Session

Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), despite their small size, play a prominent role in many ecosystems. This is especially noticeable in the pioneering stages of vegetation cover restoration due to anthropogenic disturbances. The aim of the research was to study the ecological and biomorphological peculiarities of the bryophyte cover in the meadow ecosystems, to assess the degree of their disturbance to determine the indicator signs. Our study area is in the Ivano-Frankivsk region (Verkhovynskyi, Ivano-Frankivskyj, Nadvirnyanskyj and Kosivskyj districts). We selected 75 plots 1 m2 that differ in the intensity land use (within the economic, recreational and protected zones of 5 national parks). The names of bryophyte species are given under “An annotated checklist of bryophytes of Europe, Macaronesia and Cyprus" (Hodgetts et al., 2020). Ecological groups were distinguished by the scale H.Ellenberg, R.Düll (1992), life forms - by the classification J.Glime (2006). Meadows of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937: Climacium dendroides dominate the leveled areas. Calliergonella cuspidata, Warnstorfia sarmentosa and Rhizomnium magnifolium is very rare. Atrichum undulatum grow on dry places. Meadows of the class Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Soó 1947. The moss layer formed from Abietinella abietina, Homalothecium lutescens, Polytrichum piliferum, Ceratodon purpureus, Ptychostomum capillare, P. caespiticium, Weissia longifolia. As a result of moderate anthropogenic influence (mosaic mowing and moderate recreational load), an increase in species diversity and coverage of bryophytes due to disturbance of vascular plant cover was noted. In conditions of increased anthropogenic influence in the economic zone, the elimination of sensitive mesophytic meadow species of mosses with a web life form and an increase in the proportion of xeromesophyte ruderals with a low sod life form in the cover is observed. The vast majority of bryophytes belong to mesophytes (38%), but the xerophyte group is clearly visible (xerophytes and mesoxerophytes – 15 and 18%, respectively). Wefts (35%) predominate among biomorphs. Changes in the species composition and ecological and biomorphological structure of bryophytes are good indicators of anthropogenic influence on meadow ecosystems.