Epiphytic Bryophytes in an Urban Landscape: Which Factors Determine Their Distribution, Species Richness, and Diversity? A Case Study in Wroclaw, Poland

There is still a lack of knowledge on the effect of urban environmental factors on bryophyte species distribution and richness. The goal of this study was to fill that gap. We assumed the hypothesis that the urban heat island is the most important factor affecting epiphytic bryophyte species in urban space. The survey was based on a network of 500 one hectare study plots, scattered throughout the city of Wroclaw (SW Poland). A set of 27 environmental factors was assessed in the field, as well as by the collection, processing, and interpretation of satellite imagery, LiDAR scans, and climatological data. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to evaluate the significance of the effect of the studied variables on the distribution of bryophyte epiphytes. The effect of the normalized difference vegetation index on epiphytic bryophyte distribution and richness was the strongest. The effects of the urban heat island as well as the tree species diversity appeared weaker, though significant. Among the tree stands features, the supply of European ash Fraxinus excelsior and tree height appeared to be the strongest. Maintaining afforested areas rich in old tree individuals with cooler and more humid microclimates seems to be crucial to the keeping of epiphytic bryophyte species diversity in the urban landscape.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the impact of urban environmental factors on the distribution and richness of bryophyte species. The survey covered 500 study plots in the city of Wroclaw, Poland, and assessed 27 environmental factors using various methods. The normalized difference vegetation index was found to have the strongest effect on the distribution and richness of epiphytic bryophytes. The urban heat island and tree species diversity also had significant, but weaker effects. Among the tree stand features, the presence of European ash and tree height were identified as influential factors. Maintaining afforested areas with old trees and cooler microclimates is crucial for preserving the diversity of epiphytic bryophytes in urban landscapes.