Abstract The Itatiaia National Park protects important Atlantic Forest remnants as well as a large number of rare bryophyte species. We reassessed the conservation status of 45 species of endemic and/or threatened mosses occurring in high-altitude fields in the Park. The conservation analysis followed the International Union for Conservation of Nature guidelines. The GeoCAT software was used to calculate the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO). The threat vectors were characterized based on field observations and data from the literature. After the reassessment, 31 species were considered threatened, with 16 being considered vulnerable (VU), seven critically endangered (CR), and eight endangered (EN). Two species were considered “near threatened” (NT) and three were considered “data deficient” (DD), and seven were considered “least concern” (LC). The main threats in that region are wildfires and excessive tourism - factors that lower habitat quality and reduce their EOO and AOO. Recommendations to minimize imminent losses of the local bryoflora include incentives for research and microhabitat protection. Our results are designed to aid in the elaboration of conservation strategies for mosses in the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains.

ABSTRACT Andreaea subulata is a moss species that occurs throughout the Southern Hemisphere. In Brazil, it is restricted to high-altitude fields in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The last recorded collection of this species in the country was made 95 years ago in the Itatiaia National Park (INP). It was never seen or collected again since then and it was, therefore, considered ‘probably extinct’ in Brazil. Here we report the rediscovery of this species in the INP and provide information on its ecology and conservation status in Brazil (Critically Endangered) as well as conservation recommendations. The newly found population is very small and grows on granitic rocks in humid areas. The principal threat to the species in Brazil is habitat loss.

ABSTRACT High-Altitude Fields are ecosystems with high bryophyte abundances and diversities. One of the principal threats to these ecosystems are wildfires, which mainly affect terricolous species. Chronosequence studies can aid in understanding post-fire effects on bryophytes. We studied terricolous assemblages of bryophytes in the High-Altitude Fields of Itatiaia National Park (INP) by establishing three 20x1 m transects in five areas: three areas of a post-fire chronosequence (treatments 2017, 2007, and 2001) and two control areas. We analyzed the species richness, floristic composition, life-forms, and floristic similarities of those transects, identifying 27 species of mosses (18 genera; 11 families) and 26 species of liverworts (20 genera; 16 families). Ditrichaceae was the principal moss family and Cephaloziellaceae the principal liverwort family. The life-forms encountered were turf (43 %), weft (38 %), thalloid (10 %), and mat (9 %). Turf predominated among mosses (85 %), and weft among liverworts (62 %). Species richness and floristic compositions varied among the post-fire gradients. The grouping dendrogram and ordination diagram evidenced greater similarity among transects within the same area. However, there was no evident gradient of floristic composition along the post-fire gradient, and further studies will be needed to quantify environmental gradients and their influences on bryophyte composition.

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest contains more bryophyte species and greater endemism than any other Brazilian phytogeographic domain. We analyzed the bryoflora of an Atlantic Forest remnant along the southern Brazilian coast to examine: (i) floristic composition, species richness, life forms and bryocenological groups in different phytophysiognomies (humid lowlands, sandy Restinga forests, and swampy Restinga forests); (ii) floristic similarities among them; and, (iii) the influence of substrate types on bryophyte species richness and floristic composition. Sandy Restinga forest had the greatest species richness. Approximately 75 % of the species and 42 % of the families were not shared among phytophysiognomies. The predominant life form was mat (46 %) and the predominant bryocenological group was corticolous (69 %). Elevated floristic differentiation was observed among the different phytophysiognomies (Jaccard values <0.35) and among the different substrates sampled (<0.2). The floristic uniqueness found among the different physiognomies in the present study demonstrates the importance of studying the diversity and conservation of all Atlantic Forest phytophysiognomies. The evaluation of bryophytes to delimit and manage protected areas can contribute to effective protection of the entire biodiversity spectrum. In addition to their important ecological roles, bryophytes are useful bio-indicators and valuable tools for monitoring, conserving, and restoring ecosystems.

