Stand Structure and Substrate Diversity as Two Major Drivers for Bryophyte Distribution in a Temperate Montane Ecosystem

Abstract

Elucidating the major drivers of bryophyte distribution is the first step to protecting bryophyte diversity. Topography, forest, substrates (ground, tree trunks, roots, rocks, and rotten wood), and spatial factor, which factors are the major drivers of bryophyte distribution? In this study, 53 plots were set in 400 m2 along the elevation gradient in Xiaoqinling, China. All bryophytes in the plots were collected and identified. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between bryophyte and substrate diversity. We compared the patterns of overall bryophyte diversity and diversity of bryophytes found on the ground, tree, and rock along elevational gradients. Canonical correspondence analysis was applied to relate species composition to selected environmental variables. The importance of topography, forest, substrates, and spatial factors was determined by variance partitioning. A total of 1378 bryophyte specimens were collected, and 240 species were identified. Bryophyte diversity was closely related to substrate diversity. The overall bryophyte diversity significantly increased with elevation; however, the response varied among ground, tree, and rock bryophytes. Tree diversity and herb layer were considered important environmental factors in determining bryophyte distribution. Species abundance was best explained by stand structure (17%), and species diversity was best explained by stand structure (35%) and substrate (40%). Results directly indicated that substrate diversity can improve bryophyte species diversity. The effects of micro-habitat formed by stand structure and substrate diversity were higher than those of spatial processes and topography factors on bryophyte distribution. This study proved that the determinant factors influencing bryophyte diversity reflect the trends in recent forest management, providing a real opportunity to improve forest biodiversity conservation.

Forest canopy-cover composition and landscape influence on bryophyte communities in Nothofagus forests of southern Patagonia

“…Moreover, it is well known that temperature, precipitation and air humidity differ along elevation gradients and can influence bryophyte richness patterns, which can also be modified by the elevation [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]. Therefore, to ensure the conservation of bryophytes, it is necessary to identify the major drivers that influence liverwort and moss distributions [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Altitudinal zonation of mosses in west of the Sierra Nevada of Cocuy, Boyacá, Colombia

“…In this study the epiphytic mosses stand out for having a high sensitivity and a greater number of specific species confined to this substrate. This may be due to greater exposure to climatic conditions (Sales et al 2016, Chen et al 2017 and to the great variety of sampled phorophytes given by the change in the structure of the forest.…”

“…Epiphytic mosses are more influenced by altitudinal gradient than terrestrial mosses (Spitale 2016, Chen et al 2017. Halpern et al (2014) emphasized the importance of including all substrate colonized in order to understand the abundance and diversity of bryophytes in forests once studies with this focus were carried out over very small altitudinal gradients and in countries with different climates in latitudes far from the Neotropics.…”

Drivers of Macrofungi Community Structure Differ between Soil and Rotten-Wood Substrates in a Temperate Mountain Forest in China

“…This study elucidated the factors influencing macrofungi community structure and provided an opportunity to improve biodiversity conservation in temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest for sustainable forest management ( Chen et al, 2017 ). Our findings suggest that macrofungi should be treated with different protection strategies because their major drivers differ between soil and rotten-wood macrofungi community in temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest.…”

“…Some macrofungi are at risk of extinction because of human interference and environmental damage ( Senn-Irlet et al, 2007 ). Identification of major drivers of macrofungi community assembly is thus a crucial step to conserve their diversity ( Chen et al, 2017 ). Ecologists conducted numerous studies on major factors affecting plant and animal community.…”