Publication details
Bryophytes in public caves in the Czech Republic
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2006 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Environmental changes and biological assessment III. Book of Abstracts |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Botany |
| Keywords | mosses; show caves; lamp flora |
| Description | Bryophytes growing close to lamps in regular use were studied in show caves. Vaněčková (1958) and Šeda (1962) investigated the lamp flora in five caves open to the public in the 1960s–70s. In 2004, recent data were collected in the same caves: Balcarka Cave, Kateřinská Cave, Javoříčko Caves, Punkva Caves, and Sloup-Šošůvka Caves. All of them are situated in Moravia (Czech Republic). They are formed in Devonian limestone and the cave environment has an constant temperature and high air humidity. The management of show caves (illumination, chemical removal of plants) has changed since the 1960s–70s. This paper compares the bryophyte lamp flora in the 60s–70s and the present one. In total, 65 bryophytes were recorded in the 1960s–70s and 2004, 51 mosses in the 60s–70s and only 35 mosses in 2004. The species richness was the highest in the Punkva caves, where the visitors' tour is long and the number of visitors is the highest. Overall, 36 % of the bryophyte flora has remained the same as in the past, 64 % is different. The mosses Amblystegium serpens, Brachythecium velutinum, Fissidens taxifolius and Leptobryum pyriforme were frequently observed both in the past and in the present. The most frequent life strategies were colonists and perennials and the most frequent growth forms are short turf and rough mat. |
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