Bryophytes as nonwoody biodiversity indicators: A guide to the bryophytes of tropical America. A report

Abstract

SEVERAL KEYS GUIDES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FOR THE FLOWERING PLANTS IN TROPICAL AMERICA. THESE HAVE BEEN USEFUL IN PRACTICAL CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES RELATED TO MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES, CONSERVATIONS STRATEGIES AND ASSESSMENTS OF BIODIVERSITY. NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS A LACK OF SIMILAR TOOLS FOR BRYOPHYTES. MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS HAVE SEVERAL ADVANTAGES AS BIODIVERSITY INDICATOR: THEY ARE A SAMLLER GROUP THAN THE FLOWERING PLANTS, THEY HAVE BEEN WELL STUDIED AT THE GENUS LEVEL THROUGH MOST OF THE PREPARATION OF A TWO VOLUME GUIDE TO IDENTIFY CA. 200 HEPATIC AND 400 MOSS GENERA THAT OCCUR IN THE NEOTROPICS. THE GUIDE WILL HAVE AS PART OF THE INTRODUCTION A SECTION ON GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS IN THE NEOTROPICS, HABITAT TYPES AND BRYOPHYTE TAXA THAT CAN BE USED AS INDICATORS OF THESE HABITATS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT POLICIES. BESIDES, SECTIONS ON THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BRYOPHYTES, METHODOLOGY FOR COLLECTING, SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES FOR THE NEOTROPICS AND AN ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY WILL BE PRESENTED. THE GUIDE WILL BE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THERE WILL BE ALSO BE A TWO WEEK WORKSHOP TO GATHER CONSERVATIONISTS, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONISTS AND BIOLOGY (BOTANY) PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS FROM CENTRAL, SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN TO DISCUSS AND FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH THE USES OF THE KEY. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS GUIDE WILL PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED TOOL FOR BRYOPHYTE STUDIES IN TROPICAL AMERICA THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS TOWARDS A SCIENTIFIC AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.