Ecological Features and Synanthropization of Bryoflora in the Pohulyanka Forest Park (Lviv City, Ukraine)

Abstract

This paper analyses ecological features of bryophyte species from the territory of the Pohulyanka Forest Park in the city of Lviv, Ukraine. A total of 141 species of bryoflora were analyzed (70 recorded for the first time). In the spectrum of life forms (LF), species with the following LF prevailed in the study area: turf (61 species, 43.3%), mat (48 species, 34%). Turf, the most common life form, was detected on all types of substrates, but was most frequently found on the soil (33 species, 23.4%) and stony substrates (13 species, 9.2%). Analysis of herbarium specimens (herbariums of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, National Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and the Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) and the results obtained with respect to the composition of the bryoflora suggest that since the mid-19th century, due to anthropogenic transformation of the study area, most species with LF weft (10 out of 15 species, or 66.7%) have disappeared, while the number of species with LF rough mat on the soil has increased. The apophytic fraction of bryoflora in the study area consists of 121 species (85.8%) belonging to 28 families and 66 genera, including four species in the division Marchantiophyta. In the composition of bryophyte flora, 67 species of eventapophytes were identified (47.5% of the total number of species). Dominant families are Brachytheciaceae, Mniaceae, Pottiaceae, Plagiotheciaceae, Orthotrichaceae, Polytrichaceae. Hemiapophytes comprised 24.1% (i.e. 34 species) of the total number of species. The largest number of hemiapophytes was found in the families Pottiaceae, Bryaceae, Amblystegiaceae and Orthotrichaceae. Among the spontaneophytes (20 species, 14.2%), the families Hypnaceae, Mniaceae and Polytrichaceae prevailed. Indigenophytes amounted to 20 species (14.2%). With regard to the relationship of bryophytes to light, the following groups were identified in the study area: ultraheliophytes, heliophytes, subheliophytes, hemisciophytes and sciophytes. The highest number of species was represented by subheliophytes and hemiscyophytes. Certain patterns were found in the ratio of sun-demanding species in groups of apophytes. Among the hydromorphs, the following groups were identified: ultraxerophytes (found only among hemiapophytes); xerophytes (prevailing in the group of hemiapophytes, but also found among eventapophytes); xeromesophytes, mesophytes, hygromesophytes and hygrophytes (represented in all anthropotolerant groups); hydrophytes (event- and spontan/indigenophytes).

Substrate Groups of Bryophytes in the Territory of the Znesinnya Regional Landscape Park (Lviv, Ukraine)

“…On tree trunks (epiphytic group, WL), urbanophilic and urban-neutral species typical for city parks are distributed (Orthotrichum sp., Leskea polycarpa, Pseudoleskeella nervosa, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pylaisia polyantha, Brachytheciastrum velutinum, Sciuro-hypnum populeum, Platygyrium repens) [30][31], as well as species typical for forests with a lower anthropogenic pressure (Radula complanata, Isothecium alopecuroides and Homalia trichomanoides), which indicates stable local conditions for the growth of urbanophobic epiphytes on phorophytes. In the basal zone of old trees, abundant moss growths are widespread with the participation of Plagiomnium cuspidatum, P. rostratum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Atrichum undulatum, Plagiothecium curvifolium, P. cavifolium, etc.…”

“…On natural dead wood, stumps and logs, ecologically plastic species of bryophytes of the epixilic group (WR) are mainly distributed, such as Hypnum cupressiforme, Brachytheciastrum velutinum and Brachythecium rutabulum. Due to the specifics of management in the Znesinnya RLP, there are no fallen branches, stumps and fallen trunks present; however, a small number of epixilic species have been recorded, which is generally characteristic [12,[14][15][30][31]. On the other hand, wooden landscape design elements (stairs, gazebos, etc.)…”

“…Various types of recreational activities in parks and nature protected areas, as well as atmospheric pollution due to industrial and transport loads in the adjacent territories, adversely affect the species composition and metabolic activity of vegetation, including bryophytes inhabiting urban parks [11, 30-31, 34-35, 37-37, 41]. In particular, a comparison of data on bryophyte diversity in the parks of the city of Lviv (Western Ukraine) from the last century with current data indicates the disappearance of some species sensitive to air pollution and other factors associated with anthropogenic pressure [30][31]. On the other hand, city parks and protected landscape areas often include diverse ecotopes with a wide range of substrates, both natural and artificial, creating new ecological niches for bryophyte species.…”

Bryophytes of local park – monument of landscape gardening “Snopkivsky” (Lviv city)

“…Для флори епіфітних і епіксильних мохоподібних Снопківського парку характерні такі ж процеси, як і для урбоекосистеми Львова загалом. Насамперед це спрощення структури флори та втрата її специфічності [4,5,[13][14][15][16].…”

“…На вапняковій брилі в кар'єрній виїмці знайдено літофільний кальцієфіл Fissidens crispus. Збільшення кількості та площ техногенних екотопів, придатних для заселення мохоподібними, проявляється у значному збільшенні частки епілітних видів у міських бріофлорах [11,[13][14][15].…”