WATER REGIME OF THE MOSS CERATODON PURPUREUS (HEDW.) BRID. ON THE COAL MINES DUMPS OF THE CHERVONOHRAD MINING-INDUSTRIAL AREA

Changes of the water regime of the moss Ceratodon purpureus on various elements of the mesorelief of the coal mines dumps in the Chervonohrad mining-industrial area have been studied. It was shown that the water shortage of the moss in the base, on terraces, slope and at the top of the investigated dumps was 58–77 % in the summer, however, plants continued their growth and development under such conditions due to the high water retention capacity (94–99 %) and rapid water regeneration (238–449 %). The water deficit of the moss varied from 6 % to 34 % in the autumn. Such state is normal for the plant organisms functioning and it is associated with the approach to the optimum conditions of species existence, in particular, the increase in humidity 2–3 times as much and the decrease in temperature by 2 times compared to the summer months. High water retention capacity and intensive processes of water regeneration of this moss gametophyte cause its resistance to drought as a result of reduction of water losses under conditions of water deficit. Such features of the water regime of C. purpureus allow it to grow both in the damp shady localities, and in open light areas with less humidity of the air and the substrate.