Responses of terrestrial bryophytes to simulated climate change in a secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest in southern China

作     者：Jiewei Hao L.M.Chu Jiewei Hao;L.M.Chu

作者机构：School of Life SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina 2 College of Ecology and EnvironmentHainan University58 Renmin RoadHaikou 570228China 

出 版 物：《Journal of Forestry Research》 (林业研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2022年第33卷第5期

页      面：1481-1492页

核心收录：

学科分类：09[农学] 0903[农学-农业资源与环境] 

基　　金：One-line research grant CUHK 

主　　题：Bioindicator Bryophytes Climate change Secondary forest Terrestrial mosses 

摘      要：Tropical regions are biodiversity hotspots and are well-suited to explore the potential influence of global climate change on forest ecosystems. Bryophytes have essential ecological functions in tropical forest ecosystems, but knowledge of the potential impact of global warming and possible changes in water availability patterns on terrestrial bryophytes is limited. We transplanted eight terres- trial moss species from two elevations (900 and 500 m) to warmer and drier elevations (500 and 100 m) during a halfyear observation period on Tai Mo Shan, southern China. The simulated climate change resulted in severely declined health status and marked decrease in growth of the trans- planted species when compared with their performance at the original elevations. Five of the eight selected species survived for six months after being transplanted to the warmer and drier lowlands, though their health status deteriorated severely. Sematophyllum subhumile , Pseudotaxiphyllum pohliaecarpum and Brachythecium buchananii were highly susceptible to changes in temperature and rainfall patterns and might be used as suitable bioindicators. As the tropics are expected to become hotter and drier, terrestrial mosses might be negatively affected or even be at risk of extinction. Bryophytes in the tropics could represent one of the best biological communities to reflect the direct adverse impact of climate change and provide early warning of the biological outcomes induced by ongoing climate crisis.