Contribution to the knowledge of the bryoflora in running waters of Central Italy

The present study focused on the bryoflora of watercourses of the Tiber River basin (Central Italy). A total of 20 bryophyte species, which included 14 mosses and 6 liverworts were collected at 32 river stations. Most species were recorded at stations of the watercourses’upper sections, which have rocky substrate and where there is cool and well oxygenated running water, with low trophic load. Only few species, such as Leptodictyum riparium, Cinclidotus fontinaloides and Riccia fluitans, were also found at stations of the middle and lower sections, which are characterized by slow-flowing, turbid, warm and eutrophic waters. Some species are widely distributed, among which Fontinalis antipyretica ssp. antipyretica and Platyhypnidium riparioides, while others are very rare, such as Cinclidotus aquaticus, Dialytrichia mucronata and Riccia fluitans. Some of the collected species are new regional records (Hygroamblystegium fluviatile, D. mucronata), regional confirmations of rare taxa in Italy (C. aquaticus) or confirmations of old regional reports (Hygroamblystegium tenax, C. fontinaloides, Aneura pinguis).