Bryophyte taxonomic and functional groups as indicators of fine scale ecological gradients in mountain streams

Mountain stream monitoring is closely related to the survey of bryophyte species since it is there that these organisms are common and show very specialized ecological niches. This work hypothesizes that a close relationship between bryophyte taxonomic and functional categories and microhabitat conditions exists and proposes to explore this link as a basis for fine-scale monitoring. stribution of bryophytes in mountain fluvial microhabitats of northwest and centre-west Portugal was examined at 165 locations. The response of higher level taxonomic groups and life forms and strategies categories along fine-scale hydromorphologic gradients in mountain streambeds was evaluated through multivariate statistical analysis and models. ncy and abundance patterns suggested that species taxonomic groups and life forms and strategies categories distribution are mostly determined by the same microhabitat variables: water velocity, local light incidence and hydrologic zone in the streambed. Additionally, the distribution trends of each category are presented in graphic models summarizing the habitat segregation of bryophyte traits. The specificity of bryophyte distribution patterns were calibrated in undisturbed mountain watercourse to explore their use in monitoring fine-scale variation of flow and light regimes caused by anthropic influence.