The lichen flora of the Košice Zoological Garden (E Slovakia)

Abstract

The Košice Zoological Garden offers a wide range of habitats from sunny exposed meadows, hedges and semi-natural well-lit to shaded forests with brooks together with concrete paths and animal cages. To best represent the area, 14 locations were selected. Total of 61 species were recorded. Most of the recorded species were epiphytic or epigeic; epilithic species were limited to a few limestone boulders or anthropogenic substrates. Besides common and widespread nitrophilous species, two recorded species are critically endangered (Arthonia radiata, Parmelia submontana), four are endangered (Evernia prunastri, Flavoparmelia caperata, Graphis scripta and Pleurosticta acetabulum), one is vulnerable (Usnea hirta), while eight are listed as near threatened in Slovakia. The discovery of Bryoria sp. is particularly interesting because of missing records of this species in the area. The lowest altitude of 412 m a.s.l. for Parmelia submontana in Slovakia was recorded. The region provides a suitable environment for a wide spectrum of lichen species and is worth of our biodiversity conservation concerns.

Bryophyte flora of the Košice Zoo (E Slovakia)

“…In light of the current conservation crisis, zoos should develop efforts to conserve not only individual non-native animal species in human care but also native species of various other taxonomic groups, including bryophytes, as well as both intact and man-made habitats and ecosystems (Miller et al 2004;Baur 2011). Our results as well as research on lichens (Marcinčinová et al 2020) and vascular plants (Dudáš et al in prep. ) contribute significantly to the understanding and documenting of diversity of the Košice Zoo.…”

“…According to the phytogeographical classification of Slovakia (Futák 1984), the Košice Zoo belongs to the area of the West Carpathian flora (Carpaticum occidentale), district of the pre-Carpathian flora (Praecarpaticum). Once part of the agricultural landscape, the zoo now consists, besides animal enclosures and various man-made substrates and small water bodies, also of habitats such as brooks, meadows and pastures, surrounded by Fagus sylvatica-Carpinus betulus-dominated forests (Marcinčinová et al 2020).…”

“…The aim of this work is to present the results of an extensive survey of bryophyte flora of the Košice Zoo, to analyze morphological, life history and ecological traits of the identified taxa and to discuss the potential of zoological gardens in biodiversity conservation. This paper is a part of a series of extensive studies on the diversity of the Košice Zoo (Marcinčinová et al 2020;Dudáš et al in prep. ).…”

Epiphytic lichen diversity in the urban area of Košice (E Slovakia) with some notes on its air quality

“…Parmelina tiliacea was reported as new for Košice square 7293 in 2003 (Bačkor et al 2003) and later recorded in 2019 (Marcinčinová et al 2020). This species is common in the Slanské vrchy Mts., east of Košice (Fagus prevalent forests with Quercus in lower altitude) (Pišút & Liška 1985;Marcinčinová, unpublished data) but findings of healthy thalli in the housing estates of Košice, loc.…”

“…The lichen biota of Košice and its surroundings has been investigated partially (Bačkor & Bodnárová 2002;Bačkor et al 2003;Marcinčinová et al 2020). Besides species common in urban areas, several additional sensitive species were occasionally reported, e. g. Evernia prunastri, Parmelina tiliacea, Flavoparmelia caperata, Usnea hirta, Ramalina fastigiata or Bryoria sp.…”