Epiphytic bryophyte diversity in primary and secondary lowland rainforestsin southeastern Brazil

A floristic study of the epiphytic bryophytes was carried out in six forest types of the lowland, rainforest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast ern Brazil. Collecting included the forest canopy, Seventy-five species of bryophytes were found (39 mosses and 36 hepatics), Comparisons of species r ichness, life forms, and substrate among the six types revealed that 1) hig hest species richness was found in the Mature Secondary Hillside Rainforest (43 species), the lowest diversity in the Highly Degraded Hillside Rainfor est (6 species) and Hillside Secondary Rainforest (5 species); 2) the most important families were Lejeuneaceae (23 species, 30%) and Sematophyllaceae (7 species, 10%); 3) 45% of the bryophyte species are exclusive to the can opy; 4) six life forms were found, the most common being the mat (48%); 5) impact of forest destruction-shade epiphytes are more affected than sun epi phytes; after 20-45 years of succession many bryophyte species had not yet returned and after 80 years of succession the bryoflora is similar to that of primary forest; and 6) three species are new records to Brazil-Lejeunea minutiloba, Lophocolea granatensis, and Metalejeunea cucullata.