Changes in the epiphytic bryophyte flora in Katowice city (Poland)

In the area of Katowice city (S Poland) a significant increase in the number of sites of some epiphytes (mainly from the genera Orthotrichum and Ulota) were recorded. The comparison of their distribution in 2001 and 2015 shows two groups: (1) species of which the number of localities is obviously higher, e.g. Orthotrichum diaphanum, O. obtusifolium, O. pumilum and O. speciosum and (2) species new in the bryoflora, i.e. Leskea polycarpa, Orthotrichum affine, O. patens, O. rogeri, O. stramineum, O. striatum, Radula complanata, Syntrichia latifolia, Ulota bruchii and U. crispa. The analysis of the preference of epiphytes towards inhabited phorophytes reveals that the most commonly and abundantly inhabited species were poplar and willow trees, which show higher pH values of bark.