ABSTRACT The species-area relationship (SAR) is one of the oldest and most studied ecological models, having even served as the foundation of the Theory of Island Biogeography. Nevertheless, the relative importance of habitat heterogeneity to SAR remains poorly understood. Our aim was to test the relative importance of habitat heterogeneity to the SAR of bryophyte assemblages of soil islands of rocky outcrops in the semi-arid region of Brazil. We randomly selected 15 to 20 soil islands on each of four outcrops for a total of 59 soil islands, and calculated the area, mean depth, and number of substrates for each. We used Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to test the SAR with two models, one using species richness and another using life-form richness as the dependent variables. We found no positive relationship between area and habitat heterogeneity, nor any evidence of a SAR, such as a positive relationship between area and species or life-form richness neither between habitat heterogeneity and species richness. However, our findings did show that life-form richness is related to bryophyte species richness on the soil islands. We conclude by suggesting that not only can microclimate influence bryophyte richness, but opportunistic colonization by bryophytes is also important.

ABSTRACT The ready availability of water resources distinguishes the humid forest of Chapada do Araripe, Ceará State, Brazil, from the semiarid vegetation around it. The regional climate demonstrates a marked seasonality of rainfall that affects the ecological strategies of the species found there. We studied the bryophytes of the humid forest of Chapada do Araripe, analyzing their diversity, geographic distributions, and ecological and reproductive aspects. Bryophytes were collected from different substrates using the random-walk method. We gathered information concerning the geographic distribution, functional groups (life forms, light tolerance guilds, and habits) and reproductive aspects of each taxon. We found 76 bryophyte species, predominantly mosses (45 species). Ten new occurrences were recorded for Ceará State, including a new taxon for northeastern Brazil. Most species are widely distributed in that country. Desiccation tolerant (turf) and intermediate (mat and weft) life forms predominated, as well as generalist species in terms of their light requirements. Sixty eight percent of the species demonstrated substrate preferences. Monoicous (67 %) sexual systems predominated over dioicous. The species displayed functional groups and reproductive aspects tolerant to adverse conditions that maximized the use of available resources and allowed their persistence under the seasonal conditions of the forest.

ABSTRACT Notothylas vitalii is an endemic Brazilian hornwort species, easily identified by the absence of pseudoelaters and columella, and the presence of yellow spores. Plant material was collected in Recife, Brazil, and the spores were sown onto Knop’s medium, germinating after thirty days only with the presence of light. Germination occurred outside the exospore, and only after the walls had separated into three or four sections did a globose sporeling initiate its development. Following longitudinal and transversal divisions, the initial loose mass of cells became a thalloid gametophyte, subsequently developing into a rosette-like juvenile thallus with flattened lobes. Additional information concerning sporeling types in key genera of hornworts, such as Folioceros and Phymatoceros, will be crucial for inferring the possible ancestral type and the evolution of this trait among hornworts. Our study supports the necessity of supplementary studies on sporeling development, combined with morphological and phylogenetic investigations, to help elucidate the evolution of the Anthocerotophyta and their distribution patterns.

ABSTRACT Campos rupestres (rupestrian grasslands) are characterized by the presence of rock outcrops associated with an herbaceous-shrub physiognomy typically growing on quartzitic soils; they occur a wide variety of habitats. Bryophytes respond rapidly and efficiently to variation in microclimate. The present work aimed to study bryophyte species richness, diversity and composition, their life forms, and the substrates they colonize in exposed and shaded habitats in campos rupestres of Chapada Diamantina. Collections were made in 25 x 25 m sampling plots. One hundred and nine species were recorded and included a predominance of mosses (78 spp.) over liverworts (31 spp.). Most species (79 %) were restricted to one of the two types of habitat (exposed versus shaded). While the genera Campylopus, Polytrichum, Schlotheimia, Macromitrium and Syrrhopodon were prevalent in exposed habitats, Sphagnum, Lepidozia, Micropterygium, Bazzania and Odontoschisma prevailed in shaded habitats. The rupicolous community was more prominent than the other communities in both types of habitat. “Weft” was the most frequent life form in shaded areas, while “turf” predominated in exposed sites. The high number of rare, and exclusive, species illustrates the high degree of heterogeneity among bryophyte communities in campos rupestres, and demonstrates the importance of habitat heterogeneity for the high diversity.

