Distribution Of Epiphytic Bryophytes Research Articles

Structuring Interaction Networks Between Epiphytic Bryophytes and Their Hosts in Yunnan, SW China

Ecological networks are commonly applied to depict general patterns of biotic interactions, which provide tools to understand the mechanism of community assembly. Commensal interactions between epiphytes and their hosts are a major component of species interactions in forest canopies; however, few studies have investigated species assemblage patterns and network structures of epiphyte–host interactions, particularly non-vascular epiphytes in different types of forest. To analyze the characteristics of network structures between epiphytes and their hosts, composition and distribution of epiphytic bryophytes were investigated from 138 host individuals using canopy cranes in a tropical lowland seasonal rain forest (TRF) and a subtropical montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest (STF), in Southwest China. We structured binary networks between epiphytic bryophytes and their hosts in these two forests, which presented 329 interactions in the TRF and 545 interactions in the STF. Compared to TRF, the bryophyte–host plant networks were more nested but less modular in the STF. However, both forests generally exhibited a significantly nested structure with low levels of specialization and modularity. The relatively high nestedness may stabilize the ecological networks between epiphytic bryophytes and their hosts. Nevertheless, the low modularity in epiphyte–host networks could be attributed to the lack of co-evolutionary processes, and the low degree of specialization suggests that epiphytes are less likely to colonize specific host species. Vertical distribution of the bryophyte species showed structured modules in the tree basal and crown zones, probably attributing to the adaptation to microclimates within a host individual. This study highlights the nested structure of commensal interaction between epiphytic bryophytes and host trees, and provides a scientific basis to identify key host tree species for conservation and management of biodiversity in forest ecosystems.

Urban orchards provide a suitable habitat for epiphytic bryophytes

Current rapid urbanization has significantly increased the areas occupied by agroforests, such as orchards, within urban boundaries. However, studies on the potential of agroforests to provide suitable habitats for urban biodiversity are scarce, especially for epiphytes, which are extremely sensitive to abrupt environmental changes. The objective of this study is to assess the potential of orchards to provide habitats for epiphytes in urban areas. For this purpose, we surveyed epiphytic bryophytes on the trunks of trees in urban orchards (longan and lychee) and different-aged secondary forests in Shenzhen, China. Young secondary forests had the same age as that of orchards and older secondary forests were twice as old. The diversity, species composition, and distribution of epiphytic bryophytes among different forests were compared. The species richness, coverage, Shannon index, evenness, and number of unique species were used to evaluate the diversity of epiphytic bryophytes. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarity methods were applied to examine the differences in species composition among orchards and secondary forest stands. The species richness and coverage of bryophytes, depending on the trunk height and orientation, were also compared. The results showed that (i) the richness of bryophyte species was higher in the urban orchards than in the secondary forests; although the coverage was also higher in the urban orchards than in the young secondary forests, it was lower than that in an older secondary forest; (ii) significant differences in the species composition were revealed between the urban orchards and the secondary forests; (iii) bryophytes preferred the north side and the middle and lower parts of the tree trunk in both the urban orchards and secondary forests. This study is the first to reveal that orchards have a higher potential than secondary forests to provide habitats for epiphytic bryophytes in urban environments. Therefore, this study provides valuable information for government agencies and urban forest managers to protect epiphyte habitats and improve the conservation of urban biodiversity.

Epiphytic bryophyte diversity and range distributions along an elevational gradient in Marojejy, Madagascar

AbstractDescribing spatial variation in species richness and understanding its links to ecological mechanisms are complementary approaches for explaining geographical patterns of richness. The study of elevational gradients holds enormous potential for understanding the factors underlying global diversity. This paper investigates the pattern of species richness and range‐size distribution of epiphytic bryophytes along an elevational gradient in Marojejy National Park, northeast Madagascar. The main objectives are to describe bryophyte species composition and endemism in Marojejy National Park, to describe the species richness and distribution patterns of epiphytic bryophytes along an elevational gradient from 250 m to 2050 m and to evaluate the explanatory value of environmental variables for the observed patterns. Bryophyte samples were collected following a nested design with four hierarchical levels: elevational belts, plots, quadrats, and microplots. In total, 254 epiphytic bryophyte species were recorded, comprising 157 liverworts and 97 mosses. Twenty‐three of these are endemic to Madagascar. Species richness exhibits a hump‐shaped pattern along the elevational gradient, peaking at 1,250 m. Eighty‐seven percent of the total recorded species have a range distribution lower than 1,000 m, at which point 36% are restricted to these single elevations. Our results suggest that mean temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit play important roles in shaping the richness pattern observed in this study. While the liverwort richness pattern did not correlate to vapor pressure deficit and responded only weakly to relative humidity, the richness pattern shown by mosses correlates well with mean temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit.

