Studia botanica hungarica

Author(s): Vieira, C., Hespanhol, H., Gonçalves, J., Marques, J. & Bota, A.
Title: Biological valuation in mountain landscapes as a tool for the conservation of bryophytes in Baixo-Tâmega, Portugal
Year: 2012
Volume: 43
Pages: 69-84.

Abstract: Tendencies in landscape use in Portugal, such as abandoning agricultural land, accompanied by the intensification of urbanization, resulted in the development of highly heterogeneous land mosaics in most cases with dissimilar conditions for bryophytes. The study area, located in mainland Portugal, known as the “Baixo-Tâmega” Region, was the target of a project aimed at evaluating the territory as nature conservation and management value area. A methodology of land cover evaluation for this mountainous area is presented here, based on expert knowledge and the results shown in a map according to aspects of conservation for bryophytes. A positive correlation between the highly valued areas and the total and threatened bryophyte species richness provided evidence that biological valuation can be a useful tool for conservation and management of semi-natural areas. Furthermore, we showed that landscape configuration (e.g. heterogeneity, size and ecotones of natural and semi-natural mosaics) and landscape composition (e.g. low scrublands) are relevant for the occurrence of threatened bryophyte taxa and these must be taken into account in conservation management and planning at the landscape scale.
Keywords: threatened species, conservation value maps, expert knowledge, hotspots, land cover
Subject: botany

Journal: Studia botanica hungarica
Journal abbreviation: Studia bot. hung.
ISSN: 0301-7001
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Papp, B., Lőkös, L. & Fuisz, T. I.