Bryophytes of continental salt meadows in Austria

Continental salt meadows were investigated in the 'Seewinkel', Austria, which is the most important site for this type of vegetation in Europe. Fifty-six sites were surveyed and 64 bryophyte species found, all of them mosses. A distinct group of species occurred in all of these meadows, showing only slight differences in species assemblage regarding soil type or salinity. This is in stark contrast to the vascular plant vegetation. Bryophyte species composition and, particularly, percentage cover depended mainly on the texture of the soils, the duration of wetting and only at the most extremely salty sites on the degree of salinity. Entosthodon hungaricus and Pottia heimii were the only species that were restricted to saline soils.