Seasonality of reproduction of epiphytic bryophytes in flooded forests from the Caxiuanã National Forest, Eastern Amazon

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 88; no. 2; pp. 903 - 910
• Main Authors: Cerqueira, Gabriela R, Ilkiu-Borges, Anna Luiza, Ferreira, Leandro V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Ciências 13.05.2016
• Subjects: Amazônia; brioflora; Bryophyta - physiology; fertilidade; Flo resta de Igapó; Floresta de Várzea; Forests; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; Reproduction - physiology; Seasons; Igapó forest; brioflora; bryoflora; Amazônia; fertility; Floresta de Várzea; Várzea forest; fertilidade; Flo resta de Igapó; Amazon
• ISSN: 0001-3765; 1678-2690; 1678-2690
• DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201620150274

This work aimed to recognize the reproductive biology of the epiphytic bryoflora of phorophytes of Virola surinamensis (Rol. ex. Rottb.) Warb. in várzea and igapó forests in the Caxiuanã National Forest, to answer the following question: The reproductive period of the bryophyte species is influenced by the environment due the climatic seasonality present in flooded forests, being higher the occurrence of the sexual and asexual reproduction in the rainiest months? The bryophytes were identified and analyzed for the type of reproduction, sexual system and reproductive structures. In total, 502 samples of bryophytes were analyzed, resulting in 54 species, of which 34 were fertile. The comparison of the fertility of the species in different environmental conditions (dry or rainy, and igapó or várzea forest) was assessed using the chi-square test. The fertility of the seven studied species could not be defined by a pattern, considering the forest type and the seasonality. However, two species were associated to the forest type and two further species to the seasonality, showing that, for some bryophyte species, invest in constant fertility may be favoring the maintenance of their populations in tropical forests.