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- Title
Vertical gradient in bryophyte diversity and species composition in tropical and subtropical forests in Yunnan, SW China.
- Authors
Zelený, David; Corlett, Richard T.; Song, Yu; Shen, Ting; Wu, Yi; Guo, Xin‐Lei; Song, Liang; Ma, Wen‐Zhang
- Abstract
Questions: We sampled epiphytic bryophytes along the entire vertical gradient, from tree base to upper canopy, in tropical and subtropical forests in order to answer the following questions: (a) how do diversity, composition and life forms differ between forests; (b) how do communities change along the vertical gradient in each forest; (c) what are the likely environmental drivers of this; and (d) what is the conservation significance of the results? Location: Canopy crane sites in tropical lowland seasonal rain forest (TRF) and subtropical montane moist forest (STF) in Yunnan, southwest China. Methods: Bryophytes were sampled from 1,600–2,400 cm2 of bark surface in 14 vertical segments in three canopy layers on 142 trees, using canopy cranes. Microclimate was measured at five levels on the crane towers. Diversity was compared within and between forests using ANOVA. NMDS was used to compare species composition and assess potential drivers. Results: In total, 184 species were recorded in 106 genera and 39 families. STF had a richer bryoflora than TRF. More species occurred in the canopy than the sub‐canopy and understorey in both sites. The fan life form was dominant in the lower two layers of both forests, while mats were more common in the canopy of TRF and tall turfs in STF. The main axis of variation in species composition was associated with the vertical gradient of declining humidity and vapour pressure, and increasing temperature, light and wind speed. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the value of canopy cranes for complete sampling of the epiphytic bryoflora in complex forests. Both forest types had very high species richness, reflecting the diversity of microhabitats along the vertical gradient. Observed and projected climate change may threaten this bryoflora as a result of rising temperatures and, in some areas, declining rainfall and fog frequency. Epiphytic bryophytes—mosses, liverworts, and hornworts—are diverse and important in tropical and subtropical forests, but studies have been limited by difficult access to the forest canopy. We took advantage of the construction of two new canopy cranes in southwest China to conduct the first systematic study of the vertical gradient in bryophyte diversity and species composition in this region.
- Subjects
YUNNAN Sheng (China); BIODIVERSITY; FOREST canopies; CONSERVATION &; restoration; PLANT species; SPECIES diversity; RAIN forest ecology
- Publication
Journal of Vegetation Science, 2018, Vol 29, Issue 6, p1075
- ISSN
1100-9233
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jvs.12692