Disturbed peatlands as a habitat of an invasive moss Campylopus introflexus in Lithuania

Distribution of Campylopus introflexus in disturbed peatlands was investigated throughout Lithuania in 2010-2011.Frequency and abundance of the invasive moss species were evaluated according to the parameters of peat (pH, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter), prevailing herb-layer species, percentage of cover of herb and tree layers, amount of litter, and time since the abandonment of the area.Campylopus introflexus was recorded in 68.7% of the investigated disturbed peatlands, of these, 63.8% had recently been managed.The cover of the invasive moss did not correlate with most parameters of peat, but it differed significantly among the plots (1) with different prevailing herb-layer species, (2) abandoned for different lengths of time, (3) with developed and undeveloped tree layer, and (4) with different pH.