On the bryophyte diversity of black alder forests in the Republic of Bashkortostan (the Southern Urals region)

Abstract

The bryophyte composition of monodominant black alder forests was studied in the Republic of Bashkortostan (the Southern Urals region). Fifty-six moss species and fifteen liverworts were recorded. The annotated species list with precise locations is provided. The bryophyte richness of studied communities is not very high because of waterlogging regime of habitats and rarity of these communities in the region. Forests occurring in habitats with short inundation time (mostly at small rivers and lake shores) are more than double rich in bryophytes, then communities located in river valleys with wide floodplain and in karst depressions, where staying water preserves for a long time during growing season. In investigated black alder forests, rare relict species (Helodium blandowii, Tomentypnum nitens, Riccardia latifrons, Pseudobryum cinclidioides) grow in small isolated populations at the southern limit of the species range. It is essential to improve the protection of these rare ecosystems in the future.