Annotated checklist of Estonian bryophytes

Abstract

The updated list of Estonian bryophytes includes 594 species from all three phyla. Only one species is reported for Estonia according to the literature data, all others have voucher speciemens in herbaria, two of them outside of Estonia. Altogether 242 species are frequent in Estonia, 173 species are rare, and 161 are sporadically distributed. We do not have any recent data for 20 species, and their presence in Estonia is doubtful. In 2008 a new Estonian Red list was compiled and 369 bryophyte species were evaluated against IUCN criteria. Approximately one fifth of the Estonian bryoflora (129 species) is designated to the three threat categories.

Accumulation of heavy metals in gametophytes of the epilithic mosses

“…belongs to the Grimmiaceae family of the Grimmiales order. Both species are common in Ukraine [5] and other European countries [16,20,23].…”

“…Among them, epilithic bryophytes represent a group of nonvascular plants that colonize natural rocks, stones, and artificial stony substrates. Epiliths can be found on buildings, monuments and other structures of industrial cities, especially in places with high humidity [20,23]. However, the ability of urban epilithic mosses to accumulate metals has been less studied compared with other bryophyte groups.…”

New Estonian records: mosses

“…Thus, Hypnum andoi has nine localities in Estonia and is now considered to be sporadically distributed in Estonia (frequency group according to Vellak et al, 2015). All specimens were found to grow on granitic boulders in forests.…”

“…The most recent checklist of Estonian bryophytes was published in 2015 (Vellak et al, 2015). In 2016 four species new to Estonia have been identified, mainly by checking earlier collections in different herbaria.…”

“…One species -Hypnum fertile Sendtn., which was evaluated as extinct in Estonia (Vellak et al, 2015), has been found in a new locality. Also a variety new for Estonia -Hypnum cupressiforme var.…”