses about the East Anglian Fenland; or unpromising derelict industrial
environmental factors that may determine the distributions areas in northern England.
of particular species in terms of regional climate, geology This Atlas is a major contribution not only to British and
and soils, land-use and history that can be tested by Irish botanical literature but also to international botanical
carefully designed field or laboratory experiments or literature. It is a tribute to the British Bryological Society
palaeoecological studies; nature conservation by identifying and to all its enthusiastic and energetic members who have
rare, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, contributed to this unique and outstanding Atlas.
etc. taxa; and by detecting and quantifying changes in
occurrences of certain bryophyte species in the last 50 John Birks
years. A feature of this Atlas is the detailed analysis and Bergen, April 2014
iv Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1)
1
Introduction
T he two volumes of this atlas are intended to replace the place since 1960. This chapter is illustrated by maps which
Atlas of the Bryophytes of Britain and Ireland (Hill et al., plot the data in a way which highlights the spread of
1991–1994). Like that Atlas, they summarise the work of selected species.
hundreds of bryologists in Britain and Ireland who have co- The individual accounts cover 1069 species (four
operated under the aegis of the British Bryological Society hornworts, 298 liverworts and 767 mosses). We actually
(BBS). We have built on the records and text compiled for map 1096 taxa as some aggregate species are mapped
that Atlas by incorporating the results of over 20 years’ and other species are represented by two or three
additional fieldwork and accompanying taxonomic and infraspecific taxa (Table 1.1). For all but the rarest species we
ecological research. Fifty-nine of the mapped species have have supplemented the two-dimensional picture provided
been added to the flora of Britain and Ireland since 1990, and by the conventional distribution map with a diagram
30 taxa which were then regarded as subspecies or varieties illustrating the approximate altitudinal distribution in
(and in some cases not mapped in the earlier Atlas) are Britain. These diagrams are based on the average altitude
now treated as species. We now have at least an adequate of the tetrads (2 × 2 km squares) in which the species
knowledge of many areas which were very under-recorded has been recorded. The text accompanying each map
in 1991–1994, and some counties which were little-known summarises the habitat of the taxon, describes any changes
then have now been thoroughly surveyed. The distribution in its distribution in recent decades, gives its altitudinal
maps in the previous Atlas were based on a database of limits and outlines its reproductive biology and wider
770,000 records, most of them collected in the 30 years distribution. Most of these accounts are based on those in
following the launch of the BBS Mapping Scheme in 1960. the 1991–94 Atlas but they have been thoroughly revised
Over 2 million additional records have been added to this in the light of subsequent research; some have been newly
database since 1990, a four-fold increase in the average written for this atlas.
number of records received annually. This increase reflects
Table 1.1 Summary of number of taxa mapped in current atlas.
not only the strenuous activities of the members of the BBS
but also the technological advances which have made it so Hornworts Liverworts Mosses Total
much easier to computerise records and to exchange them
Species mapped 4 296 753 1053
electronically.
Ideally a new atlas of bryophytes would perhaps Species mapped only as 0 2 14 16
be based on a complete resurvey of Britain and Ireland, component infraspecific taxa
along the lines of the resurveys of birds (Gibbons et al., Total species 4 298 767 1069
1993, Balmer et al., 2013), butterflies (Asher et al., 2001) and Aggregates mapped 0 1 4 5
vascular plants (Preston et al., 2002). In these resurveys,
Subspecies mapped 0 3 2 5
Britain and Ireland were covered by a brief but intensive bout
of recording which took place at least a decade after the Varieties mapped 0 3 30 33
earlier survey. However, it has not been possible to resurvey Total maps 4 303 789 1096
bryophytes in this way. The smaller number of recorders is
the main constraint, but this is compounded by the large This atlas, like the last, has been produced by the BBS in
number of species. The 1991–1994 Atlas mapped more collaboration with the Biological Records Centre (BRC), now
species in Britain and Ireland than any comparable atlas with based at the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford.
