Epiphytic bryophyte diversity in oak woodlands of centre and northern Portugal.: First analyses from a national survey

The composition, abundance, and species richness of epiphytic communities on Quercusfaginea Lam., Quercus pyrenaica Willd., and Quercus rotundifolia Lam. was examined in native woodlands in distinct sites of Centre and Northern Portugal, included in the Natura 2000 Network. The dependence upon a number of environmental variables was investigated in thirteen sites in Portugal. Sixty one bryophytes (50 mosses, 11 liverworts) were found in the plots along thirteen sites. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the epiphytic bryophyte composition of these woodlands. Relationships between bryophyte and lichen community composition, climate and stational variables were examined using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The total biodiversity found in the sites surveyed, including branches and other phorophytes associated with Quercus spp. was about I I I bryophyte taxa.