ABSTRACT Restingas are a coastal component of the Atlantic Forest. They experience high temperatures and possess soils with a low capacity to retain water, low nutrient content and high salt concentrations. Studies on bryophytes of restingas have been mostly conducted in Southeastern Brazil, and so we aimed to characterize the bryophyte flora of seven areas of restinga in the Northeastern Region and to establish their floristic affinities with other restingas in Brazil. Fifty-five species were found in the studied restingas, the vast majority of which are generalist species with life forms of intermediate tolerance to desiccation and of corticicolous and terrestrial habitat. The number of species per area is low compared to the species richness of other restingas in Brazil. A cluster analysis, although based on low similarity, showed that the bryoflora from the surveyed areas is distinct from those of restingas from Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, which all form a group, and those of the coast of São Paulo, which also comprised a cluster. The heterogeneous climate, soils and vegetation structure of the studied restingas, in comparison those of the Southeast, act as selective filters for the species, thereby contributing to the distinction observed in those communities.

The northeastern Brazilian Atlantic forest is the region with the greatest diversity of bryophytes in the country. However, knowledge about bryophytes is irregularly distributed among Brazilian regions. Therefore, we aimed to contribute to knowledge about bryophytes on a regional scale in the northeastern Atlantic forest, to identify the centers of bryophyte diversity in that region, and to reiterate the importance and identify locations for which new protected areas should be created. We built a database of bryophytes in 23 locations of the region, based on a literature review and new floristic inventories. To identify the locations of greatest relevance to bryophyte conservation, we considered 1) total and endemic species richness, 2) phylogenetic diversity (PD), and 3) functional diversity (proportion of shade specialists). The northeastern Atlantic rainforest contains 396 spp., representing 26% of the taxa occurring in the country, 13 of which are endemic. Generalist species predominated (164 spp.), followed by shade (133 spp.) and sun (92 spp.) specialists. The Murici Ecological Station had the highest richness, number of endemic species, and phylogenetic diversity.

Bryophytes constitute an important component of tropical rain forests, which provide microhabitats favorable for their establishment. Bryophytes are also quite responsive to changes in microclimate, which makes them good bioindicators. This study aimed to determine the diversity and distribution of bryophytes in upper and lower montane forests of the Chapada Diamantina region of the state of Bahia, Brazil. To that end, we studied community aspects such as richness, diversity, substrates colonized, life forms and floristic similarity between areas and regions. In 2007 and 2008, we collected specimens from six forest sites, located from the north to the south of the Chapada Diamantina region. We identified a total of 205 infrageneric taxa. In comparison with the lower montane forests, the upper montane forests presented higher diversity and species richness, as well as greater numbers of substrates colonized, life form types, species of restricted geographic distribution and species typical of shaded areas. We also found low similarity in the species composition, the populations of the upper and lower montane forests forming two large and distinct groups. Although presenting relatively high floristic homogeneity among themselves, the Chapada Diamantina areas presented little similarity with those of the Atlantic Forest. This can be explained by the differences between the two regions in terms of environmental conditions, precipitation, seasonality, elevation and continentality.

The Chapada Diamantina ecoregion is within the caatinga (shrublands) biome of Brazil. Environmental factors determine the phytophysiognomies that distinguish the ecoregion from the surrounding areas. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of bryophyte flora in this ecoregion, by phytophysiognomy and elevational zone. Analyzing specimens we collected from five municipalities in the region, together with specimens (previously collected from the region) in herbaria, we identified 400 taxa. The phytophysiognomies that presented the highest species richness and the greatest numbers of exclusive taxa were forests and campos rupestres (dry, rocky grasslands), which respectively accounted for 51% and 40% of the taxa, compared with only 5% and 4%, respectively, for the caatinga and cerrado (savanna). Species richness and the numbers of exclusive taxa were highest in the lower and upper montane zones. There was a predominance of neotropical taxa and a significant number of disjunct species found in Brazil and in the Andes region. We conclude that the Chapada Diamantina region is an important center of bryophyte diversity, harboring not only a great number of species overall but also a considerable number of species exclusive to the region, primarily in forests and campos rupestres at elevations above 800 m.

Neste estudo procuramos avaliar a importância de fatores abióticos sobre a germinação de esporos e o desenvolvimento do protonema de musgos. Para isso, nós analisamos o efeito da disponibilidade de luz e nutrientes sobre diferentes fases da germinação de esporos de um musgo amplamente distribuído. Bryum argenteum geralmente apresenta muitos esporos por cápsula, e estes são amarelos devido à presença de muitos corpúsculos lipídicos. Foram usados os tratamentos: água destilada e solução nutritiva sob luz (12 h) e escuro contínuo. Os esporos mostraram-se fotoblásticos positivos, ou seja, apenas germinaram sob luz, independentemente do meio utilizado. Sob escuro os esporos apenas embeberam, tornando-se clorofilados provavelmente a partir da quebra de reservas. Em solução nutritiva a germinação ocorreu mais rapidamente (dois dias) em relação à água destilada (mais de três dias após cultivo). No entanto, os nutrientes foram necessários para completar a última fase da germinação da maioria dos esporos.

