16 - Studia Geobotanica. An international journal - Vol. 16 (1998)

ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE IBERO-LEVANTINIAN CORK-OAK FORESTS (EASTERN SPAIN) USING EPIPHYTIC LICHENS AS BIOINDICATORS. This study compares the epiphytic lichen floras of cork-oak forests from eastern Spain. The methodology was designed in such a way as to avoid subjectivity at all stages, from the sampling protocol to data analysis. Field work was carried out in 15 Catalonian localities, in mature stands of Carici-Querco suberis sigmetum, and in 9 localities of the Valencian Cornmunity, in mature stands of Asplenio-Querco suberis sigmetum. In each locality, ten trees were selected, and the lichens growing on virgin bark from 50 to 200 cm above the ground were identified. Ali together, 153 species were encountered, with 69 species present in both territories, and 33 found in at least three samplig plots. Multivariate methods of classification and ordination were used to analyze a matrix of stations and species based on presence/absence data. The classification clearly separated two main groups of stations, Catalonian and Valencian, with the exception of two Catalonian localities that were more related to the Valencian ones. This accords well with the climate of the two regions: the Catalonian cork-oak forests are subjected to a strong maritime influence, experiencing frequent fog episodes, whereas the Valencian ones are more continental and drier. The higher incidence of nitrophytic lichens in the Valencian cork-oak forests is probably due to dust accumulation on the trunks. Within the two groups of stations the lichen flora is diversified according to differences in temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity regimes. The results support the assumption that epiphytic lichens can provide impm1ant information on the phytoclimatical features of a territory.

This annotated checklist of lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Cyprus is based mainly on literature records. The currently known lichen flora is composed of 365 taxa (352 species of lichenized fungi, 2 subspecies, 3 varieties and 8 lichenicolous fungi). The Troodos Region, with about 230 taxa, is the part of the island with the highest number of known species. For each lichen species references, regions, substratum and altitudinal range are reported.

Results of a study on bryophyte sociology in some localities of Mt. Bondone (Eastern Italian Alps) are presented. Bryophyte associations observed in beech forests and Pinus-mugo scrubs are: Orthotricho anomali-Grimmietum pulvinatae, Pseudoleskeelletum catenulatae, Ctenidietum mollusci, Solorino-Distichietum capillacei, Encalypto streptocarpae-Fissidentetum cristati and Pterigynandretum filiformis, belonging to the Tortulo-Homalothecietea sericei class, and Pleurozietum schreberi of the Hylocomietea splendentis class.

The composition of aristolochic acids from different populations of four Aristolochia species was analysed by HPLC; quantitative data were submitted to discriminant and statistical analyses. The interspecific variability was confirmed, and significant differences were detected by canonical discriminant functions. The aristolochic acid II and the ratio AAII/AAI are significant in the discrimination of the examined species.