Occurrence And Ecological Aspects of Bryophytes in Brazilian Phytogeographic Domains

This study analyzes the floristic relationships of bryophytes across the Brazilian phytogeographic domains, including the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal and Pampa, emphasizing regional species. A total of 892 species were listed as regional, with 711 occurring in the Atlantic Forest, making it the most diverse domain. The floristic analysis revealed two main groupings: Amazon and Cerrado, which share 297 species, and Caatinga, Pantanal, and Pampa shared 26 species characterized by drier environments with less similarity among themselves. Bryophytes in humid forests predominantly grow on tree trunks, while in drier domains, terrestrial species prevail. Bryophytes life forms also vary: in the Atlantic Forest and Pampa, they form mats, while in the Amazon and Caatinga, they grow as wefts, the Cerrado in tufts and no clear growth-form pattern was observed in the Pantanal. Widely distributed species across all Brazilian domains exhibit adaptive traits, including asexual reproduction through gemmae. Regional species, on the other hand, may exhibit reproductive limitations associated with their restricted distributions, potentially reflecting habitat specificity and local adaptations. The study underscores the importance of reproductive strategies and morphological diversity of bryophytes in adapting to the distinct environmental conditions of Brazilian phytogeographic domains, highlighting the ecological complexity of these plants.