Abstract
In the northeastern region of the Brazilian state of Pará, approximately 90% of the forested areas are secondary forests. Secondary forests are interesting areas for floristic studies aimed at determining the effects that clear-cutting has on bryophyte communities. The aim of this study was to compare upland forests at different successional stages and the various strata of host trees, in terms of the bryophyte species composition. Bryophyte specimens were collected between August 2005 and September 2006 from host trees in primary and secondary forests of different ages and of different heights, within the municipality of Capitão Poço, in the state of Pará. The vertical distribution of bryophytes was evaluated in 15 host trees within the primary forest. We identified a total of 99 bryophyte species: 33 mosses and 66 liverworts. The dominant family was Lejeuneaceae, with 56 species. Most of the species (n = 60) had a neotropical distribution, and 3 species were endemic to Brazil. Cololejeunea minutissima var. myriocarpa (Nees & Mont.) R.M.Schust., Pycnolejeunea papillosa X.-L. He, Radula mammosa Spruce and Verdoornianthus marsupiifolius (Spruce) Gradst. represent new records for the state of Pará. In the successional forests evaluated, we identified 78 species, most of which (n = 38) occurred in primary forest. On the host tree trunks evaluated in the primary forest, we observed 31 species occurring at heights ranging from 2 m to 20 m. Despite the fact that secondary forests account for such a large proportion of the forested areas in Capitão Poço, we found that the bryoflora was relatively rich, comprising 31% of the species recorded for the state. The fact that 40% of the species recorded occurred exclusively in the secondary forests and the fact that 45.5% of the species recorded in primary forest occurred within the 2-20 m height range show the importance of studies focusing on bryophytes in secondary forests and in the upper strata of host trees in primary forests.
Highlights
Brazil has a rich bryoflora, with approximately 1,650 species, comprising 35% of all neotropical species, which have been estimated to number 4,700 (Gradstein et al 2001, Gradstein & Costa 2003, Costa & Luizi-Ponzo 2010)
In the Brazilian state of Pará, there are an estimated 317 species of bryophytes (Costa 2013), which correspond to approximately 20% of the bryophyte flora known in the country, demonstrating the level of knowledge and the importance of bryophytes in the state
Floristic composition, geographic distribution and vertical distribution of bryophyte species, as well as the relationship between primary and secondary forest
Summary
Brazil has a rich bryoflora, with approximately 1,650 species, comprising 35% of all neotropical species, which have been estimated to number 4,700 (Gradstein et al 2001, Gradstein & Costa 2003, Costa & Luizi-Ponzo 2010). In the Brazilian state of Pará, there are an estimated 317 species of bryophytes (Costa 2013), which correspond to approximately 20% of the bryophyte flora known in the country, demonstrating the level of knowledge and the importance of bryophytes in the state. The landscape of those microregions is highly disturbed due to subsistence farming of crops such as cassava, corn and rice (Wiesenmüller 2004). This dynamic gave rise to the appearance of ecosystems, at different successional stages, which are highly depleted in terms of genetic resources (Vieira 1996)
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