The influence of light and nutrients on the different germination phases of Bryum argenteum spores was studied. The following treatments were used: distilled water and nutrient solution under light (12 h) and continuous darkness. The spores germinated when exposed to light, independent of both medium used. Under darkness, the spores swelled and became chlorophyllous. In the presence of nutrient solution, the germination occurred earlier (after two days) when compared to the distilled water (after more than three days). Nutrients were needed to complete the last germination phase in the majority of spores and to provide the protonemal growth.

O levantamento de musgos realizado em uma área de Mata Atlântica no município de Santa Terezinha, Bahia, resultou em flora rica, com 61 espécies pertencentes a 23 famílias e 46 gêneros. Sematophyllaceae (sete spp.), Orthotrichaceae (seis spp.), Pilotrichaceae (cinco spp.), Calymperaceae (cinco spp.), Leucobryaceae (cinco spp.) e Meteoriaceae (quatro spp.) apresentaram maior riqueza específica. Actinodontium integrifolium (Broth.) Churchill e Calymperes venezuelanum (Mitt.) Broth. ex Pittier constituem novos registros para o Brasil. Ectropothecium leptochaeton (Schwaegr.) W.R. Buck, Eulacophyllum cultelliforme (Sull.) W.R. Buck & Ireland, Fissidens santaclarensis Thér., Lepidopilidium portoricense (Müll. Hal.) H.A. Crum & Steere, Mittenothamnium reptans (Hedw.) Card., Orthostichella pentasticha (Brid.) W.R. Buck, Pilotrichella flexilis (Hedw.) Ångstr., Porotrichum mutabile Hampe e Thuidium tomentosum Schimp. são novas ocorrências para a Bahia. Houve predomínio de táxons de distribuição neotropical. A comunidade corticícola foi predominante com 70% das espécies, seguida da epíxila, com 23%. A brioflora do fragmento mostrou-se rica já que corresponde a 24% do total de briófitas atualmente conhecido no Estado.

This work presents the results of an inventory of mosses carried out in an Atlantic Forest fragment in the Jibóia Mountains, Santa Terezinha, Bahia State, Brazil. A total of 61 moss species distributed in 23 families and 46 genera were found. The families Sematophyllaceae (seven spp.), Orthotrichaceae (six spp.), Pilotrichaceae (five spp.), Calymperaceae (five spp.), Leucobryaceae (five spp.) and Meteoriaceae (four spp.) had higher species richness. Actinodontium integrifolium (Broth.) Churchill and Calymperes venezuelanum (Mitt.) Pitt. are new records for Brazil. Ectropothecium leptochaeton (Schwaegr.) W.R. Buck., Eulacophyllum cultelliforme (Sull.) W.R. Buck & Ireland, Fissidens santa-clarensis Thér., Mittenothamnium reptans (Hedw.) Card., Orthostichella pentasticha (Brid.) Buck, Pilotrichella flexilis (Hedw.) Ångstr., Lepidopilidium portoricense (Müll. Hal.) Crum & Steere, and Thuidium tomentosum Schimp. are new records for Bahia. As regards geografic distribuition, neotropical taxa predominate, while in relation to communities, corticicolous (70%) and epixilous species (23%) predominate. The local flora was considered rich for including 24% of the bryophytes that occur in Bahia State.

No presente trabalho, são compiladas as espécies de hepáticas ocorrentes no Estado de Alagoas, resultantes de informações disponíveis em catálogos e trabalhos anteriores e do inventário inédito de uma importante unidade de conservação do Nordeste, a Estação Ecológica (EsEc) Murici (9º11'05" - 9º16'48"S; 35º45'20" - 35º55'12"O). São referidas para Alagoas 116 espécies de hepáticas, tendo 106 delas ocorrido na EsEc Murici. Setenta e oito espécies são genuinamente novas ocorrências para o Estado de Alagoas, sete das quais são novas também para a região Nordeste do Brasil. São fornecidos dados sobre a distribuição geográfica das espécies no Brasil e no mundo, e adicionalmente, comentários taxonômicos e ecológicos das espécies que são novas ocorrências para o Nordeste.

