Epiphyllous liverwort diversity at worldwide level and its threat and conservation

Abstract

A DATA BANK FOR 1000 EPIPHYLLOUS LIVERWORT SPECIES INCLUDES 389 SPECIES OF COLOLEJEUNEA, 114 OF CERATOLEJEUNEA, 98 OF DREPANOLEJEUNEA, 76 OF COLURA, 68 OF DIPLASIOLEJEUNEA, 59 OF PRIONOLEJEUNEA, 54 OF APHANOLEJEUNEA, 48 OF LEPTOLEJEUNEA, 34 OF MICROLEJEUNEA, 13 OF RADULTA AND 12 OTHER GENERA WITH LESS THAN 10 SPECIES EACH. THE DISTRIBUTION OF EPIPHYLLOUS SPECIES OF THESE 22 GENERA WAS RECORDER WITHIN 21 FLORISTIC REGIONS (TAKHTAJAN, 1986; MODIFIED) WHERE EPIPHYLLS OCCUR. AMONG THE CONTINENTS ASIA, WITH 504 SPECIES (INCLUDING THE FLORISTIC REGION OF THE MALESIAN ARCHIPELAGO WITH 224 SPECIES) PROVED TO BE THE RICHEST OVERALL. THE AMERICAS WITH 375 SPECIES (INCLUDING THE ANTILLES WITH 178 SPECIES) ARE THE SECOND. EPIPHYLLS ARE FOUND PRIMARILY IN THE TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL RAINFORESTS. ANY IMPACT ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE CANOPY OR OTHER LAYERS OF THE FOREST HABITT CAUSES SERIOUS IMPOVERISHMENT OR TOTAL LOSS TO THESE FOLIICOLOUS COMMUNITIES, THEREFORE THEIR CONSERVATION IS POSSIBLE ONLY THROUGH STRICT PROTECTION OF CONCERNED RAINFOREST AREAS.