the sole exception of the atlases of vascular plants (Preston It is appropriate that 2014 is not only the 50th anniversary
et al., 2012b), and these species are not only concentrated of BRC but the 50th anniversary of its collaboration with the
in the thinly populated, cold and wet parts of our islands Society. Throughout this period the Natural Environment
but are also smaller and more time-consuming to find and Research Council and the Joint Nature Conservation
identify than birds, butterflies or vascular plants. Bryologists Committee have, under a succession of corporate identities,
can only hope to cover the terrain by continuous, dogged supported the work of BRC. In Ireland the National Parks
survey over a period of decades. After over 50 years of and Wildlife Service and the Northern Ireland Environment
recording (1960–2013) almost all the hectads in Britain Agency have been important partners; they have generously
have been visited at least once, but this is not yet the case made available the immense amount of work which went
in Ireland. We have therefore presented maps in this atlas into the compilation of Rare and threatened bryophytes of
which plot records in three date-classes, pre-1950, 1950–1989 Ireland (Lockhart et al., 2012). The many other organisations
and 1990–2013. The symbols show the latest date-class and the numerous individuals whose contributions
in which the species has been recorded. These maps are have been essential to the completion of this atlas are
designed to summarise our knowledge of the current acknowledged in the second volume.
distribution of species. Even if the distributions of British and Irish bryophytes
Fortunately, the fact that our data are derived from were static, a great deal more work would be required before
a continuous programme of recording rather than an we could present a definitive account of their distribution.
initial survey and later resurvey does not preclude us from In fact, as the accounts in this volume make clear, the ranges
analysing the changes in bryophyte distribution that have of some species have changed rather dramatically in recent
taken place since 1960. In recent years there has been decades whereas others have increased or decreased rather
increasing interest in developing techniques which allow more gradually. In these circumstances there can never be a
trends to be identified in just the sort of biological records definitive account of their distributions. However, we hope
which are available for bryophytes. In Chapter 5 of this that this atlas will not only summarise our current knowledge
atlas we outline such an analysis, and discuss the marked but will also stimulate bryologists in Britain and Ireland to
changes in the ranges of some species which have taken continue to record these fascinating plants.
Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1) 1
2
Recording bryophytes in Britain and Ireland, 1990–2013
C.D. Preston
Historical background CDP that the Society prepare a supplement to the 1991–1994
Atlas, and the BBS Council ‘enthusiastically endorsed’ this
Botanists have been studying the bryophytes of Britain proposal when they met in September 2003. ‘The intentions
and Ireland since the 17th century. The study of bryophyte were to inject some new impetus into bryophyte recording
distribution can be divided into three main phases. In the around the country, to use some of the new data already
first, from the start of scientific botany to the end of the 19th presented since the last Atlas, to improve coverage of
century, the major preoccupation was to establish and define neglected areas, and to highlight species of particular
the species present. Only very generalised summaries of interest (e.g. those that are increasing or declining, ‘new’
the distribution of these species were attempted. The main taxa, etc)’ (Long, 2004). However, when they next met,
landmarks during this period were the publication of major in April 2004, C&RC decided that it would be better to
taxonomic works, including books such as J.J. Dillenius’ publish a completely new atlas rather than simply publish a
Historia muscorum (1741), W.J. Hooker’s British Jungermanniae supplement to the old. This project was launched at Preston
(1812–1816) and W. Wilson’s Bryologia Britannica (1855). A Montford Field Studies Centre at the BBS AGM in October
number of county floras were published, particularly in the 2004, which was devoted to bryological recording. The
second half of the 19th century (e.g. Boswell, 1886; Lees, Society’s Conservation & Recording Committee set up a
1888; Purchas & Ley, 1889), and these began to provide Steering Group to oversee the project in 2005. Publication
information on the frequency of species at the local level. was initially planned for 2010, but was later postponed
The second phase of recording began with the both to allow time for further fieldwork and to ensure that
foundation of a national society for the study of bryophytes records collected for Rare and threatened bryophytes of
in 1896. Initially called the Moss Exchange Club (MEC), it was Ireland (Lockhart et al., 2012) could be included. We have
reorganised as the British Bryological Society (BBS) in 1923. included records made up to 31 December 2013, but our
One of its initial aims was to document the distribution of coverage of 2013 records is incomplete as we have been able
species in vice-counties, which had been defined for Britain to incorporate only those records which were sent to BBS by
by H.C. Watson (1852). R.L. Praeger (1901) delimited an early January 2014.
