Hunter Island Moss Banks - Bronx NY

Mosses are some of the oldest land plants, splitting from algae perhaps 500 million years ago.  Hunter Island contains several conspicuous colonies of moss, especially along the western and northern shore.

Sites of Some Major Moss Colonies Along Hunter Shoreline

The moss colonies found here are typically 5 to 30 feet in length and 3 to 5 feet in width, usually on raised banks seaward of cleared trails. These banks are island low points as the highest elevation is near dead center of the island.

Typical Trail Side Moss Mound

Above we face a typical moss mound head on. A compacted dirt trail passes left to right in the foreground. Beyond is a 10 ft rocky drop to sea level.  Mature and sapling oak and locust inhabit a landscape interspersed with small herbaceous plants and shrubs. The moss, where established, predominates. 

Herbaceous Plants and Grasses Surrounded by Moss

Moss can grow on many different substrates, but here the moss grows on soil typically mounded to the side of the pathway. It is possible that the mounded soil is an artifact of trail clearing.

Small Stone Surrounded by Moss

For our assessment we have used a moss bank along the western shore located at :


ETC. ETC. ETC.