Species Diversity Of Liverworts And Hornworts Of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve, Fujian, China

Daiyunshan Nature Reserve is situated between 25°38'07"-25°43'40" N and 118°05'22"-118°20'15" E in the central part of Fujian. It is a typical mountain forest ecosystem in southeastern China, as well as a refuge of relic species, with rich biodiversity. As an important element of plant biodiversity, the bryophyte diversity of this area has never been extensively investigated before.In order to make up for the deficiency of the bryological studies of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve, and also for the better understanding of the bryophyte diversity of Fujian, four field collections have been carried out in Daiyunshan Nature Reserve during 2009-2010. The result shows that, based on the identifications of all the specimens collected in this area, the liverwort and hornwort flora of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve consists of 215 species of liverworts belonging to 52 genera in 34 families, and six species of hornworts belonging to four genera in one family. Drepanolejeunea teysmannii Gottsche ex Steph. is a new record to China and one genus and 55 species are new to Fujian.Comparision between Daiyunshan and its adjacent six areas (Wuyishan, Fengyangshan, Nanling, Maoershan, Daweishan, Bawangling) on species richness, similarity and areal-types have been done in order to clarify the characteristic of the liverwort and hornwort flora of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve. The conclusions can be drawn as follows:1. The species diversity of liverworts and hornworts of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve is the richest among these seven areas. Families with eight species or more are considered as dominant families. There are nine dominant families including 34 genera and 175 species which account for 51.52% of the total genera and 77.37% of the total species. Lejeuneaceae with 71 species is topping the nine dominant families which is followed by Frullaniaceae with 25 species and Plagiochilaceae with 16. Nine dominant genera that consist of seven or more species make up 54.30% of the total species, with Frullania ahead of all the others with 25 species accounting for 11.31%. Meanwhile, the genera containing few species (fewer than five species) or only one species constitute a huge part of the entire flora, which account for 83.33% of the total genera. Twenty-three genera have only one speices which indicate the complexity and specificity of genera composing of this flora.2. The phyto geographical distribution patterns of liverworts and hornworts of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve can be classified into 13 areal-types. The tropical areal-type accounts for 39.15% of the entire flora is the most dominant type followed by the East Asian areal-type (37.73% ) and the temperate areal-type (17.93% ). Ten species, accounting for 5.19% of the total species, are endemic to China, which is only inferior to Daweishan and Maoershan. The result shows that the hepatic flora of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve is derived typically from tropics and with distinct East Asiatic characteristic.3. The diversity of liverworts and hornworts in evergreen broad-leaf forest is the richest among different vegetations in Daiyunshan Nature Reserve. Vertical variation of liverworts and hornworts in this area is not distinct. The habitat types of liverworts and hornworts in this area are various and can be divided into six types. Among these types, the epiphytic type are most dominant, which is followed by petrophytic, saprophytic and geophytic types. The epiphyllous and hydrophilous types are fewer in this area.4. In comparision with its adjacent six areas on the similarity, Wuyishan and Maoershan possess the closest floristic affinities with Daiyunshan, which are followed by Fengyangshan and Nanling. Bawangling and Daweishan possess the farthest affinity. The result also shows that Daiyunshan is an important node of Himalaya-Taiwan bryophyte immigration route.Based on the published records and the present study, a total of 367 species of liverworts belonging to 79 genera in 41 families and six species of hornworts belonging to four genera in one family are recorded in Fujian. Lejeuneaceae is the largest family which contains 16 genera and 96 species, accounting for 25.74% of the total species. The phytogeographical distribution patterns of liverworts and hornworts of Fujian can also be classified into 13 areal-types. The tropical areal-type accounting for 35.75% of the entire flora is the most dominant type followed by the East Asian areal-type (33.24%) and the temperate areal-type (25.42%). When compared with Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan and Japan, the affinity of the liverwort and hornwort flora between Fujian and Taiwan is the closest, followed by Guangxi and Japan, and with Hainan possessing the farthest affinity.According to the latest results as well as available information, updated checklists of liverworts and hornworts of Daiyunshan Nature Reserve and Fujian, respectively, are provided. All voucher specimens are deposited in HSNU (the herbarium of the East China Normal University).