BRYOPHYTES OF THE NATURE MONUMENT OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE «TEPLA JAMA» WITHIN THE VOLCANIC CARPATHIANS (UKRAINE)

Abstract

Among all floristic regions of the Ukrainian Carpathians, the Volcanic Carpathians remain relatively poorly studied in terms of bryological research, and the objects of the low-ranking natural reserve fund are almost not covered by floristic investigations. As a result of our research, 60 species of bryophytes were revealed on the territory of the botanical natural monument of local importance «Tepla Yama», which is about 10% of the bryoflora diversity of the Ukrainian Carpathians as a whole. It was found out that in the taxonomic spectrum of bryophytes, the orders Bryales and Hypnales are the richest. The mosses (Bryophyta) are represented by 2 classes, 8 orders, 24 families, 45 genera and 52 species. The species richness of the families Orthotrichaceae (9 species), Brachytheciaceae (6), Neckeraceae and Amblystegiaceae (by 4), Polytrichaceae and Dicranaceae (by 3 species) reflects the general features of the bryoflora structure of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Epiphytes dominate in terms of substrate preference, which is a characteristic feature of bryophytes in broad-leaved forests. The low amount of decaying wood at this stage of forest phytocenosis development is the reason for the small number of epixylic bryophytes. Several rare montane species were found, occurring mainly in primeval and slightly disturbed forests of the Carpathians and Crimea. Among them are Metzgeria conjugata, Zygodon rupestris, Zygodon viridissimus, Ctenidium molluscum, Grimmia hartmanii, as well as Dicranum viride, which occasionally occurs on the plains and is included in the Red Book of bryophytes of Europe (Hodgest, Lockhart, 2020). Therefore, despite the close location of this forest massif to populated areas and its easy accessibility for tourists, it remains a natural center of a significant diversity of bryophytes, including montane species that are rare in Ukraine. Our research has initiated the monitoring of species diversity of this organism group, which will allow forecasting the development of this forest biogeocenosis in the future.