DISTRIBUTION OF BRYOPHYTES ON LIMESTONES IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA

A comparison was made of bryophytes on limestone and nonlimestone substrates at three locations in southeastern Australia: Jenolan Caves, London Bridge, and Attunga. Bryophyte abundance at each location was recorded in terms of number of species present and percent ground cover. At each location bryophytes collected from limestone substrates were more abundant, in number of species and in percent ground cover, than those collected from nonlimestone substrates. Some species were collected exclusively from limestone sites. Many bryophyte species present on limestone are more usually associated with arid and semiarid areas of Australia. Distribution of bryophytes on limestone and nonlimestone sites at Attunga appeared to have been affected by grazing stock.