Abstract
Scopelophila ligulata, a species of “copper moss”, is known to prefer a strongly acidic substrate. The soluble chemical elements in the substrate of Scopelophila ligulata and those of four other non-copper mosses which grow on the vertical rock face of the same black slate (Chichibu Paleozoic strata), were examined. The following results were obtained: (1) The pH and the concentrations of water-soluble iron and sulfate in the substrates of Scopelophila ligulata showed a significant difference from those of the other mosses. (2) A high correlation was found among the pH, the concentration of water-soluble iron and that of water-soluble sulfate. (3) The concentrations of watersoluble copper and zinc in the substrate of Scopelophila ligulata were much lower than those of water-soluble iron.