equivalent set of vice-counties for Ireland. The first ‘census The current atlas incorporates records from all three
catalogues’ listing the occurrence of species in vice-counties phases of bryological recording, but the vast majority of
were prepared by Macvicar (1905) for liverworts and Ingham the 2.83 million records on which it is based have been
(1907) for mosses. These have been updated at frequent made since 1960. The sources of the 0.77 million records
intervals, most recently by Hill et al. (2008). on which the first Atlas was based are outlined by Hill et al.
The Second World War proved to be a watershed in the (1991). Since 1990, a further 2.06 million records have been
history of British bryology. In 1946 an influx of new members added to the British Bryological Society’s database. Much
reformed the activities and outlook of the BBS. Several of the explanation of this disproportionate increase in the
members who played an influential role in changing the number of records lies in the very marked changes in the
Society were professional botanists, although not always bryological ‘recording culture’ which have taken place since
professional bryologists. Two such recruits, E.W. Jones and 1990. We have attempted to summarise the most significant
F. Rose, produced county floras which were much more developments in this chapter. We then outline the major
detailed than any that had appeared hitherto, particularly in sources of the records which have been collated since 1990.
their description of the ecology of species (Jones, 1952, 1953;
Rose, 1949, 1950, 1951). Like many later floras, these were
published in Transactions of the British Bryological Society Identification works
(later renamed Journal of Bryology), which was itself one of
the products of the post-war revival. At the start of the BBS Mapping Scheme in 1960, the
In the third phase of recording, bryologists aimed to standard identification works were Dixon’s The student’s
summarise the distribution of species in 10 × 10 km grid handbook of British mosses (1924) and Macvicar’s The student’s
squares (‘hectads’). This phase began with the launch of handbook of British hepatics (1926). These works were
BBS Mapping Scheme in 1960, and led to the Atlas of the considerably outdated when the Mapping Scheme started,
Bryophytes of Britain and Ireland (Hill et al., 1991, 1992, 1994). and became increasingly so as it progressed. By 1960 they
In establishing the Mapping Scheme, bryologists were could only be used effectively if they were supplemented
consciously following the example set by the Botanical with numerous papers describing additions to the British
Society of the British Isles, who were then finalising the and Irish flora or revising the taxonomy of critical groups.
maps for the Atlas of the British Flora (Perring & Walters, Many bryologists also consulted more recent Scandinavian
1962). This pioneer project had shown how it was possible floras. Smith’s The moss flora of Britain and Ireland (1978)
for volunteers to survey almost all the hectads of Britain replaced Dixon’s Student’s Handbook in the later years of
and Ireland and collect the information for distribution the Mapping Scheme. Smith’s companion volume The
maps at the national scale. The methods developed by the liverworts of Britain and Ireland (dated 1990, but published in
project were adopted for both plants and animals not only 1991) appeared just after the liverwort volume of the Atlas
in Britain but much more widely (Preston, 2013). Whereas and provided the new liverwort flora which was by then
the flowering plant Atlas was completed in eight years ‘desperately required’ (Longton, 1992).
