Diversidad de líquenes y briófitos en bosques tropicales con diferentes tipos de manejo en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Pasochoa en la Sierra Norte del Ecuador

Abstract

The diversity of lichens and bryophytes is important in montane forests, because they are a characteristic element and fulfill key functions (i.e., water cycle) in these ecosystems. Despite this, they are one of the most threatened ecosystems of the world due to deforestation related activities. In this work, the effects of alteration on the diversity of lichens and bryophytes were analyzed in the Pasochoa Wildlife Reserve which is located at the north of Ecuador. Three types of forests were examined per a disturbance gradient (primary forest, secondary forest, & modified forest), where 12 plots were chosen in each. The richness and coverage of bryophytes and lichens in 144 trees were recorded. The Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test was used to evaluate its richness and variation. The analysis of changes in species composition was performed using PERMANOVA, based on permutations, and a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS). A total of 67 species were found (23 lichens, 11 liverworts and 33 mosses). It was found that both; richness and diversity, differ between the three studied forests. The alteration of the forest has negative effects on the diversity of lichens and bryophytes related to microclimatic changes