Resumo Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) são componentes importantes em regiões áridas e semiáridas, comumente associados à facilitação da flora vascular. Os biocrusts em afloramentos rochosos da Caatinga, no semiárido nordestino, são representados principalmente por populações do musgo pioneiro Campylopus lamellatus. Entretanto, a Caatinga está sob progressivo processo de desertificação, que deve se prolongar pelos próximos 100 anos. Assim, entender a resposta fisiológica de C. lamellatus sob um cenário de mudanças climáticas, deve basear previsões sobre o rumo da flora de ambientes rochosos em cenário futuro. Aqui, nós avaliamos uma população do musgo C. lamellatus durante o efeito prolongado de seca, causado pelo El Niño, e durante a primeira estação chuvosa após o fenômeno. Nós utilizamos a biomassa (massa seca) e proporção de clorofilas como medidas de vigor. Nós identificamos a diminuição do investimento em alocação de biomassa e a degradação dos pigmentos fotossintéticos durante o evento de seca. Em contrapartida, constatamos o rápido aumento das clorofilas durante a estação chuvosa, i.e., investimento em biomassa via regeneração de clorofilas. Desse modo, nós concluímos que a resiliência do C. lamellatus é rápida até mesmo para uma planta fotófila, o que deve assegurar sua função facilitadora em condições de saturação ambiental.

Abstract Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are important biological components in arid and semi-arid regions because they can serve as ecological facilitators for the vascular flora. Biocrusts of rocky outcrops of the Caatinga biome in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil are comprised mainly of populations of the pioneer moss Campylopus lamellatus. Meanwhile, the Caatinga is undergoing progressive desertification, which is likely to continue for the next 100 years. Therefore, the physiological responses of C. lamellatus to climate change should be included in predictions regarding the future of the flora of these rocky environments. We evaluated a population of C. lamellatus during a prolonged drought brought about by El Niño, and during the first subsequent rainy season. We used biomass (dry mass) and proportion of chlorophyll as measures of tolerance. We identified decreased investment in biomass allocation and the degradation of photosynthetic pigments during the drought event. In contrast, we observed a rapid increase of chlorophyll during the rainy season, which represents biomass investment via chlorophyll regeneration. We conclude that the resilience of C. lamellatus is rapid, even for a photophilic plant, and should ensure its facilitative function under conditions of water saturation of the environment.

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 Environmental conditions in distinct tropical rainforest phytophysiognomies can act as regional filters in determining the distribution of montane bryoflora likewise, local filters inherent to phorophyte species can have modulating influences. We analyzed the bryophyte communities in three phytophysiognomies of Atlantic Forest, in order to examine the influences of local (phorophyte species) and regional (forest phytophysiognomies) filters on their distributions. The study was undertaken in the Serra do Mar State Park, Ubatuba, SP, Brazil, using 1 ha plots in three forest phytophysiognomies along an elevational gradient. Four phorophyte species were selected, with three to seven replicates each. The line-intercept method was used on each phorophyte for collecting botanical material. Multivariate analyses were used to correlate species distributions with environmental filters. A total of 71 taxa were identified. Mean bryophyte coverage did not vary among the different phytophysiognomies, and although their species compositions were markedly distinct, no cohesive or isolated groups were found. Among the local filters examined, phorophyte DBH was found to be correlated with bryophyte coverage; the pH of the bark of Euterpe edulis and the high rugosity of the trunk of the Cyatheaceae influenced species compositions. Other filters not evaluated here may also be relevant for determining species distributions.

