Recolonisation and changes in bryophyte and lichen biodiversity in burned areas from the Serra da Estrela (Portugal)

The bryophyte and lichen vegetation was monitored over a period of three years in both a control plot and a burned plot in seven different areas of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. During the post-fire succession, the changes in the floristic composition and the macroclimatic and environmental factors that influence them were analysed using Redundancy Analysis. The highest diversity was attained 3-8 years after fire, when colonists and fugitive elements were replaced by species with longer lifespans and more demanding life strategies. Eighty-nine bryophytes (17 hepatics and 72 mosses) and 63 lichen species were identified, including some bryophyte species that are rare in Portugal and some lichen species considered to be rare in Europe.