Bryoflora of ancient manor parks of the Orel region

Cultural and historical heritage sites, including ancient parks, are of great importance for preserving the biodiversity of natural zonal communities. The degree of bryological study of such valuable objects in Russia cannot be considered high. The aim of this work is to identify the biodiversity of bryophytes in ancient manor parks of the Orel Region. In 2015–2024, a bryological survey of ancient manor parks in the Orel Region was conducted. The list of identified species (127) is given, specifying their occurrence, anthropogenic stability, population status, preferences of substrates, types of landscapes, and localities. The richness of moss species in the Oryol Region parks is higher than in the parks of the Central Chernozem region. The bryoflora of the parks is dominated by hemerophobous species with a low occurrence (69%) and an unsatisfactory state of populations (66%). The largest number of species grow on soil – 68, about equally on woody (50) and rocky (48) substrates; most of the species grow in natural landscapes of the landscape parks. The presence of rare and indicator species in the bryoflora (10 species from the main and 13 from the monitoring lists of the Red Book of the Orel Region) confirms an important role of ancient manor parks in preserving the biodiversity of bryophytes in the south of the broadleaf forest zone and the forest-steppe. For each studied object, information is provided on its historical owners, the share of natural landscapes, the degree of preservation of manor complexes, their historical and scientific value; bryological parameters are indicated. Based on a comprehensive analysis, 10 most valuable sites were identified: Lomtsy, Davydovka, Stepanovka, Muratovo, Korsakovo, Pervyi Voin, Drobyshevo, Progress, Mikhaylovka, and Mokhovoye. It is advisable to organize the protection of the listed manor parks as objects of landscape art.