Epixylic bryoflora in Atlantic Forests fragments of Serra da Ibiapaba, Ceará, Brazil

Abstract

Bryophytes colonize various types of substrates, including decaying logs, which are commonly found in Atlantic Forest areas and are widely colonized by different species. The bryophytes found on this type of substrate are referred to as epixylic, and for Brazil, only three studies focusing on this group have been conducted so far. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity and distribution of epixylic bryophytes in humid forest areas of the Ibiapaba Plateau, Ceará, Brazil. Bryophyte samples were collected and analyzed from 62 logs distributed across different locations within the study area. A total of 54 bryophyte species were identified (34 genera and 18 families). The division Bryophyta accounted for 37 species (25 genera and 13 families), while Marchantiophyta included 17 species (nine genera and five families). Eight species represent new records for the state of Ceará. Lejeuneaceae was the family with the highest species richness. Regarding Bryophyta, there was a predominance of pleurocarpous mosses over acrocarpous ones. Statistical results showed no significant differences in bryophyte species richness between logs from the two sampled areas (W = 456, p = 0.74). The composition analysis revealed variation in species composition (F = 1.60 = 1.94, p < 0.01), with a stress value of 0.17. The data obtained provide a significant contribution to the understanding of the bryophyte flora of the region, expanding knowledge about the geographic distribution of many of these species and highlighting their importance for the bryophyte inventory of the state of Ceará and Brazil.