The succession, habitat affinity, and life-forms of epiphytic bryophytes in the Turkish oak (Quercus cerris) forests on Mount Musa [Musa Dagı'ndaki Türk Meşesi ormanlarında epifitik biryofitlerin süksesyonu, habitat egilimleri ve hayat formları]

We studied the epiphytic bryophytes in the deciduous Quercus cerris forests on Mount Musa in the southern part of the Amanos Mountain Range. An Index of Ecological Significance (IES) was used to evaluate the ecological importance of the species in the epiphytic habitats. In a total of 94 quadrats, 4 dm2 each, we observed 25 species of bryophytes (6 liverworts, 19 mosses) in six different life-forms. Species affinity for the epiphytic habitat and their life-forms were evaluated along a gradient of height and the gradient of age of the host tree. Brachythecium rutabulum, Brachytheciastrum velutinum, Homalia trichomanioides, and Lophocolea heterophylla were only found on young trees, Grimmia pulvinata only on middle-aged trees, and Isothecium alopecuroides, Syntrichia montana, Frullania tamarisci, and Porella platyphylla on aged trees.