Original paper
Dendroid bryophyte communities of New Zealand
Frey, Wolfgang; Beever, Jessica E.
Nova Hedwigia Band 61 Heft 3-4 (1995), p. 323 - 354
31 references
published: Nov 6, 1995
DOI: 10.1127/nova.hedwigia/61/1995/323
ArtNo. ESP050006103002, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
20 dendroid bryophyte communities, a striking and characteristic bryophyte vegetation complex of the southern hemisphere, are distinguished in a survey of the conifer/broad-leaved and beech forests of New Zealand. The Hypnodendron colensoi community colonizes the drier sites of the ecological range, the Hypopterygium rotulatum community has a wide ecological and altitudinal range centred in the montane forests. The Plagiochila gigantea, Pyrrhobryum bifarium-Wijkia extenuata, Dendroligotrichum dendroides and Lepidozia pendulina communities are mainly distributed in the upper montane and subalpine Nothofagus forest. Hypnodendron comatum and H. menziesii communities occur predominantly in the lowland conifer and conifer/broad-leaved forest at lower altitudes in wet and shaded sites. Plagiochila rutlandii, Hypnodendron kerrii and H. spininervium communities occupy a wider altitudinal range with the latter colonizing wetter and more shaded sites. The Hypopterygium filiculaeforme, Canalohypopterygium tamariscinum, Thamnobryum pandum and Hypnodendron marginatum communities occupy the wettest and most shaded sites of the ecological range, with the latter often being partially immersed. The Symphyogyna hymenophyllum, Hymenophyton flabellatum and H. leptopodum communities are thallose dendroid liverwort characterized communities, while the Camptochaete ramulosa /arbuscula and Lepidozia microphylla communities contain subdendroid bryophytes. The Hypnodendron comosum community was not included in this survey. Most of the communities are characterized by one species, with only the Pyrrhobryum bifarium-Wijkia extenuata community being composed of two character species. Many of the dendroid taxa are endemic to New Zealand with close relatives in Australia and South America. The genera Symphyogyna, Hymenophyton, Dendroligotrichum, Hypnodendron and Hypopterygium are thought to be remnants of the Gondwanan flora, their communities reflecting ecological conditions of Gondwana forests. Protection of conifer/broad-leaved and beech forests remaining in New Zealand today is essential for the survival of these archaic bryophyte communities.
Keywords
Dendroid bryophyte communities • temperate rain forest • forest floor • Gondwanan remnants and ecology • New Zealand