Biologichni Studii / Studia Biologica

Background. Bryophyte vegetation and its classification are increasingly attracting the attention of both bryologists and geobotanists. Due to their morphological and biological organization, as well as their ecological-biological and ecological-coenotic features, bryophytes manifest their coenotic role in ecosystems in various ways. They may either constitute part of the general herbaceous cover as synusiae, or they form distinct bryocoenoses with different substrate specificities-epigeic, epiphytic, and epixylic-which are classified separately from vascular plant communities using the eco-floristic classification approach to Braun-Blanquet.
At present, detailed studies of individual syntaxa of moss vegetation at the class level are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to charac­terize the class Ceratodonto purpurei-Polytrichеtea piliferi in natural and urban ecosystems of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine.
Materials and Methods. The material for this study consisted of geobotanical relevés of bryocoenoses belonging to this class of moss vegetation, identified within natural ecosystems of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine and urban ecosystems of several regional cities in the Left-Bank Dnipro Region. Bryophyte communities were classified according to the eco-floristic classification based on the Braun-Blanquet approach, following standard methodological guidelines.
Data processing and analysis were carried out using JUICE.NET software and the updated version of the TWINSPAN algorithm. The classification scheme of moss vegetation was developed using leading classification systems proposed in Central and Western Europe, taking into account the results of our own research. The nomenclature of bryophytes follows “Prodromus of Spore Plants of Ukraine: Bryophytes” (Virchenko et al, 2022), while lichens’ nomenclature follows “Prodromus of Spore Plants: Lichens” (Kondratiuk et al, 2021).
Results. Moss vegetation of the class Ceratodonto purpurei-Polytrichеtea piliferi in natural and urban ecosystems of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine was characterized, and its classification scheme was developed. The studied class of moss vegetation is represented by one order, two alliances, six associations, and five subassociations. The alliance Ceratodonto purpurei-Polytrichion piliferi Waldh. ex v. Hübschm. 1967 is represented by the associations Racomitrio-Polytrichetum piliferi, Brachythecietum albicantis, Polytrichetum juniperini, Buxbaumietum aphyllae, and Syntrichietum ruraliformis. The first association is also represented by four subassociations. The alliance Campylopodion polytrichoidis Giacomini 1951 is represented by the association Polytricho-formosi-Campylopodetum polytrichoides. For each identified syntaxon, ecological and eco-coenotic characteristics, as well as localities within the region, are presented. The association Polytricho-formosi-Campylopodetum polytrichoides is reported for the first time in Ukraine.
Conclusions. Unlike in Western Europe, within the studied region, class Ceratodonto purpurei-Polytrichеtea piliferi is represented by a small number of syntaxa, which are primarily confined to pine forests, sand arenas, and occasionally steppe areas. The moss vegetation of the studied territory within the class includes one order, two alliances, six associations, and five subassociations. All identified associations and subassociations were documented within natural ecosystems. Of these, two associations and four subassociations were also recorded in urban ecosystems. Therefore, further research on the bryocoenoses of this class in Ukraine is promising and requires a detailed study.