BRYOPHYTE VEGETATION OF XEROTHERMIC OAK FOREST ON SOROCHA GORA (MUKACHEVO, TRANSCARPATHIAN PLAIN)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/1998-6475.2026.60.3Keywords:
Bryophyta vegetation, syntaxonomic bryodiversity, relict species, rare species, indicator species, xerothermic oak forestAbstract
Taxonomic and syntaxonomic bryodiversity of xerothermic oak forests of the Transcarpathian Plain was studied using Sorocha Mountain (Mukachevo) as a case study. It was established that the moss cover of the studied forest comprises 46 species belonging to 36 genera and 19 families within 2 divisions: Marchantiophyta and Bryophyta, which are bryocenotically distributed among 15 associations 6 alliances 5 classes of boreal and nemoral forest, and rocky moss vegetation. The local specificity of the moss cover of xerothermic oak forests of the class Quercetea pubescentis in the Volcanic Carpathians is characterized by the dominance of epiphytic aero-heliophilic thermophilic vegetation of the class Frullanio dilatatae-Leucodontetea sciuroidis with a high proportion of cushion mosses of the families Pottiaceae and Orthotrichaceae, which are primarily confined to the trunks of living mainly old trees. Epilithic vegetation of the class Ctenidietea mollusci typically occurs within its general distributios range on outcrops of limestone, dolomite, and marl, but in the Vygorlat-Hutyn Range it is synecologically associated with non-carbonate volcanic rocks (andesites). The indicator component of moss vegetation of the studied thermophilic oak forest is represented by 20 species, bryosociologically related to 5 associations 3 alliances of 2 classes. The majority of indicator species (55.0%) belong to aero-heliophilic vegetation of the Frullanio dilatatae-Leucodontetea sciuroidis class whichin terms of ecological preferences, best corresponds to the conditions of sparse, well-warmed light oak forests. This type of epiphytic vegetation can be considered dominant (key) within the foothill altitudinal belt of the Volcanic Carpathians and subordinate to the intrazonal phanerogamic vegetation of the Quercion pubescenti-petraeae alliance of the Quercetea pubescentis class. The humo-mesophilic sciophilic vegetation of the Neckeretea complanatae class is represented only by indicator species that are weakly and moderately sensitive to anthropogenic impact (45.0%), while highly sensitive species characteristic of old-growth forests and virgin forests are absent. All indicator species are associated with a specific habitat – the bark of living trees, which emphasizes the important indicator value of epiphytic vegetation within non-forest latitudinal and altitudinal zones.
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