Species richness and distribution of bryophytes within different phytophysiognomies in the Chapada Diamantina region of Brazil

Abstract

The Chapada Diamantina ecoregion is within the caatinga (shrublands) biome of Brazil. Environmental factors determine the phytophysiognomies that distinguish the ecoregion from the surrounding areas. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of bryophyte flora in this ecoregion, by phytophysiognomy and elevational zone. Analyzing specimens we collected from five municipalities in the region, together with specimens (previously collected from the region) in herbaria, we identified 400 taxa. The phytophysiognomies that presented the highest species richness and the greatest numbers of exclusive taxa were forests and campos rupestres (dry, rocky grasslands), which respectively accounted for 51% and 40% of the taxa, compared with only 5% and 4%, respectively, for the caatinga and cerrado (savanna). Species richness and the numbers of exclusive taxa were highest in the lower and upper montane zones. There was a predominance of neotropical taxa and a significant number of disjunct species found in Brazil and in the Andes region. We conclude that the Chapada Diamantina region is an important center of bryophyte diversity, harboring not only a great number of species overall but also a considerable number of species exclusive to the region, primarily in forests and campos rupestres at elevations above 800 m.

Caracterización morfo-ecológica y composición de briofitos en pastizales rocosos en el Cerrado Brasileño

“…Besides these, we also found Bastos et al (2000) who presented a list of 65 taxa and Valente et al (2013) found 212 species, both in Chapada Diamantina, in the Bahia state. All these works were carried out using floristic surveys methodology and included species of other vegetation types, such as gallery forest, mixed ombrophilous rain forests, slope forests and waterfalls areas.…”

“…For identification of the species were used the following bibliographies: Frahm (1991), Sharp et al (1994), Yano & Carvalho (1995), Buck (1998), Vilas Bôas- Bastos & Bastos (1998), Bastos et al (2000), Gradstein et al (2001), Castro et al (2002), Gradstein & Costa (2003), Yano & Peralta (2009), Valente et al (2011), Yano & Peralta (2011a, Bordin & Yano (2013) and Valente et al (2013). The species morpho-ecological characterization (Table 1) followed the classification proposed by Fulford (1966;1968;1976), Smith (1978), Nyholm (1987;1989), Dull (1991), Ellenberg et al (1991), Frahm (1991), During (1992), Nyholm (1993), Reese (1993), Gradstein (1994), Sharp et al (1994), Frisvoll (1997), Nyholm (1998), Schuster (1999, Vevle (1999), Schuster (2000), Gradstein et al (2001), Damsholt (2002), Schuster (2002), Gradstein & Costa (2003), Austrheim et al (2005) and Ireland & Buck (2009).…”

Bryophyte flora in upland forests at different successional stages and in the various strata of host trees in northeastern Pará, Brazil

“…The importance of Lejeuneaceae has also been reported for the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, caatinga (shrublands) and pantanal (swampland) in Brazil, as well as for French Guiana Lisboa & Ilkiu-Borges 2001Lisboa & Tavares 2008;Yano & Câmara 2004;Pôrto et al 2004;Campelo & Pôrto 2007;Siqueira et al 2011;Valente et al 2013;Câmara & Vital 2004;Gradstein 2006). In addition, Gradstein et al (2001) reported that more than 70% of the liverwort species found in neotropical forests belong to Lejeuneaceae.…”

Survey of bryophytes in Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…The methodology for collection, herborization and preservation of material followed Gradstein et al (2001), and all samples collected were deposited in SP. Identification of the species followed Frahm (1991), Sharp et al (1994), Yano & Carvalho (1995), Buck (1998), Vilas Bôas- Bastos & Bastos (1998), Bastos et al (2000), Gradstein et al (2001), Castro et al (2002), Gradstein & Costa (2003), Câmara & Costa (2006), Câmara (2008a;, Ballejos & Bastos (2009), Yano & Peralta (2009, Valente et al (2011), Yano & Peralta (2011a, Bordin & Yano (2013), Luizi-Ponzo et al (2013) and Valente et al (2013).…”