About bryophyte and lichen ecology

Historically, research about moss and lichen systems has been carried out since the founding of The National Botanical Garden of The University of Latvia in 1922. The founder Nikolay Malta was a world-renowned bryologist. As of now, 550 moss species have been recognized in Latvia. Nowadays, the main research about moss biodiversity is being done in natural biotopes – forests, swamps, dunes. Moss research in urban environment is done only fragmentary and incompletely. Although a fraction of moss species can be frequently found in cities, people in general are poorly informed about the species, that can be found on various substrates – on structure roofs and walls, on tree trunks and bushes in greeneries, under water drainpipes, in cemeteries, along train and tram rails, in rockeries (rock gardens) and other places.   Moss species feasibility studies have been carried out in the Botanical Garden, during which almost 50 moss species were recognized over a small territory. That signifies high species biodiversity. The territory of the National Botanical Garden with its various ecological niches and varied mosaic microbiotopes is particularly suitable for the spread of moss and lichen species.   Moss and lichen researchers Anna Mežaka and Līga Strazdiņa have found 20 lichen species in the territory of the National Botanical Garden: Anaptichia ciliaris, Candelariella xanthostigma, Caloplaca spp., Cladonia chlorophaea, Diploschistes spp., Hypocenomyce scalaris, Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, Lecanora muralis, Lepraria spp., Melanelia exasperatula, Parmelia sulcata, Peltigera canina, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia tenella, Physconia grisea, Porpidia crustulata, Trentepohlia umbrina, Verrucaria nigrescens, Xanthoria parietina. Participants of the project: L.Strazdiņa, A.Mežaka, L.Liepiņa, L.Madžule.