Even though the fungi are no longer included in
the plant kingdom, they are traditionally described along plant
organisms. The fungi as a group were not studied thoroughly in the
process of developing the Plan for the protection of the Bieszczady
National Park. Large-scale research projects were completed only in the
period 1958–1965 and later in 1969. The results were presented in
several publications (Domanski et al. 1960, 1963, 1967, 1970, Wojewoda
1994).
From the viewpoint of the abundance of
microflora, the Bieszczady mountains are undoubtedly the richest region
in the Polish Carpathians, and in Poland they are second only to the
north-eastern part of Poland (Augustów and Bia³owie¿a primeval forests).
Some 1000 species of fungi were recorded, including ca. 30 from
Oomycetes and Zygomycetes classes, ca. 160 Ascomycetes, ca. 720
Basidiomycetes, and ca. 30 of Deuteromycetes class (Fungi imperfecti).
Strikingly high is the great abundance of epiphytic fungi of
Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae families. Another family represented
by a high number of species is Corticiaceae – some 100 species. In the
period 1958–1964 many mycorrhitic fungi from the Cortinariaceae and
Tricholomataceae families were found in Bieszczady, which are now
disappearing rapidly.
Resupinatus
wetlinianus (Domanski 1964) is the species recorded only in the
Bieszczady mountains. Tremella moriformis, Ceriporiopsis gilvescens and
Phellinus ferrugineus have in the Bieszczady mountains their only known
stations in Poland. There are a number of very rare or rare fungi
species, e.g. Bondarzewia mesenterica, Guepiniopsis buccinia, Hericium
erinaceus, and Trichaptum pergamenum.
Some
species are still fairly common in the Bieszczady mountains while in
other parts of the Carpathians they are either disappearing or are
endangered (Wojewoda 1991, Wojewoda and Lawrynowicz 1992).
The
microflora of the Bieszczady mountains is far from being fully studied.
It may be presumed that the number of fungal species in the area
amounts to at least 2000. It may, however be feared that in recent years
under the increasing human impact, there could be some adverse changes
occurring in the fungi flora.
The
study by Glanc and Tobolewski (1962) reported 309 lichen species
recorded in the Bieszczady region, including many rare species. In the
high Bieszczady ranges, concentrations of alpine and montane were found.
Later only some notes were published sporadically (Bystrek, Glanc 1976,
Sulma, Bystrek 1982).
The
lichens (Lichenes), a group of organisms which react rapidly to any air
pollutants, are used as indicators of the clean environment (Kiszka
1991). At present, the incomplete results of the floristic studies allow
one to classify the status of the flora of lichens as moderately good.
The checklist of the lichens compiled for the Polish Eastern Carpathians
(Kiszka 1997, 1999, Kiszka, Koscielniak 1999, 2001), based on the
published sources and new studies, includes over 410 species recorded
from the Bieszczady Wysokie range, however several of these species must
be now regarded as extinct (event though they were encountered as late
as in the 1950s). On the other hand the current floristic studies have
provided new interesting findings (Kiszka 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, Kiszka, Koscielniak 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003).
The
studies on the mosses (Bryopsida) of the Bieszczady region, conducted
in the 1950s were completed in a publication by Lisowski (1956)
recording 252 species found in the area. As there is no separate
checklist for the Bieszczady National Park it may only be said that a
significant proportion of the mosses listed in that paper also have a
station within the Park. This regards particularly the alpine species
which occur above the upper forest line (over 40 species). The Moczarne
valley shows a particular abundance in mosses, as in the Górna Solinka
canyon the occurrence of many extremely rare species was reported,
including some recorded for the first time either in the whole of Poland
or of the Carpathians. For all these reasons, a special reserve was
created which has now been included in the Bieszczady National Park.
Floristic
studies on the occurrence and distribution of liverworts
(Hepaticopsida) in the Bieszczady mountains were carried out by J.
Szweykowski (Szweykowski, Buczkowska 1996) over many years, while
studies in the Bieszczady National Park begun in 1996 (Mierzeñska 1998).
To-date, some 75 species have been found (109 species in the whole of
the Western Bieszczady), including many interesting taxa of a boreal or
alpine character.
The
distribution of slime moulds (Myxomycetes), and saprophytic organisms
related to fungi are still to be studied in more detail throughout
Poland. The studies in the Carpathians have concentrated in the Tatra
and Pieniny mountains, with other ranges only sporadically visited by
mycologists. Some information on the slime moulds of the Bieszczady
mountains can be derived from studies by Domañski et al. (1970). Summing
up the knowledge on the occurrence of slime moulds in the Park, based
both on published records and her own studies was provided by Drozdowicz
(1996, 2001). In all, 30 species were recorded, among them several very
interesting mountain species associated with melting snow.
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Bieszczadzki
Flora - lower plants 