A list of liverworts from Alagoas State was compiled and is presented here. The list is based on catalogues and previous papers as well as the results of an unpublished survey carried out at the Murici Ecological Station (EsEc), an important protected area of the Brazilian Northeast (9º11'05" - 9º16'48"S; 35º45'20" - 35º55'12"W). One-hundred and sixteen liverworts have been recorded for the state of Alagoas, of which 106 occur at EsEc Murici. Seventy-eight are new occurrences for Alagoas, and seven of these are also new occurrences for northeastern Brazil. Data on geographic distribution in Brazil and worldwide is given here, in addition to ecological and taxonomic comments on the species that are new occurrences for the Northeast region.

Levantamentos da flora de briófitas em duas áreas remanescentes de Floresta Atlântica, a Reserva Ecológica (RE) Gurjaú (08°10'00''S e 35°02'30''O; 50-150 m n.a.m.) e a Reserva Particular de Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Frei Caneca (08º42'37''S e 35º50'01''O; 500-750 m n.a.m.), resultaram no registro de 15 novas ocorrências para o Estado de Pernambuco. São elas 11 hepáticas das famílias Cephaloziaceae, Jubulaceae, Herbertaceae, Lejeuneaceae, Lepidoziaceae, Metzgeriaceae e quatro musgos das famílias Calymperaceae, Pterobryaceae, Sematophyllaceae e Thuidiaceae. Sete destas espécies são também novas referências para a região Nordeste. As espécies são ilustradas e comentadas quanto aos caracteres taxonômicos mais relevantes.

Floristic surveys of Bryophytes in Atlantic Rain Forest remnants from Reserva Ecológica (RE) Gurjaú (08°10'00''S e 35°02'30''O; 50-150 a.s.l.) and Reserva Particular de Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Frei Caneca (08º42'37''S e 35º50'01''O; 500-750 a.s.l.), registered 15 new ocurrences to Pernambuco State. They are 11 liverworts of Cephaloziaceae, Jubulaceae, Geocalycaceae, Herbertaceae, Lejeuneaceae, Lepidoziaceae, Metzgeriaceae and four mosses of Calymperaceae, Pterobryaceae, Sematophyllaceae and Thuidiaceae. Seven of these species are new references for Northeastern area of Brazil. The species are illustrated and commented about relevant taxonomic characters.

Foi realizado um inventário da brioflora epífita e epífila da RPPN Frei Caneca (8º42'41"S e 35º50'30"W, 750 m alt., 630 ha), remanescente de Floresta Atlântica, localizado no município de Jaqueira, Pernambuco. Um total de 120 amostras de briófitas epífitas foi coletado desde a base até a primeira ramificação do tronco em forófitas arbóreas representativas na área de estudo. Para o inventário das epífilas foram coletadas 40 amostras compostas de três a cinco folhas de arbustos e árvores, desde a base até cerca de 25 m de altura. A brioflora é composta por 71 espécies, distribuídas em 46 espécies de hepáticas e 25 espécies de musgos. Das 21 famílias registradas, Lejeuneaceae (31 spp.) e Calymperaceae (7 spp.) apresentaram maior riqueza genérica e específica. Lejeunea (6 spp.) e Syrrhopodon (4 spp.) foram os gêneros mais representativos. A distribuição das espécies é predominantemente Neotropical (67%) e Pantropical (15%). Neste trabalho são apresentadas oito novas ocorrências para o Estado de Pernambuco: Colura tortifolia (Nees & Mont.) Steph., Cyclolejeunea convexistipa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) A. Evans, Diplasiolejeunea brunnea Steph., D. pellucida (Meissn.) Schiffn., Prionolejeunea denticulata (Weber) Schiffn., Radula mexicana Lindenb. & Gottsche, R. recubans Tayl.; e uma delas Calymperes smithii E.B. Bartram é ocorrência nova para a região Nordeste. São apresentados comentários taxonômicos e ecológicos, informações sobre tipos de substrato e distribuição geográfica no mundo e no Brasil para as espécies de ocorrência nova.

A floristic survey of epiphyllous and epiphytic bryophytes was carried out at the Frei Caneca RPPN (8°42'41"S, 35°50'30"W, 750 m alt., 630 ha), a remnant Atlantic forest site located in the state of Pernambuco. A total of 120 samples of epiphytic bryophytes were taken from the trunks (base to first ramification) of host trees commonly found at the site. For the epiphyllous epiphytes, 40 samples consisting of 3-5 mature angiosperm leaves were collected, from soil level to c. 25 m. The bryoflora checklist is composed of 71 species (46 liverworts; 25 mosses). Of the 21 families, Lejeuneaceae (31 spp.) and Calymperaceae (7 spp.) are richest in genera and species. Lejeunea (6 spp.) and Syrrhopodon (4 spp.) were the most representative genera. The species are predominantly Neotropical (67%) and Pantropical (15%). Eight new records for the state of Pernambuco are presented here: Colura tortifolia (Nees & Mont.) Steph., Cyclolejeunea convexistipa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) A. Evans, Diplasiolejeunea brunnea Steph., D. pellucida (Meissn.) Schiffn., Prionolejeunea denticulata (Weber) Schiffn., Radula mexicana Lindenb. & Gottsche, R. recubans Tayl. and Calymperes smithii E.B. Bartram. The last species is a new record for Northeast Brazil. Ecological and taxonomic comments, substrate types and geographical distribution in Brazil and worldwide are given for these newly recorded species.

