Current status
Beaked beardless-moss is most often recorded from mud or gravelly surfaces exposed when water levels of reservoirs fall in late summer and autumn. It has also been found in similar situations beside rivers and occasionally as a colonist of bare, clayey or humic substrates on banks of ditches, woodland rides and bare patches in fields.
Recent UK reports of the species are thinly scattered from Lothian to Anglesey and Dorset, but there are old records from County Antrim and in Sussex and Kent. It has probably declined in the UK since it has not been re-found recently at over one-third of the localities with pre-1950 records. There is a single locality known in western Ireland and confirmed records in continental Europe at scattered localities from southern Norway and southern Sweden southwards to western France, Italy and Slovenija, and eastwards to western Ukraine.
This species is classified as Near Threatened in Great Britain and Vulnerable in the provisional Bryophyte Red List for Ireland. It receives general protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Current factors causing loss or decline
These are not well known although they are thought to include the following:
Maintenance of higher water-levels than previously at certain reservoirs and lakes for angling, water sports or other purposes, resulting in less exposed mud in autumn.
Eutrophication of waters leading to increased nutrient status of mud in lakes and reservoirs.
Increased usage of fertilisers and other agricultural improvement, reducing availability of bare patches on nutrient-poor soils.
Current action
Several sites for the species are within SSSIs.
Action plan objectives and targets
Maintain population size at all extant sites
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
None proposed.
Site safeguard and management
Ensure that the best sites for this species in each region are protected from inappropriate management. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Consider notifying as ASSIs/SSSIs sites with viable populations of beaked beardless-moss where this is consistent with selection guidelines and where it is necessary to ensure their long-term protection and appropriate management. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
On sites where the moss is thriving, ensure that current management practices (especially current water-level management) are continued. On other sites where it has declined, undertake experimental management with the aim of enhancing the populations. (ACTION: CCW, EA, EHS, NE, SEPA, SNH, SWAs)
Where appropriate, target relevant agri-environment schemes on land with populations of beaked beardless-moss so as to ensure that these populations are not threatened by changing land-use practices (including herbicide and fertiliser use). (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, MAFF, NAW, SE, SNH)
Where relevant, ensure that extant sites for the species are not threatened by land drainage activities or through increases in water abstraction. The requirements of this species should be considered when setting limits on water abstraction. (ACTION: CCW, EA, EHS, NE, IDBs, SE, SEPA, SNH, SWAs)
Species management and protection
None proposed.
Advisory
Advise landowners and managers of extant and restored sites of the presence and importance of this species, specific management for its conservation, and any potentially damaging actions. Landowners and managers should have access to specialist advice if needed. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Ensure that all relevant reservoir and waterways managers, drainage engineers, agri-environment project officers and members of regional agri-environment consultation groups are advised of locations for this species, its importance and management needed for its conservation. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EA, EHS, NE, IDBs, LAs, MAFF, NAW, SE, SEPA, SNH, SWAs)
Future Research and Monitoring
When water-levels are sufficiently low, re-survey all known extant and historic sites for this species in order to determine its current distribution and status, and assess possible threats to remaining populations. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Undertake regular monitoring and ecological research on selected viable sites for this species in order to determine more precisely its requirements and appropriate management techniques. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Encourage international research on the distribution, status and ecology of this species, and use the information and expertise gained towards its conservation in the UK. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Communications and Publicity
Liaise with specialist societies to increase awareness and identification skills of bryologists and other naturalists in relation to this species, through publishing articles or holding identification workshops. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Encourage bryologists to pass all records of beaked beardless-moss, including ecological information, to a national database. They should be encouraged in particular to search exposed lake and reservoir margins. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume VI: Terrestrial and freshwater species and habitats (October 1999, Tranche 2, Vol VI, p169)