Species richness and composition of epiphytic bryophytes in flooded forests of Caxiuanã National Forest, Eastern Amazon, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the richness and composition of the epiphytic bryoflora between várzea and igapó forests in Caxiuanã National Forest, Brazilian Amazon. Bryophytes were collected on 502 phorophytes of Virola surinamensis. Average richness per phorophyte and composition between forests and between dry and rainy periods was tested by two-way analysis and by cluster analysis, respectively. In total, 54 species of 13 families were identified. Richness was greater in igapó forest (44 species) compared to várzea forest (38 species). There was no significant difference in the number of species between the studied periods. Cluster analysis showed the bryoflora composition was different between várzea and igapó, but not between dry and rainy periods. Results did not corroborate the hypothesis that várzea forests harbor higher species richness than igapó forests.

A checklist of the bryophytes from Amapá State, Northern Brazil

“…The most common species of our list were already expected to be found in Amapá due to their wide distribution in the Amazon and frequent occurrence in various ecosystems from humid rainforests to open environments (Santos & Lisboa 2003, Moura et al 2013, Tavares-Martins et al 2014, Pantoja et al 2015, Cerqueira et al 2017, BFG 2018, Oliveira-da-Silva & Ilkiu-Borges 2018. Among these species, only Ceratolejeunea coarina was not reported in Marajó island , a large continental island neighbor to Amapá State.…”

“…The most abundant families, Lejeuneaceae and Calymperaceae, were expected to be since many studies in the Amazon recorded these families as the richest (e.g., Gradstein et al 2001, Macedo & Ilkiu-Borges 2014, Cerqueira et al 2017, Oliveira-da-Silva & Ilkiu-Borges 2018. The two richest genera (Syrrhopodon and Lejeunea) were also expected since they are well distributed in Brazil (Gradstein et al 2001, Gradstein & Costa 2003, Costa & Peralta 2015.…”

What does a phytophysiognomic mosaic reveal about mosses and liverworts from the subtropical Atlantic Forest?

“…More than 300 publications have reported using bryophytes directly or indirectly as bioindicators (Glime 2017a). Studies developed in the last five years in Brazil have addressed the relationships of different ecological aspects of bryophytes with microclimatic conditions (Löbs et al 2019), successional stages (Takashima-Oliveira et al 2020, phytophysiognomies (Cerqueira et al 2017), vertical zonation (Oliveira & Oliveira 2016), and environmental gradients (Souza et al 2020). The variation of species along environmental gradients, including those of different phytophysiognomies, is an important source of diversity, reflects the environmental diversity within tropical forests (Hedenäs 2007;Shaw et al 2005), and represents an important aspect to be considered when evaluating the conservation status of a region and its biodiversity preservation (Condit et al 2002;Mutke & Barthlott 2005).…”