Exploration of the Balkan bryophyte flora with a special attention to the rare and threatened species

In the last 15 years a network of bryologists from SE Europe has been developed, dealing intensively with the Balkan area, from where there is still relatively few data compared to other parts of Europe. Joint field trips were organised to fill the gap. Special attention was paid to the habitats of rare, threatened species by visiting suitable sites, making collections, listing the bryophyte flora and estimating population size of rare species. More than 15.000 specimens have been deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum collected during these joint field trips and 72 papers have been published on the basis of the material. Voucher specimens of 527 species can also be found in HNHM, which were reported for the first time from the various countries of Balkan. From conservation aspects wetlands are the most important habitat types in SE Europe, threatened mainly due to climate warming. Their extension is decreasing, and they are continuously losing the sensitive bryophytes of their species pool. Although the suitable bogs are small and sporadic in the Balkans, they still maintain several populations of wetland species of European conservation interest, such as Campylium elodes, Drepanocladus polygamus, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Scorpidium scorpioides, Tomentypnum nitens. The alpine grasslands are also threatened due to climate warming. The Balkan high mountain areas still preserve very diverse bryoflora. Especially areas with acidic bedrock in high elevations have special conservation interest, because they are rare and scattered in the predominantly calcareous Balkan mountains. The bryophyte flora of acidic soil and siliceous outcrops contains many calcifuge species regarded as rare in this region and redlisted in many SE European countries, e.g. arctic, alpine leafy liverworts such as Lophozia wenzelii, Marsupella sphacelata, Scapania praetervisa, Solenostoma confertissima or saxicolous species like the members of Grimmiaceae family (Grimmia caespiticia, G. reflexidens, Schistidium papillosum). In shaded limestone rocky habitats the bryophyte assemblages also contain several species of European conservation interest, e.g. Anomodon rostratus, Mannia triandra, Myurella sibirica, Taxiphyllum densifolium

Survey on the bryophyte flora of the surrounding mountains of the Káli Basin (Balaton-felvidék Region, Hungary)

In 2016 and 2017, exploration of the bryophyte flora was carried out in the surroundings of Kővágóörs, Köveskál and Szentbékkálla villages. In the hilly region around the basin mainly Quercetum cerris forests occur on acidic bedrock, however, some limestone outcrops can also be found at Köveskál. Altogether 123 bryophyte taxa (8 liverworts and 115 mosses) were recorded during our survey. The most important finding was Zygodon forsteri, a redlisted species in Europe, which was recorded for the first time in Hungary. This atlanticsubmediterranean element is a member of the Orthotrichaceae family, growing usually around knot-holes or other hollows of trees where water runs down on the bark, and often on callus tissue. Our specimens were collected in knot-holes of two Quercus cerris trees. Two other species (Anacamptodon splachnoides, Fissidens arnoldii) are included in the Red data book of European bryophytes, which are also protected in Hungary. Anacamptodon splachnoides lives in the same habitat as Zygodon forsteri, around knot-holes. This species was detected on 57 Quercus cerris trees in the investigated forests. Probably the largest population in Europe lives here. Fissidens arnoldii was found on limestone rocks in a stream at Köveskál. Another interesting species is Pottia starckeana s.s., which is in the data deficient (DD) category in he Hungarian Bryophyte Red List (without any recent records for almost 50 years). Several other species found there are redlisted in Hungary, e.g. Eurhynchium speciosum is endangered (EN), Buxbaumia aphylla and Orthotrichum patens are vulnerable (VU). Further 13 species are near threatened (NT) and 16 are regarded as indicators, which by their mere presence represents a greater level of conservation value of the habitat. Habitat preference, population size of species of conservation interest and advice in their conservation management will be given