Vertical distribution and diversity of epiphytic bryophytes in the Colombian Amazon

ABSTRACTIntroduction. The purpose of this study was to analyse the variation in the vertical and spatial distribution of epiphytic bryophytes across four forests in the north-western Amazon. We sampled along the entire vertical gradient from tree base to upper canopy in order to answer these questions: Is there vertical zonation? Is there a relationship between composition species and geographical distance?Methods. The vertical gradient was studied in 64 phorophytes, and each phorophyte was divided into six height zones. We used Detrended Corresponded Analysis for plot ordination and Permutation Multivariate Analysis of Variance to analyse variation in species composition. The relationship between species composition and geographic distance was evaluated using a Mantel Test. We used Indicator species analysis to determine the preference of the species for each of the six height zones, and an ANOVA analysis to evaluate the significance of species richness per zone.Key results. There was a gradual differentiation of the bryophyte communities across the tree height zones. We identified 63 indicator species; the tree base had the highest number of indicator species, followed by the outer canopy.Conclusions. The strong influence of height zones on species assemblages revealed the importance of the environmental differences across the vertical gradient within a single tree. Epiphytic bryophyte communities are mainly structured according to the height zone of trees. The presence of a high percentage of indicator species across the Colombian Amazon is evidence to further support a high specificity of species for a particular microhabitat within the forest.

Distribution of epiphytic bryophytes in Wroclaw in relation to urban-use complexes

Abstract Studies on epiphytic bryophyte species richness and diversity in various urban-use complexes in Wroclaw (excluding urban forests) were conducted in 2013-2016 to check the research hypothesis that, in spite of the observed phenomenon of return of bryophytic epiphytes to cities, urban parks still favor species richness and the diversity of bryophytic epiphytes in built-up areas. Epiphytes (38 species) were recorded in all distinguished urban-use complexes but with strongly differentiated frequency, and 64% of all the trees colonized with epiphytes were situated either along streets or inside urban green areas (32% in each). It was shown that the highest species richness (89% of all the species found), bryophyte total coverage and values of the diversity indices referred to the latter complex. 20 species revealed preferences to occur mostly or exclusively on trees situated in urban parks. The second urban-use complex, which visibly affected the distribution of epiphytes, was the complex of streets; Tortula muralis occurred only on trees along streets and six other species occurred more frequently in these complexes than in others: Orthotrichum diaphanum, O. pumilum, O. pallens, Ceratodon purpureus, Syntrichia virescens, Bryum argenteum. In general, epiphytes – which were recorded on more than 20 trees – colonized a large number of phorophytes, from 12 to 33. They also showed some tendencies to occupy trunks of some host tree species more frequently than others. Detailed data are provided.

Diversity and distribution of epiphytic bryophytes on Bramley’s Seedling trees in East of England apple orchards

Epiphytic bryophytes on apple trees were investigated in relation to a selection of tree characteristics. Management of orchard trees for fruit production affects the habitats available for colonisation and growth of epiphytes on trunks and branches. Bryophytes recorded on Bramley’s Seedling apple trees in orchards in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire showed a high level of similarity in species composition between the orchards. The similarity between orchards was, however, much reduced when relative species cover on the trees was taken into account. Twenty three species were recorded on the 71 trees sampled for detailed investigation. Tree structure, as determined by management, explained about 10% of the observed variation in bryophyte cover. Within that, trunk girth and distance to nearest neighbouring orchard trees were the most important factors. This information is of value to orchard managers aiming to become more proactive in managing their habitats for the benefit of biodiversity.

関東・甲信地方におけるスギ樹幹着生蘚苔・地衣類の生育分布と大気二次汚染物質の分布との関係

関東・甲信地方におけるスギ樹幹着生蘚苔・地衣類の生育分布と大気二次汚染物質の分布との関係

Epiphytic bryoflora of the Atlas and Antiatlas Mountains, including a synthesis of the distribution of epiphytic bryophytes in Morocco

The epiphytic bryoflora of the Atlas and Antiatlas Mountains is catalogued, resulting in a list of 65 taxa (63 mosses and 2 liverworts). Twenty-eight new records are reported: four are new to northern Africa, one is new to Morocco and 23 are regional novelties. In addition, a synthesis of the distribution of epiphytes in Morocco is presented, with distributional maps for the main taxa. Five groups of taxa have been established on the basis of their distribution: widely distributed taxa, Rif taxa, Rif and Middle Atlas taxa, Atlas taxa and taxa with localized occurrences. From these distributional patterns, it can be inferred that the occurrence of epiphytic bryophytes is mostly influenced by climatic conditions.

Epiphytic lichens and bryophytes of forest ecosystems in Tuscany (Central Italy)

The distribution of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens on three species of trees (Quercus ilex, Quercus cerris and Fagus sylvatica, representing the forest ecosystems of central Italy at low, medium and high elevations, respectively) was examined with respect to host specificity and habitat differences. Although most species were host-specific, the results suggested that habitat characteristics are more important than phorophyte properties in determining the distribution of lichens and bryophytes. Factors affecting the diversity of the epiphytic flora were different for lichens and bryophytes. In the case of lichens, climatic parameters and forest monospecificity were important factors, whereas tree cover (i.e. shade) and to a certain extent the number of available trees seemed more important for bryophytes.

Relationship between distribution of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens on Cryptomeria japonica and environmental conditions in Kanto-Koshin district, Japan

Relationship between distribution of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens on Cryptomeria japonica and environmental conditions in Kanto-Koshin district, Japan

Distribution of epiphytic bryophytes and atmospheric pollution in Tokyo

Distribution of epiphytic bryophytes and atmospheric pollution in Tokyo

Flora and distribution of epiphytic bryophytes in Suginami area, Tokyo

Flora and distribution of epiphytic bryophytes in Suginami area, Tokyo