Rimac, A., Šegota, V., Alegro, A., Koletić, N., Vuković, N. & Papp, B. 2019. New and noteworthy bryophyte records from lacustrine drawdown zones in Croatia. – Herzogia 32: 315 –325.
Ephemeral bryophytes are short-lived species that can germinate and finish their whole life cycle within a brief period when favourable conditions occur. A significant number of these specialist species are associated with moist and fine-textured substrata of the margins of lakes, reservoirs and rivers, also known as drawdown zones. Our study of the vegetation of drawdown zones, the first focusing on these specific habitats in Croatia, resulted in significant records for Croatian bryoflora; a new species (Physcomitrium eurystomum), confirmation of two species, the occurrence of which was doubtful (Riccia cavernosa and R. frostii) and new localities of two extremely rare species (Physcomitrella patens and Leptobryum pyriforme). Although these species and their habitats are considered relatively rare and threatened in Europe, the low number of records in Croatia is to a considerable extent the result of there having been insufficient research into ephemeral habitats and the bryophyte flora in general.