The bryophyte flora of the Bolkar Mountains

The bryophyte flora of the Bolkar MountainsTülay EZER*1, Ahmet UYGUR2, Züleyha ASLAN ERGENEKON3, Nevzat BATAN4, Mevlüt ALATAŞ5 ORCID: 0000-0002-6485-5505; 0000-0002-3934-8851; 0000-0002-5078-2317; 0000-0001-8456-5719; 0000-0003-0862-02581Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture, 51240, Niğde, Türkiye2Aksaray University, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Biology, 68100, Aksaray, Türkiye3Atatürk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 25240, Erzurum, Türkiye4Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 61080, Trabzon, Türkiye5Munzur University, Vocational School of Tunceli, Department of Plant and Animal Production, 62000, Tunceli, TürkiyeAbstractPurpose: This study aims to reveal the bryophyte flora of the Bolkar Mountains and contribute to the bryoflora of Türkiye.Method: The study was based on bryophyte specimens collected from 230 localities during field surveys conducted in the Bolkar Mountains between 2023 and 2024. All specimens were identified using relevant literature.Findings: A total of 380 taxa belonging to 56 families and 125 genera were identified from the Bolkar Mountains. Of these, 32 taxa (19 families, 23 genera) belong to Marchantiophyta and 348 taxa (37 families, 102 genera) to Bryophyta. Schistidium pulchrum H.H.Blom was recorded for the second time in Türkiye, and 77 taxa were recorded for the first time in the C13 grid-square. Pottiaceae (87 taxa) and Brachytheciaceae (47 taxa) were the richest families, while Ptychostomum (24 taxa) and Schistidium (19 taxa) were the richest genera.Conclusion: This study contributes to the bryoflora of Türkiye and provides a valuable foundation for future floristic and conservation studies.Keywords: Anatolia, bryological diversity, moss, liverwort, Türkiye