Bryophyte coastal vegetation of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (S Italy) as a tool for ecosystem assessment

The bryophyte vegetation of the coastal area of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park has been investigated. The phytosociological study has emphasized the occurrence of many associations of the phytosociological classes Barbuletea unguiculatae, Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Abietinelletea abietinae, Cladonio digitatae-Lepidozietea reptantis, Grimmietea anodontis, and Frullanio dilatatae-Leucodontetea sciuroidis. Among these, Barbuletum convolutae, Didymodonto vinealis-Tortuletum muralis, and Funarietum hygrometricae show a strong human impact. On the contrary, the epiphytic associations (Syntrichietum laevipilae, Leucodonto sciuroidis-Leptodontetum smithii, and Fabronietum pusillae), as well as Tortelletum papillosissimae, Rhynchostegielletum algirianae, Tortello flavovirentis-Trichostometum crispuli, and Rhynchostegietum megapolitani, show a good degree of naturalness and air purity. This is revealed by the bryovegetational analysis based on biological and ecological parameters (life form, ratio St/We, life strategy, sensibility to air pollution and human impact) that can be interpreted to provide useful information about the quality and the health of the environment. Moreover, a new association, Gongylanthetum ericetori, is described here. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.