(1954–1962), the Atlas of the Bryophytes took 30 years to Since 1990 the identification guides available to
achieve a degree of coverage which, although imperfect, recorders have continued to be updated. A second edition
was considered sufficient to justify publication. of Smith’s moss flora was published in 2004. Paton’s masterly
In April 2003 the BBS Conservation & Recording The liverwort flora of the British Isles (1999) effectively replaced
Committee (C&RC) supported a suggestion by MOH and Smith’s liverwort flora. Some of the technical monographs
2 Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1)
available for the identification of difficult groups of species with members of the Society. In 1991 his successor as
are listed by Preston et al. (2012a), but most of these are used Recording Secretary, J.W. Bates, appointed a network of
only by the more expert recorders. ‘Regional Recorders’ who undertook the work of collecting
Mosses and liverworts of Britain and Ireland: a field and maintaining records for one or more vice-counties
guide (Atherton et al., 2010) provided a radically different (Bates, 1991). This network followed the example of other
approach to identification by illustrating all but the rarest societies, in particular the ‘Vice-county Recorder’ network
or least distinctive species with close-up photographs. of the BSBI. There are insufficient bryologists to provide a
These were accompanied by a text which concentrated complete coverage of Britain and Ireland and some areas
almost exclusively on characters which can be used to lack a Regional Recorder. In some cases the appointment of
identify species in the field. Photographs have also been a Regional Recorder in 1991 simply gave formal recognition
used effectively to illustrate recent papers dealing with the to an existing informal situation, but the new structure
identification of particular species or genera, such as the provided a means of focusing attention on counties which
papers on Orthotrichum and other epiphytes by Blockeel might not otherwise have been covered, and gave both
(2008, 2012a) and Bosanquet (2009, 2012a). experienced bryologists and relatively new recruits a more
formal role in the recording system. At the same time, the
BBS encouraged the formation of local groups of members
Changes in the techniques of bryophyte recording (Lightowlers, 1991).
The major changes since 1990 have been the
Fieldwork technological advances that have transformed the flow of
There has been very little change to the way in which bryophyte records from recorder to the recording scheme,
bryophytes are recorded in the field since 1990. The just as they have transformed data flow for other biological
fundamentals remain unchanged: we still search for recording schemes. The records for the 1991–1994 Atlas
bryophytes, identify some of them in the field using a hand- were accumulated on recording cards, input centrally at
lens, collect other material for microscopic examination, and the Biological Records Centre and manually checked. This
compile lists of species seen (often onto a field card). The BBS required a large investment by the sponsoring bodies, the
field card used during the Mapping Scheme and illustrated Nature Conservancy Council and the Institute of Terrestrial
by Hill et al. (1991) was replaced in 1992 by two cards with Ecology: two members of staff were employed for four years
updated nomenclature, one covering Britain and Ireland and to input and check the records on which the first Atlas was
the other with a restricted list of species for use in SE England based (although the first two years were spent in processing
(Bates, 1992). In 2005 these cards were replaced by four cards very detailed data from a small number of counties). By
covering SE England, Middle Britain, NW Scotland and Ireland. 1989 a few relevant records were held on computer by
Unlike the Mapping Scheme card, all the new cards were other bodies but it was easier to re-enter these from print-
designed to encourage recorders to add detailed information outs than to transfer them electronically between the two
on the more notable species they encountered, rather than databases; computers, in a phrase which was often heard at
just record their presence on a general list. Several recorders the time, ‘did not talk to one another’. Volunteer recorders
have prepared cards tailored for use in their own areas. continued to send in records on cards during the 1990s,
Illuminated hand-lenses have become available and make life but this changed completely in the first decade of the 21st
a little easier on dark days or in shady places (Sleath, 2009). century. Recorders now computerise their own records using
The availability of hand-held GPS units has been the greatest a wide variety of programs including simple spreadsheets,
advance, enabling the borders of grid squares to be identified database software they have written themselves and
much more accurately. Grid references and (to a lesser extent) commercially available databases.
