XVI International Botanical Congess

Distribution patterns of bryophyte species can represent an important approach for chorological evaluation. Most of them have narrow ecological ranges. This gives them the use as indicators of ecological conditions. The objective of this work is to give predictive maps of occurrence using a GIS. A DTM of Portugal was elaborated in order to obtain geographical and methereological data. Physiographical variables and bioclimatic indexes were used. The examination of the known relationships between these different environmental variables and the occurrence of each species, may predict it total distribution in the country. This is a first test with bryophytes in Portugal and can be a base for new studies for all the Iberian territory.