Patterns of species richness and micro-habitat occupancy among bryo-flora in mixed oak-conifer forest at Naina Peak, Nainital

We studied the bryophyte species richness and micro-habitat occupancy in a mixed oak-conifer forest (2100-2600 m) at Naina Peak, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. The north-facing mesic site of the forest supported a greater diversity of bryophytes than that of the south-facing drier site. Altogether 146 species of bryophytes including 16 thalloid, 15 leafy liverworts, 2 hornworts and 113 mosses belonging to 48 families were documented. Amongst hepatics, leafy forms particularly the members of Frullaniaceae were found dominant over thalloid liverworts. The forest was found to support the dominant growth of acrocarpous mosses (57) followed by pleurocarpous (56). Amongst acrocarpous, the family Pottiaceae was recorded as predominant followed by the members of the pleurocarpous family Brachytheciaceae. The bryophyte species and communities associated with oak phorophytes were found to be richer and more abundant than that of the coniferous ones. Interestingly, 21 species of both liverworts and mosses turned out to be gemmiferous.