Sphagnum species along environmental gradients in mires of the Sudety Mountains (SW Poland)

We studied the regional ecology of 33 Sphagnum taxa in 37 mires and 141 stands in the Sudety Mountains, central Europe.Five ecological species groups were distinguished based on the occurrence of particular species in plant communities and mire stands, and their distribution patterns along water-chemistry gradients.The ordination analysis (CCA) suggests that the most important factors affecting Sphagnum species distribution and abundance in the Sudety mires were moss height above the water level, altitude as well as surface-water pH and conductivity.In ombrotrophic bogs, moss height above the water level was the primary controlling factor.Within minerotrophic mires the distribution of species was mostly limited by pH, conductivity and Ca concentration in surface water.Sphagnum lindbergii, S. jensenii, S. warnstorfii and S. compactum were mostly restricted to the higher elevations from 1405-1430 m a.s.l., whereas S. rubellum, S. palustre and