Briófitas são bioindicadoras de condições climáticas, ambientais e ecológicas, sendo úteis na caracterização de tipos vegetacionais. Neste trabalho, foi analisada a brioflora de duas áreas de 1 ha, uma de Floresta de Restinga (FR) e outra de Floresta Ombrófila Densa de Terras Baixas (TB) do Núcleo Picinguaba, PE Serra do Mar (São Paulo, Brasil), com o objetivo de: a) comparar a estrutura dessas comunidades; b) entender as relações florísticas dessas áreas entre si e com outras formações litorâneas brasileiras; c) verificar se as briófitas de áreas de baixada apresentam padrões fitogeográficos mais amplos do que aquelas de áreas montanas. As briófitas foram coletadas em 10 subparcelas (10 × 10 m) distribuídas aleatoriamente em cada fitofisionomia. Variáveis ambientais foram quantificadas e correlacionadas com a distribuição da brioflora. Foram registradas 152 espécies (87 hepáticas, 64 musgos e 1 antócero), das quais 109 ocorrem na FR (40 exclusivas) e 112 em TB (43 exclusivas). Em termos de riqueza de espécies e diversidade taxonômica, TB foi mais diversa; contudo, os índices de diversidade de Simpson e Shannon foram maiores na FR. A composição florística, tipos de forma de vida e grupos ecológicos de tolerância à luz apresentaram diferenças significativas entre as duas fitofisionomias. A abertura do dossel (FR) e rochosidade (TB) são variáveis ambientais importantes que atuam sobre a distribuição das briófitas nas áreas estudadas. Quando avaliadas em termos de paisagem, as subparcelas da FR e TB formaram grupos florísticos distintos; entretanto, em nível regional, a brioflora dessas duas fitofisionomias apresenta mais afinidades entre si do que com outras áreas de Floresta Atlântica. Em termos florísticos, a FR de Picinguaba assemelha-se mais às Florestas Ombrófilas do que a outras Restingas ou outras formações costeiras (como mangue e caxetal). Nas duas fitofisionomias, a maioria dos táxons (> 90%) é amplamente distribuída no mundo, apresentando padrão fitogeográfico igual ou maior do que o Neotropical. Nossos resultados corroboram a idéia de que a FR de Picinguaba é uma formação ímpar, apresentando em sua brioflora elementos de florestas ombrófilas entremeados àqueles de vegetações mais secas; além disso, reforçam a idéia de que, para as espécies de briófitas, os padrões fitogeográficos são mais amplos em locais de menores altitudes.

Bryophytes are indicators of climatic, environmental and ecology conditions and are useful in the characterization of the vegetation types. In this study, we analyzed the brioflora of 2-ha plots, one of Restinga Forest (RF) and the other of Lowland Ombrophilous Dense Forest (LF), located in the Núcleo Picinguaba, State Park of Serra do Mar (São Paulo state, Brazil) aiming to: a) compare the structure of these communities; b) compare the floristic composition between these areas and with other coastal vegetations of southeastern Brazil; c) verify if the bryophytes of the Atlantic Forest lowlands have phytogeographic patterns wider than those of the montane species. In each plot, the bryophytes samples were collected at ten randomized subplots (10 × 10 m). We found 152 species (87 liverworts, 64 mosses and one hornwort), of which 109 occur in RF (40 exclusives) and 112 in LF (43 exclusives). In terms of species richness and taxonomic diversity, LF was more diverse; however, the Simpson and Shannon index of diversity is higher in RF. The floristic composition, life form and ecological groups of light tolerance were significantly different between these two forests. Canopy opening (RF) and number of rocks (LF) were important environmental variables that influenced bryophyte distribution in the study areas. When evaluated in terms of landscape, the subplots of RF and LR form distinct floristic groups; however, at the regional level, the bryophytes of these two forest types have more similarities among themselves than with other Atlantic Forest areas. Bryophyte community observed in the Restinga Forest of Picinguaba shows more similarity with that of the neighbor Lowland Ombrophilous Dense Forest than with other Restinga or coastal formation, such as mangroves and caxetal. In both forests types studied, the majority of taxa (> 90%) is widely distributed in the world, presenting phytogeographic pattern equal to or wider than the Neotropical. Our results corroborate the idea that the RF of Picinguaba is a unique vegetation formation, presenting elements of ombrophilous and dryer forests. In addition, they reinforce the idea that, for the tropical bryophyte species, the phytogeographic patterns are wider in areas of lower altitudes.

