Are Juglans neotropica Plantations Useful as a Refuge of Bryophytes Diversity in Tropical Areas?

Abstract

Neotropical montane forests are considered biodiversity hotspots, where epiphytic bryophytes are an important component of the diversity, biomass and functioning of these ecosystems. We evaluated the richness and composition of bryophytes in secondary successional forests and mixed plantations of Juglans neotropica. In each forest type, the presence and cover of epiphytic bryophytes was registered in 400 quadrats of 20 cm × 30 cm. We analyzed the effects of canopy openness, diameter at breast height (DBH) and forest type on bryophyte richness, using a generalized linear model (GLM), as well as the changes in species composition using multivariate analysis. Fifty-five bryophyte species were recorded, of which 42 species were in secondary forests and 40 were in mixed plantations. Bryophyte richness did not change at forest level; however, at tree level, richness was higher in the mixed plantation of J. neotropica compared to the secondary forests, due to the presence of species adapted to high light conditions. On the other hand, bryophyte communities were negatively affected by the more open canopy in the mixed plantation of J. neotropica, species adapted to more humid conditions being less abundant. We conclude that species with narrow microclimatic niches are threatened by deforestation, and J. neotropica plantations do not act as refuge for drought-sensitive forest species present in secondary forests.

Bryophytes Present in the Nests of Birds in Yanayacu Biological Station, Ecuador

“…Nevertheless, there is a lack of comprehensive information regarding the bryophyte species found in bird nests, despite the high diversity of bryophytes in Ecuador with 1600 species, of which 900 are mosses and 700 are liverworts and hornworts [16][17][18]. Most studies have used bryophytes as bioindicators of air pollution [19] and forest disturbance [20,21]. On the other hand, more than 1700 bird species have been reported [22]; however, currently there is a lack of information regarding the species of bryophytes used by different birds when constructing their nests.…”