ECOLOGY OF CRYPTOGAMIC EPIPHYTES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES IN DECIDUOUS FORESTS IN MEDITERRANEAN SPAIN

A distribution of the epiphytic bryophyte and lichen vegetation of dec iduous forests from the centre and north of the supramediterranean bel t from the Spanish Iberian Peninsula was established using numerical ( PCA, CCA) and traditional floristic characteristics. Four groups have been established in relation to several syntaxa. Derived by numerical classification, possible successional trends between the groups with r espect to changes in moisture, light and diameter of the trees are des cribed. Nevertheless, patterns with succession in epiphytic communitie s are very complex to establish.