MOSSES FROM LURA REGION (ALBANIA)

The bryophyte flora of Albania is not sufficiently known. Preliminary data about moss flora from Lura National Park area (Dibra district) are given for the first time in this paper. During a field trip in August 2007 were collected ca. 150 samples in three different sites, in Fushe Lura and at the area of Lura lakes. Altogether 62 moss species were recorded, 48 species recorded for the first time for Dibra region. Moreover, nine species were new for Albania: Brachytheciastrum olympicum, Brachythecium geheebii, Dicranum brevifolium, Dicranum tauricum, Hedwigia ciliata var. leucophaea, Heterocladium dimorphum, Plagiothecium curvifolium, Racomitrium elongatum and Schistidium papillosum. Three taxa have conservation value according to the Red Data Book of European Bryophytes (ECCB 1995): Brachythecium geheebii (R, rare), also endemic for Europe, Pseudoleskea saviana (RT, regionally threatened) and Schistidium papillosum (K, insufficiently known). The occurrence of several red listed species and the new species recorded for Albania indicate about the biodiversity importance of Lura NP. However, this study was a preliminary investigation of moss flora; further exploration will certainly increase the number of species.