Bryophyte diversity along a gradient of human disturbance in the southern Western Ghats

Evergreen forests, degraded evergreen forests, clove and rubber plantations were sampled for bryophyte species diversity in the Southern Western Ghats. Evergreen forests have the highest diversity followed by degraded evergreen forests, clove and rubber plantations. Besides, evergreen forests have the highest number of exclusive species whereas degraded evergreen forests, clove and rubber plantations have more generalized and light-tolerant species such as Fissidens ceylonensis, Hyophila comosa, H. involuta and Frullania acutiloba. Monoculture plantations and degraded evergreen forests as a result of human interference enable the invasion of such generalized and lighttolerant species which would sooner or later replace species with restricted distribution in evergreen forests if human interference continues unabated.