Abstract

JUAREZ-LOPEZ, José Francisco; SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ, Arturo; LOPEZ-HERRERA, Maritza  and  MARTINEZ-CABRERA, Dorismilda. Richness and altitudinal distribution of epiphytic liverworts from the cloud forest of Hidalgo, Mexico. Polibotánica [online]. 2023, n.56, pp.1-16.  Epub Sep 18, 2023. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.56.1.

Liverworts are distributed heterogeneously in their habitat, as they depend on particular micro environmental conditions for their establishment. In this work, a floristic list is presented and the richness, and similarity in the species composition of epiphytic liverworts from Hidalgo´s cloud forest (CF) is estimated, along an elevation gradient. In addition, information on their geographic distribution patterns is integrated. The samples were taken in three municipalities with CF of the Hidalgo state in an altitude interval of 1345-2019 m. On each site two sampling plots of 0.1 ha were placed at the ends of the altitudinal gradient. Within each plot, 10 trees were selected and in each of three micro plots of 10×10 cm were placed on its cortex to estimate the species richness. Nine families, 17 genera, 29 species and two varieties of liver were determined. Lejeuneaceae and Plagiochilaceae families presented the largest number of species. The Lejeunea Lib. and Plagiochila (Dumort.) Dumort were the most diverse genera, with seven and five species, respectively. The composition and richness of species were variables along the analyzed gradient; the geographic distribution of most of the species (55%) is restricted to the neotropical region.

Keywords : Altitude; bryophytes; Marchantiophyta; phorophyte; Plagiochila; species richness; temperate forest.

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