The MOVECLIM – AZORES project: Bryophytes from Terceira Island (2012)

From 25 to 28 September 2012, an inventory of the bryoflora was carried out on Terceira Island (Azores) along an elevational transect, starting at the Serreta (38.76658 Latitude; -27.37539 Longitude; 40 m a.s.l), and culminating on Santa Bárbara (38.73064 Latitude; -27.32164 Longitude; 1000 m a.s.l). The primary objective was to systematically inventory the bryophytes inhabiting the preserved areas of native vegetation environments. Six sites were selected, each spaced at 200 m elevation intervals. Within each site, two 10 m x 10 m plots were established in close proximity (10-15 m). Within these plots, three 2 m x 2 m quadrats were randomly selected and sampled for bryophytes using microplots measuring 10 cm x 5 cm, which were then collected into paper bags. Six substrates were surveyed in each quadrat (rock, soil, humus, organic matter, tree bark, and leaves/fronds). Three replicates were obtained from all substrates available and colonised by bryophytes, resulting in a total of 636 records (eventID) of a maximum of 824 (3 replicates * 3 quadrats * 2 plots * 6 elevations). The events yielded a grand total of 3677 specimens (occurrenceID), with 38 families, 60 genera, 92 identified species and subspecies, including 34 mosses (Phylum Bryophyta) and 58 liverworts (Phylum Marchantiophyta). Of these 92 taxa, two were Azorean endemic species, five were Macaronesian endemic species, 11 were European endemic species, and 74 were native, non-endemic species. The altitudes with the highest species richness, and highest number of endemic species, spanned between 600-1000 m a.s.l above sea level, coinciding with the most preserved forests at the highest altitudes. This study contributed to expanding knowledge about the diversity and distribution of the Azorean Bryoflora, both on a local and regional scale.