altitudes can now be specified for individual records with The electronic transfer of data was first mentioned
much greater accuracy and precision. The use of such devices by R.D. Porley (1997) as BBS Recording Secretary, but that
for botanical purposes was anticipated by Bungard (1994) but was in the context of the transfer of records from BRC to
it was not until the start of the 21st century that they became Regional Recorders on computer disk. Ron Porley had to
sufficiently accurate and inexpensive to come into general confess that ‘I have no idea of how many of you have access
use (Thomas, 1999, 2000). to a PC and appropriate software’. He later reported that the
recipients had ‘no serious problems with reading the data,
Collection of new vice-county records despite it being sent in zipped format to enable the larger
New vice-county records have continued to be treated data sets to fit on a single floppy disc’ (Porley, 1998a). At first
separately from other records. Recorders are asked to submit only the most computer-literate recorders embraced the
specimens for checking to the BBS Recorder for Mosses or new technology, but two developments were particularly
Liverworts and these records have been published annually important in converting the remaining bryophyte recorders
in the Bulletin of the British Bryological Society (which was from cards to electronic transmission. The simple software
renamed Field Bryology in 2004). The records collected for the package MapMate began to be used by botanists c. 2002
1991–1994 Atlas were used to identify those vice-counties in (Lockton, 2002) and appealed to many who had been unable
which taxa had not been recorded from 1950 onwards, and to master more complex databases. Hill (2005) reported that
these vice-counties were shown as bracketed numbers in the ‘electronic data really started to flow in 2004’. He also noted
next census catalogue (Blockeel & Long, 1998). The cut-off that the largest electronic dataset to be submitted in 2004
date was advanced from 1950 to 1960 by Hill et al. (2008). had been sent by Frank Lammiman, then in his 90th year and
Voucher material is also requested for checking any of the the oldest active recorder. Many of the remaining bryological
bracketed entries which have been rediscovered and these ‘luddites’ were converted by the ‘electronic recording cards’
records (which have become known as ‘debracketers’) are prepared for the BBS by Mark Hill in 2008. These allowed
also published annually. The vice-county records provide recorders to input records directly into an EXCEL spreadsheet
a framework of rigorously checked records against which using an electronic facsimile of the standard field cards,
other records can be judged. The ways in which existing and and to send the resulting spreadsheets to the BBS rather
incoming records have been checked before inclusion in this than maintain a database of their own. By 2012 only a single
new atlas are described later in this chapter. recorder continued to send in records on paper.
The transition from paper to electronic data submission
Data flow happened more or less spontaneously, with encouragement
When he collected records for the 1991–1994 Atlas, the BBS from the BBS Recording Secretary but no deliberate
Mapping Secretary, A.J.E. Smith, corresponded individually campaign of conversion. Similarly, BBS did not recommend
Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1) 3
any specific software as a preferred product. This had the Table 2.1 County or regional floras which map bryophytes in 10 × 10, 5 × 5
advantage of allowing recorders to find the package which or 2 × 2 km squares.
most suited them, but it meant that electronic records were
(and are) received in a variety of formats which require C ounty coVuinceti-e s (kmS scqaulea re) Reference
considerable manipulation by the Recording Secretary
Cornwall 1, 2 2 Holyoak (2012)
after receipt.
Fig. 2.1 summarises the current system for collecting South Wiltshire 8 10 Stern (2001)
and publishing bryophyte records. For more details of the Dorset 9 2 Hill & Edwards (2003)
current procedures, see Preston et al. (2012a).
Isle of Wight 10 2 Snow (1989, 1992, 1997, 2003)
Figure 2.1 Data flow for bryophyte records. South Hampshire 11 5 Stern (2010)
Sussex 13, 14 10, 2 Rose et al. (1991)
Vice-county record Other (field) Surrey 17 5 Gardiner (1981)
(with specimen) BRYOLOGIST record Berkshire 22 5 Bates (1995)
Oxfordshire 23 2 Perry & Jones (1998)
Suffolk 25, 26 2 Sanford & Fisk (2010)
BBS Recorder for BBS Recording via Regional Norfolk 27, 28 10 Beckett et al. (1999)
Mosses or Liverworts Secretary Recorder
(if there is one) Bedfordshire 30 2 Boon & Outen (2011)
Warwickshire 38 2 Laflin (1971)
Breconshire 42 5 Woods (2006)
Record published BBS Database
in Field Bryolog y at BRC Radnorshire 43 5 Woods (1993)
Carmarthenshire 44 2 Bosanquet et al. (2005)
Pembrokeshire 45 2 Bosanquet (2010)
Leicestershire 55 2 Jackson (1991), Rutland;
Vice-county BBS Website NBN Gateway
Ballard (2008), rest of county
Database
North Lancashire 60, part 64 2 Wigginton (1995)
Durham 66 2 Graham (1988)
Access to BBS database
The new technology has also solved the problem of Westmorland, Cumberland, Shetland and Northern Ireland
providing recorders with speedy access to the data in the listed in the Acknowledgements.
