Some considerations on the feasibility of long-distance transport in bryophytes

It is a well-known fact that the flora's of New Zealand, South-East Australia and southern South America have a close relationship. For Phanerogams this relationship is usually at genus level and for mosses often at species level. Of New Zealand mosses c. 61% of the species is shared with South-East Australia and c. 27% with southern South America and c. 27% with southern South America. This similarity can be explained either by continental drift or by long-range dispersal. For an effective intercontinental aerial transport the crucial question is: can the spores survive the hazards of transport, since most scientists agree that long-distance transport of particles smaller than c. 25 mu m is feasible.