[Taxacom] moss circles

[Charles R Parker]

Recently, circles were discovered in moss living on barkless pine logs in 
an area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.  A good 
number of logs having moss had the circles.  Examples can be viewed at 
http://www.discoverlifeinamerica.org/atbi/species/Plantae/Bryophyta/index.shtml

Most of the suggestions we have come up with for the origin of these 
features are as fanciful as those advanced to explain crop circles 
(miniature aliens, drunken snails, etc.).  Anyone have any knowledge of 
these and of what causes them?

Thanks,
Chuck
==========================================
Charles R. Parker, PhD
Research Aquatic Biologist
USGS Biological Resources Discipline
1314 Cherokee Orchard Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738-3627
USA

Chuck_Parker at usgs.gov
(865) 436-1704
(865) 430-4753 [fax]