Efectos de la fragmentación sobre la diversidad de líquenes y briófitos epífitos en bosques amazónicos

Abstract

The Amazonian forests are characterized by great diversity, although anthropic activities related with forests conversion are one of their main threats. Fragmentation is the principal driver of loss biodiversity in these forest. Lichens and bryophytes are a particular group of this forests, which performing key functions related with water cycle and nutrients. Additionally, they have been used as bio-indicators of environment changes due to their physiological characteristics. We analyzed the fragmentation effects on epiphytic diversity (richness and composition) of lichens and bryophytes in tropical lowland rainforest of Ecuador. We established four transects perpendicular to the border, with 3 plots to 10, 50 and 100 meters apart in the Amazon forest in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, with four trees per plot (144 trees). We registered a total of 116 species (67 bryophytes and 49 lichens). We found that total richness was similar at all distances with 90 species in distance one, 91 species in distance two and 86 species in distance three. We found that richness and composition on epiphytic communities (lichens and bryophytes) were not influenced by fragmentation, probably due to small size of the matrix (pastures), and other factors related with forests regeneration.