Bryophyte diversity and its environmental drivers across three green space types in Guangzhou, southern China

Bryophytes are essential components of urban biodiversity but remain understudied in subtropical cities. This study investigates bryophyte diversity across three urban green space types: parks, affiliated green spaces, and street plantings along urban-rural gradients in Guangzhou, southern China. We surveyed 36 sample sites and employed a boosted regression tree model to analyze the relationships between bryophyte diversity and environmental variables, including soil physicochemical properties, canopy density, precipitation, and anthropogenic disturbance. Twenty-two bryophyte species were recorded, with Sematophyllaceae and Hypnaceae as the dominant families. Key environmental drivers of bryophyte diversity were ranked as follows: human disturbance > canopy density > vascular plant diversity > site elevation > soil properties. Conservation strategies should focus on minimizing anthropogenic impacts, enhancing vascular plant diversity, and maintaining moderate canopy cover.