Bryophytes of the upper reaches of the Western Bug River (Lviv Region, Ukraine)

Abstract

In the article, the bryophytes of the upper reaches of the Western Bug River, which is physically and geographically located within Male Polissya, partly Roztochia, and to a minor extent in the Gologoro-Voronyatsky denudo-structural hills, have been studied. Based on our survey, a list of the bryophytes has been compiled for the first time. Ecological features, substrate preferences and life forms of the bryophytes have been analysed. According to the ecological features, subheliophytes (30.9%) and hemisciophytes (30.9%) predominate in the spectrum of heliomorphs; mesophytes (29.7%), hygromesophytes (21.2%) and xeromesophytes – in the spectrum of hydromorphs (19.4%); cold-tolerant species (59.4%) – in the spectrum of thermomorphs. Based on the analysis of the substrate preferences of the bryophytes, the following groups were identified: epigeans (116 species), epixils (56 species), epiphytes (46 species), epiliths (43 species), aquatic (22 species). The prevailing life forms are turf (30.3%), rough mat (18.2%), weft (15.2%), tuft (10.3%) and smooth mat (9.7%). 3 species that are officially recognised as rare and 16 species that are recognized as regionally rare have been found. In the group of bryophytes associated with wetland ecosystems, 2 officially rare and 6 regionally rare species were found in the study area. Given the large areas of drained land in Lviv Region, these species are of particular value, especially in the context of conservation of the biodiversity and protection of the valuable natural areas in accordance with the Development Strategy of Lviv Region by 2027.