Neckera pennata (Bryophyta, Neckeraceae) in Vologda region, Russia

The work summarizes data on the distribution, biological, ecological, and population characteristics and protection of the regionally rare and protected the Bryopsida moss, Neckera pennata Hedw. in the Vologda Region. To date, the species has been recorded in 92 localities in the Region, in all the administrative districts of the Region and in 38 squares of the Atlas Florae Europaeae. A total of 48 new localities from 18 administrative districts are listed for this species, at that Neckera pennata is reported for the first time for 12 districts (Babushkinskiy, Belozerskiy, Velikoustyugskiy, Verkhovazhskiy, Kichmengsko-Gorodetskiy, Mezhdurechenskiy, Nyuksenskiy, Sokolskiy, Ust'-Kubinskiy, Ustyuzhenskiy, Kharovskiy, Chagodoshchenskiy districts). In the Vologda Region, the species occur in old mesophilic aspen and aspen-spruce forests. In addition to Populus tremula L., which is the main substrate for the moss, Neckera pennata was rarely observed on 10 more species of woody plants ( Larix sibirica Ledeb., Picea abies (L.) Karst., Betula pendula Roth, Populus alba L., P. balsaminifera L., Sorbus aucuparia L., Salix caprea L., Tilia cordata Mill., Ulmus glabra Huds., U. laevis Pall.). Currently, the species is included in the Red Data Book of the Vologda Region with a 3/LC status and is protected in the region in 15 protected areas, including two federal, 12 regional and one local protected area. The main threats to the existence of the species are associated with the removal or fragmentation of old forests due to logging.