A União Internacional para Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) desenvolveu um guia para avaliação do grau de ameaça das espécies em escala regional, que foi a base para a reavaliação do status de conservação das hepáticas no estado do Rio de Janeiro, após quatro anos da primeira análise. Dos 360 táxons ocorrentes no estado, 75 foram categorizados como ameaçados, sendo dois criticamente em perigo (CR), oito em perigo (EN) e 65 vulneráveis (VU). Além desses, quatro táxons foram categorizados como quase ameaçados (NT) e 12 com dados deficientes (DD). O elevado número de táxons ameaçados no estado (21% da flora) reflete a importância do grau de conhecimento da flora para realização de análises de conservação. Em relação à distribuição dos táxons ameaçados dentro do estado, percebe-se que a maioria ocorre no PARNA Itatiaia (51 espécies - 68%). As principais ameaças para a flora são a perda e degradação da Mata Atlântica. Recomenda-se então, reconhecimento da Mata Atlântica como área crítica para conservação; a proteção de habitats para assegurar a sobrevivência das espécies; e a formulação de programas multidisciplinares para promover a conservação.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) developed a guide for assessment of species' threat level at a regional scale, which was the basis for the reassessment of liverwort conservation status in the state of Rio de Janeiro, four years after the first analysis. Of 360 taxa occurring in the state, 75 were categorized as threatened, two species were categorized as critically endangered (CR), eight endangered (EN) and 65 vulnerable (VU). Besides these, four species were categorized as almost threatened (NT), and 12 with poor data (DD). The high number of threatened taxa in the state (21% of the flora) reflects the importance of the level of knowledge for flora conservation analysis. In relation to the distribution of threatened taxa within the state, the majority occur in Itatiaia National Park (51 species - 68%). The main threats to the flora are loss and degradation of the Atlantic Rainforest. We recommend the recognition of the Atlantic Rainforest as a critical area for conservation; the protection of habitats to ensure the survival of species; and formulation of multidisciplinary programs to promote conservation.

Foi realizado o levantamento das briófitas da RPPN El Nagual, uma área de floresta submontana no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foram registradas 137 espécies (um antócero, 70 hepáticas e 66 musgos) e duas variedades, distribuídas em 75 gêneros e 37 famílias, sendo cinco novas ocorrências para o estado. Lejeuneaceae (27 spp.), Pilotrichaceae (17 spp.), Aneuraceae (9 spp.) e Calymperaceae (8 spp.) destacam-se pela riqueza de espécies (44% da brioflora). Sete formas de vida foram caracterizadas, predominando trama (37%), tufo (16%) e talosa (15%). Seis tipos de substrato são colonizados na área, predominando espécies corticícolas (52%) e rupícolas (42%). Em relação aos padrões de distribuição, predominaram espécies neotropicais e pantropicais. Foram encontradas quatro espécies caracterizadas como vulneráveis no estado. Os resultados demonstram que a brioflora da RPPN é rica e evidenciam a importância dessa categoria de unidade de conservação na proteção de remanescentes de Mata Atlântica e conservação da brioflora.

A floristic survey of the bryophytes was carried out in the El Nagual Private Natural Heritage Reserve, a submontane Atlantic rain forest remnant in Rio de Janeiro state. One hundred and thirty seven species were recorded (one Anthocerotae, 70 hepatics and 66 mosses) plus two varieties, in 75 genera and 37 families. Five species are new records for Rio de Janeiro state. Lejeuneaceae (27 spp.), Pilotrichaceae (17 spp.), Aneuraceae (9 spp.), and Calymperaceae (8 spp.) are especially rich in species (44% of the bryoflora). Seven life-forms were found; the most common are weft (37%), turf (16%), and thallose (15%). Six kinds of substrate were colonized, the most important species types being corticicolous (52%) and rupicolous (42%). The most common distribution patterns were Neotropical and Pantropical. Four species were considered to be vulnerable in the state. The results show that the bryoflora of the El Nagual Reserve is relatively rich and demonstrate the importance of this conservation unit category in the protection of remnant Atlantic rain forests and in the conservation of the bryoflora.