Epiphytic mosses in the centre of Tirana city (Albania) (original) (raw)

2017, Studia botanica hungarica

Th is study is aiming to give a general overview about epiphytic moss communities of trees in the main streets of Tirana's city centre and its adjacent park. Altogether 145 trees were investigated for epiphytic mosses during the spring of 2016. Altogether 553 moss samples were collected resulting in a total of 40 moss taxa, 19 taxa for strictly urban area and 39 for park area, with 18 taxa being in common for both communities. For the strictly urban area the fi ve most common species were Orthotrichum diaphanum, Syntrichia papillosa, Fabronia pusilla, Homalothecium sericeum and Syntrichia laevipila. From the other side, the fi ve most common species of the Park area were Hypnum cupressiforme, Homalothecium sericeum, Syntrichia papillosa, S. laevipila and Leucodon sciuroides. Th e values of biodiversity indices were higher for the park area, and the similarity between these two communities was of average degree. Among the epiphytic mosses recorded some are resistant to air pollution and others are sensitive to it. Th e question if the diff erences seen between the two communities are only a consequence of microclimatic conditions remains open, as a long term monitoring of biodiversity dynamics will be needed on the one hand and a standardised method to check for correlations between biological parameters and chemical-physical parameters on the other hand.

Sign up for access to the world's latest research.

checkGet notified about relevant papers

checkSave papers to use in your research

checkJoin the discussion with peers

checkTrack your impact