Original paper
Composition, richness, and distribution of Marchantiophyta in the alpine grassland of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Mexico
Juárez-López, José Francisco; López-Ramírez, Liliana; Hernández-Álvarez, Adriana Gisela; Ramos-Espejel, Pablo Daniel; Sánchez-González, Arturo
114 references
published online: Mar 24, 2026
manuscript accepted: Mar 5, 2026
manuscript received: Oct 1, 2025
Abstract
The composition, species richness, and distribution of liverworts in the alpine grassland of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) were analyzed. Collections were made from the flanks of five volcanoes in the TMVB, covering an elevation range of 3,900–4,200 m. Twenty-five liverwort species and two subspecies were identified, grouped into 16 genera and 11 families, with Gymnomitriaceae being the most represented with five species. Beta diversity analysis revealed patterns of turnover and nestedness that suggest moderate to high variation in species composition among sampling sites. Most species were growing on rocks, as this was the most common substrate, although some grew exclusively on soil or on both substrates. Most species (72%) have a broad global distribution, and only 20% are endemic to the Neotropical region. This study indicates that liverwort species are an important floristic component of the alpine grasslands of Mexico. The information obtained can be used as a starting point for a monitoring program to analyze the effect of disturbance and climate change on the distribution of this group of plants.
Keywords
Elevation • Geographic distribution • Beta diversity • Endemisms • Gymnomitriaceae • Leafy liverworts • Nevado de Toluca • Growth substrate