Format: ORAL

Evita Olehnovica1,Anna Pastare-Skutele1, Ligita Liepina1,2, Anna Mežaka1

1 Department of Biosystematics, Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Parades street 1A, LV-5401, Latvia 2 University of Latvia, Faculty of Biology, Riga, Jelgavas street 1, LV-1004, Latvia

Broad-leaved forests are rich in bryophytes and provide microhabitats for many rare bryophyte species. Forest transformation to agricultural lands in the past and intensive forestry has led to fragmentation of broad-leaved forests in Latvia. Previous studies in broad-leaved forests mostly focused on bryophyte communities in old-growth forest stands, but there is still a lack of bryophyte studies in young and middle-aged forest stands. We studied bryophyte communities in 30 forest stands dominated by European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) in Latvia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in bryophyte communities along the forest age chronosequence from younger forest stands to middle aged and old-growth forest stands in relation to substrate and environmental variables that affect bryophyte communities in each forest age class. The results of the study can be applied to determine the best conservation practices to enhance bryophyte species diversity in broad-leaved forests of different ages.