Bryogeographical elements of moss flora in glacial cirques "Śnieżne Kotły" (Karkonosze Mts.) and their threat

Ewa Fudali,Jan Kučera

doi:10.5586/asbp.2003.010

Abstract

Based on geographical and ecological analysis of the present moss flora occurring in two contiguous glacial cirques Śnieżne Kotły (Western Karkonosze Mts.), the occurrence of 20 species representing arctic-alpine and subarctic-subalpine elements is discussed.The majority of (sub)arctic- (sub)alpine elements (70%) occurred sporadically or very rarely (no more than 5 records), which indicates their general threat. Nine historically recorded species of these geographic elements could not be retrieved during the recent survey, however four of the recently found species have not been found during the systematic survey of historical sites on the Czech, southern, side of Karkonosze Mts. This proves that the northern localization of Śnieżne Kotły cirques favours the survival of relict species.The question of relictness with respect to the Düll's phytogeographical characterization is discussed; only in ten of the (sub)arctic- (sub)alpine species the relict character could be considered as granted due to their present distribution range.The full list of the Śnieżne Kotły present moss flora with the brief characteristics of their ecological distribution has been included, first such attempt since 1930.

Highlights

The Karkonosze Mts. are the highest range of old middle European mountains situated north of the Alps and from the so-called High Sudeten together with the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. in North Moravia
The subarctic-alpine species form a rather heterogeneous group with some of them are rather widely distributed throughout the montane, and rarely even colline belt (Kiaeria blyttii, Fissidens osmundoides, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Plagiomnium medium, Pohlia drummondii)
In the present moss flora of niezne Kot3y cirques thearctic-alpine elements constitute 18% of the total number of species, of which 10 (9%) can without great reservations be taken as glacial relicts with respect to their present distribution

Summary

Introduction

The Karkonosze Mts. are the highest range of old middle European mountains situated north of the Alps and from the so-called High Sudeten together with the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. in North Moravia. 113 species of mosses have been reported from there, including 26 taxa (23%) representing the arctic-alpine and subarctic-subalpine elements (Fudali 2001).

Results

Conclusion