Abstract

RAMIREZ PADILLA, Bernardo Ramiro. MOSS RICHNESS AND DISTRIBUTION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CAUCA, COLOMBIA. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.2, pp.17-37. ISSN 0123-3068.

The Department of Cauca, Southwestern Colombia, presents three geographical regions and diverse vegetal formations in a range including tropical forest and moors. This Department is one of the richest in moss species at the national level, with 428 species included in 169 genera and 53 families. The families with the largest number of species are Dicranaceae (52), Orthotrichaceae (31), Bryaceae (30), Bartramiaceae (27), Sematophyllaceae (25), Pottiaceae (23), Pilotrichaceae (22), Meteoriaceae (19), Fissidentaceae (17), Brachytheciaceae (14), Hypnaceae (13), Neckeraceae (13), Calymperaceae (12) and Polytrichaceae (12). In the Andean region 390 species are found, while in the Pacific and Amazonic region the record of species is only 55 and 32 respectively. From the altitudinal perspective, the number of species increases with the ascension towards the mountains; the major richness is found among 1,500 and 3,000 m; the maximum value (196 species) is found around the 3,000 m of altitude.

Keywords : Cauca; Colombia; mosses; altitudinal distribution; richness.

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