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados do levantamento das hepáticas de um fragmento de Mata Atlântica, no Município de Santa Teresinha, Bahia. Foram registradas 70 espécies pertencentes a 41 gêneros e 14 famílias: Aneuraceae (2), Bryopteridaceae (2), Calypogeiaceae (1), Cephaloziaceae (2), Geocalycaceae (2), Herbertaceae (1), Jubulaceae (4), Lejeuneaceae (37), Lepidoziaceae (4), Metzgeriaceae (2), Pallaviciniaceae (2), Plagiochilaceae (8), Radulaceae (2), Trichocoleaceae (1). A família Lejeuneaceae é representada por 53% das espécies. A comunidade corticícola apresentou a maior riqueza específica (67%), seguida pelas epífila (33%) e epíxila (14%). Cinco tipos de formas de crescimento foram reconhecidas: trama (69%), talosa (9%), tapete (19%), pendente (3%) e tufo (1%). Os táxons registrados para a Serra da Jibóia correspondem àqueles mais característicos de florestas tropicais baixo montana e submontana.

This paper provid the results of the survey of hepatics at Serra da Jibóia, remaining Atlantic Forest, Santa Teresinha Municipality, Bahia. Seventy especies were recorded belonging to 41 genera and 14 families: Aneuraceae (2), Bryopteridaceae (2), Calypogeiaceae (1), Cephaloziaceae (2), Geocalycaceae (2), Herbertaceae (1), Jubulaceae (4), Lejeuneaceae (37), Lepidoziaceae (4), Metzgeriaceae (2), Pallaviciniaceae (2), Plagiochilaceae (8), Radulaceae (2), Trichocoleaceae (1). The family Lejeuneaceae were represents for 52,9% of the species. Three substrates were colonized: living trunks (67%), trunks in decomposition (14%) and leaves (33%). Five growth-forms were found: mat (69%), thallose (9%), carpet (19%), pendent (3%) and turf (1%). The results are similar to these found in tropical rainforest lower montane and submontane.

Na Serra da Jibóia, foram registradas 13 espécies de novas ocorrências, sendo oito para a região Nordeste: Bazzania aurescens Spruce, Calypogeia peruviana Nees & Mont., Cephalozia crassifolia (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Fulford, Lepidozia cupressina (Sw.) Lindenb., Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) S.F. Gray, Plagiochilla diversifolia Lindenb. & Gottsche, Radula kegelli Gottsche ex Steph. e Riccardia fucoidea (Sw.) Schiffin., e cinco espécies referidas pela primeira vez para o Estado: Metzgeria albinea Spruce, Plagiochila gymnocalycina (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Mont., P. simplex (Sw.) Lindenb., Riccardia amazonica (Spruce) S.W. Arnell e Symphyogyna aspera Steph. Para cada espécie são fornecidos comentários taxonômicos, ecológicos e distribuição geográfica mundial e no Brasil, além de indicação de literatura contendo descrição e ilustração. Foram realizadas ilustrações para algumas espécies.

In Serra da Jibóia were recorded 13 species of new ocurrence wich are eight species from region Northeastern: Bazzania aurescens Spruce, Calypogeia peruviana Nees & Mont., Cephalozia crassifolia (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Fulford, Lepidozia cupressina (Sw.) Lindenb., Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) S.F. Gray, Plagiochilla diversifolia Lindenb. & Gottsche, Radula kegelli Gottsche ex Steph. and Riccardia fucoidea (Sw.) Schiffin., and five are recorded for the first time from Bahia, State: Metzgeria albinea Spruce, Plagiochila gymnocalycina (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Mont., P. simplex (Sw.) Lindenb., Riccardia amazonica (Spruce) S.W. Arnell and Symphyogyna aspera Steph. from Bahia, State. For each specie are provided taxonomics and ecological comments, geographical general and in Brazil distribution, and indication of literature with description and ilustration. Some species were ilustrated.