Seasonal Variations Influencing the Bryophyte Diversity of Monoculture Plantations in the Southern Western Ghats

Two monoculture plantations viz., Rubber and Teak were sampled over a period of 10 months from August 2009 to June 2010 for Bryophytes. A total of 1315 collections were made from 30 permanent quadrates laid on 6 transects. Rubber plantation was found to harbour 14 species and Teak 22. The species diversity increased during monsoon season and declined in drier months. This pattern was more pronounced in Teak plantation. On the other hand species found during the drier months are the more generalized and light tolerant mosses such as Fissidens ceylonensis, F. kalimpongensis, Hyophila comosa, H. involuta and liverworts such as Frullania acutiloba and F. campanulata. However, a significant variation in the number and type of species was not seen in both the plantations. This indicates that the monoculture plantations remain stable and promote the growth of more generalised and light tolerant species but lead to local extinction of species with restricted distribution.

Keywords: Bryophytes, corticolous, diversity, evergreen forests, humidity, light tolerant, monoculture plantations, rubber, rupicolous, seasonal changes, shade loving, teak, terricolous.