Story: Life in fresh water

Deep-water mosses

Deep-water mosses

These deep-water mosses (top) are from Lake Wakatipu in Otago. They belong to a fairly rare group known as deep-water bryophytes (mosses and liverworts). In New Zealand they are found in a small number of South Island clear water lakes, including Wakatipu, where they can grow at depths of 60 metres.

Mary de Winton (lower image) takes a sample of bryophytes from around 40 metres deep in Lake Wakatipu.

Using this item

NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Roger Young, 'Life in fresh water - Plants and recyclers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/11624/deep-water-mosses (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Roger Young, published 24 Sep 2007