Additions to Moss Flora of Kosovo from “Bjeshkët e Nemuna” Mountains

• Main Authors: Zenel K. Krasniqi, Jani S. Marka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria 2021-04-01
• Series: Ecologia Balkanica
• Subjects: : plant biodiversity; moss flora; bjeshkët e nemuna; prokletije
• Online Access: http://web.uni-plovdiv.bg/mollov/EB/2021_SE4/087-096_eb21SE409.pdf

The moss flora of Kosovo is the least explored in South East Europe, with 346 moss taxa known so far. The aim of the present study is to further increase the knowledge of the moss flora of Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains (Prokletije) in Kosovo, which are a hot spot for plant biodiversity in the Balkans. In several field trips conducted in Bjeshkët e Nemuna, about 1140 moss samples were collected and identified. From the current investigation of the moss flora in Bjeshkët e Nemuna, 13 taxa are new records for Kosovo and 41 species are recorded for the first time in Bjeshkët e Nemuna. Therefore, this study brings to 359 the number of moss species for Kosovo and 239 for Bjeshkët e Nemuna. Concluding, much more efforts are needed towards a better knowledge of mosses of Kosovo, and thereafter the protection of potential threatened species.