BBS database held at BRC. During the 1990s the botanical Table 2.1 lists the county floras which have mapped
staff at BRC were unable to keep up with the requests for bryophytes in 10 × 10, 5 × 5 or 2 × 2 km squares. Although
print-outs of records for Regional Recorders and others, in no such Scottish county floras have yet appeared, there are
part because, after the completion of the BBS Atlas, their tetrad maps for Assynt, West Sutherland (Rothero, 2002), a
attention had turned to an atlas of flowering plants (Preston Scottish parish which is larger than the smallest Watsonian
et al., 2002). The understandable frustration this caused is vice-counties, and for the small but very mountainous island
apparent in the reports of the then Recording Secretary, Ron of Rum (Pearman et al., 2008). A few of these recording
Porley, who described data exchange between BRC and BBS projects were completed by 1989 but most spanned the
as ‘a seemingly intractable issue’ (Porley, 1999a). However, 1950–89 and 1990–2013 date classes or started after 1990.
the bryophytes were included in a pilot project for the The variation in the balance of recording between these two
National Biodiversity Network (NBN) gateway (Porley, 2000a) date-classes in all British and Irish squares is discussed in
and Porley (2001) was able to report that the Gateway ‘is up Chapter 3.
and running and is quite impressive! … it is revolutionising
the relationship between the BBS and the Biological Records Targeted recording of under-recorded areas in Britain
Centre’. When the publication of a new bryophyte atlas was first
discussed, we reviewed the coverage of Britain and Ireland
and identified areas which were clearly under-recorded.
Sources of records for the current atlas Over the last decade a special effort has been made to target
these areas, either by holding BBS meetings in suitable
The database on which this atlas is based has been compiled venues or by encouraging less formal visits to them. In the
from many different sources of bryophyte records. We later stages of the project, coverage maps were published
have described these sources by dividing them (rather to focus attention on the remaining under-recorded areas
simplistically) into a few major groups. (Preston et al., 2009; Hill & Preston, 2010) and lists of under-
recorded squares were circulated to Regional Recorders.
County recording projects In summarising the coverage achieved by the BBS
In many areas Regional Recorders, working as volunteers by Mapping Scheme, Hill et al. (1991, p. 31) reported that ‘the
themselves in their counties or with other local bryologists, area of north-east Scotland which includes Kincardineshire,
have been the major source of records for the new atlas. Aberdeenshire and Banffshire is undoubtedly the worst-
In some cases Recorders have resurveyed counties recorded area on the mainland of Great Britain, and appears
systematically with a view to publishing county floras or blank on most maps’. Except for its large extent, this is
check-lists. Other Recorders have made a special effort typical of the sort of area which tends to be under-recorded.
to improve the coverage of their area for this atlas. In the Although it is some distance from main concentrations of
case of a few regions, Local Records Centres (LRCs) have resident bryologists, this is not the main reason that it has
databased the records made by the Regional Recorders and been neglected. The nearby Cairngorms are well recorded,
other bryologists and they have been the immediate source and may indeed have drawn the attention of recorders away
of many of the recent records from these areas. Substantial from the nearby lowlands; many much more remote areas of
contributions have been received from the LRCs covering NW Scotland are also well recorded. However, the under-
Sussex, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales, Leicestershire, recorded area is a predominantly lowland and agricultural
4 Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes (1)
