Article

The bryoflora of the Gorges de l’Ardèche has been bryoflostically investigated. The previously published records, corresponding to 27 taxa, have been taken into account. Today, 216 bryophyte taxa are confidently recorded in the Gorges de l’Ardèche site. It is considered as a local hot-spot of bryological diversity in a south-eastern France context. Several genera are of special ecological interest: Didymodon, Orthotrichum, Bryum, Fissidens and Riccia. More than 20 remarkable species are additionally recorded: Acaulon triquetrum, Aleniella besseri, Barbula bolleana, Bryum canariense, Cheilothela chloropus, Cinclidotus danubicus, Didymodon nicholsonii, Ephemerum recurvifolium, Fissidens fontanus, Grimmia tergestina, Homalia lusitanica, Homalothecium aureum, Mannia californica, Marchantia paleacea, Orthotrichum philibertii, Orthotrichum sprucei, R. trabutiana, Radula lindenbergiana, Riccia cavernosa, Scorpiurium sendtneri, Timmiella anomala and Tortella inflexa. A significant number of species is largely dependant upon the natural functioning of the Ardèche river, with an intense alluvial activity and remodelling of river banks. Most forest stands are young ones, originating from forest recolonization of ancient pastoral areas. The conservation of the bryophyte communities is very simple and shall be based upon the principle of minimum intervention. An improvement of the waste water disposal systems of many campsites is needed.