Abstract Detail



Bryology and Lichenology

Oļehnoviča, Evita [1], Pastare-Skutele, Anna [2], Mežaka, Anna [2], Liepiņa, Ligita [2].

Bryophyte functional traits in black alder swamp forests along forest age chronosequence in Latvia.

Bryophytes possess large diversity of functional traits that helps them to adapt to various habitats and environmental conditions. Black alder swamp forests are diverse forest habitats with a variety of suitable microhabitats for bryophytes, but bryophyte functional trait diversity in these forests is still not fully explored. The aim of the study was to investigate bryophyte functional trait differences along forest stand chronosequence in black alder swamp forests. We were studying the following functional traits: life strategy, life form, and species affinity to habitat. Bryophyte species were studied in 30 black alder swamp forests in three forest age classes: young (20-30 years old), middle-aged (50-60 years old), and old-growth (>100 years old) forests. Bryophyte species were recorded on the ground, living trees, logs, and stumps, along 28 m long transect within two meters of both directions from the transect. In total 99 bryophyte species (71 mosses and 28 liverworts) were recorded in all forest age classes. In total, four life strategy types were equally presented in all age classes, where more than half of all recorded species in each age class were perennial stayers. In total five bryophyte life forms were present in all forest age classes, most common bryophyte life form in each age class was turf, but the presence of mat life form increased with forest age. Overall species restricted to closed forests and species that may occur in forests as well in open land were equally present in all forest age classes, but the highest percentage of species restricted to closed forests occurred in the middle-age forest class.


1 - Daugavpils University, Department of Biosystematics, Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Parādes street , 1A, Daugavpils, LV, LV-5401, Latvia
2 - Daugavpils University, Department of Biosystematics, Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Parādes street, 1A, Daugavpils, LV, LV-5401, Latvia

Keywords:
bryophytes
functional traits
black alder
swamp forests.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: BL2002
Abstract ID:589
Candidate for Awards:A. J. Sharp Award


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