A CONTRIBUTION TO THE BRYOPHYTE FLORA OF CROATIA IV. ŽUMBERAČKA GORA MTS

A bryological fi eld survey in the Žumberačka gora Mts carried out in July, 2014 resulted in a list of 168 species (34 liverworts and 134 mosses). Two species are reported for the fi rst time from Croatia (Pseudoleskeella rupestris, Riccardia incurvata). Th ree species are included in the Red data book of European bryophytes (Mannia triandra, Anomodon rostratus, and Rhynchostegiella tenuicaulis). Mannia triandra is listed in the Bern Convention and the EU Habitats and Species Directive, as well

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BRYOPHYTE FLORA OF THE ALCSÍK BASIN, ROMANIA

A recent investigation on the bryophyte fl ora of the Alcsík Basin resulted in recording 70 bryophyte taxa (5 liverworts and 65 mosses). Although declining in some aspects, the area still preserves very valuable bryophyte vegetation rich in elements characteristic for fens and mires. Hamatocaulis vernicosus is the most valuable species recorded, a bryophyte included in the Bern Convention, in the European Union Habitats and Species Directive, and in the Red data book of European bryophytes. Several other rarities in SE Europe occur in the investigated area, including Breidleria pratensis, Dicranum bonjeanii, Drepanocladus polygamus, Philonotis marchica, P. caespitosa, Plagiomnium ellipticum, Polytrichum strictum, Scorpidium cossonii, Sphagnum spp., and Tomentypnum nitens. Some of these, such as Plagiomnium ellipticum or Tomentypnum nitens, are very abundant and represent the largest populations recently recorded in SE Europe

Physcomitrium eurystomum and Pohlia proligera, new mosses in the bryophyte flora of Serbia

Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendtn. and Pohlia proligera (Kindb.) Lindb. ex Broth. were recently discovered as new moss species for the bryophyte flora of Serbia. Both species were recorded in the Vlasina Lake area, a large highland wetland plateau in southeastern Serbia

Back to Hungary: a story on reintroduction of a European Habitat Directive moss species, Hamatocaulis vernicosus

Hamatocaulis vernicosus is rare and threatened species Europe-wide, and it is a member of many national red lists. The main reason for this can be regarded as habitat quality changes. The last records from Hungary comes from 1968, and in years after despite of intensive search it was not found in any historically known habitats. Thus, it was considered as extinct in Hungary. An attempt on getting back this species to Hungary has been made. Less than one year old herbarium specimens from neighboring countries have been used to establish new population but with limited success. The same material that could be revived has been used to start axenix in vitro culture. Once the culture has been established, the optimization and propagation started. The lab originated material was grown under controlled condition but in xenic medium originated from Hungary. Finally, after two years the moss plants were reintroduced to two national parks in Hungary and two populations were established. This is just the first report but there are continuous attempts to stabilize the populations. The problems, achievements and solutions will be discussed. A Hamatocaulis vernicosus, egy ritka és veszélyeztetett faj Európában és számos nemzeti vörös listán is szerepel. A fő veszélyeztető tényező az élőhelyeinek, a lápréteknek, a visszaszorulása, illetve leromlása. Az utolsó magyarországi record 1968-ból származik és bár az utóbbi években a közösségi jelentőségű fajok monitorozása intenzíven folyik, a Hamatocaulis vernicosus nem került elő egyetlen korábban ismert élőhelyéről sem. Így Magyarországról kipusztultnak tekinthető. Ennek a fajnak a visszatelepítésére tettünk kísérletet. Szomszédos országokból származó, egy éven belül gyűjtött herbáriumi példányokat próbáltunk meg felhasználni új populáció létrehozására, de ez csak korlátozott eredménnyel járt. Az egyik ilyen herbáriumi anyagból azonban sikerült in vitro kultúrát létrehozni és felszaporítani. A laborban kontrollált körülmények között tartott kultúrát magyarországi lápokról származó médiumon neveltük. Végül, két év után visszatelepítést végeztünk két nemzeti parkban és így két lápon sikerült egy-egy populációt létrehozni. A populációk stabilizálásán folyamatosan dolgozunk, nyomonkövetjük a változásokat. Bemutatásra kerülnek az elért eredmények, a felmerült problémák és lehetséges megoldások