The dry forests of southern Ecuador are characterized by a great floristic variety and high endemism rates in different taxonomic groups; however, these forests are disappearing at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic disturbances. Epiphytic cryptogams (bryophytes and lichens) are important in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) and, due to their physiology (poikilohydric species), are sensitive to the changes associated with specific human disturbances. We examined the response of epiphytic cryptogams to habitat disturbance in SDTFs (natural and semi-natural forests) by registering the frequency and coverage of epiphytic cryptogams on 182 trees. We recorded a total of 53 epiphytic cryptogams (47 lichens and 6 bryophytes). A greater number of species was found in the natural forest, with 51 species, than the semi-natural forests (DFs), which had 45 species. We found that total richness tended to decrease with increased intensity of disturbance. The impoverishment was particularly related to the reduction in tree density and diversity (e.g., selective logging) in semi-natural compared to natural forests. However, the epiphytic composition showed little relationship with forests disturbance. We conclude that anthropic disturbance, particularly selective logging, are the main factors affecting the diversity of epiphytic cryptogams in the SDTFs from southern Ecuador.

The páramos have a great diversity of flora, including terricolous non-tracheophyte photoautotrophs (bryophytes and lichens). Bryophytes and lichens are very sensitive to environmental changes related to anthropogenic fires, livestock, and agricultural activities. We determined for the first time in Ecuador the effects of prescribed fires on the pyrodiversity of terricolous non-tracheophyte photoautotroph in a páramo of South Ecuador. Three permanent sampling plots (T1, T2, and control) were established, each with a dimension of 4 m × 20 m and separated by 3 m (T1: one with fire-induced uphill and T2: one with fire-induced downhill and one control). They were installed in three different blocks, obtaining a total of nine plots. Three samplings (2, 6, and 12 months) were carried out in each plot, where the cover and richness of terricolous bryophytes and lichens were estimated in 216 quadrats of 20 × 30 cm. A total of 27 species (11 lichens and 16 bryophytes) were studied, where the lichen families, that is, Cladoniaceae and Baeomycetaceae, as well as the bryophytes families, namely, Dicranaceae, Jungermanniaceae, Bartramiaceae, Rhacocarpaceae, and Pallaviciniaceae, have been recorded as pioneers in areas under fire effects. Richness and diversity (calculated using the Shannon–Weaver and Simpson indexes) were affected by fire treatments; on the other hand, monitoring time (M3) positively affected species diversity. The composition of terrestrial non-tracheophyte photoautotroph communities showed slight changes between the control and T1 and T2, but the changes were more marked with time after the burns (M1 vs. M3), related to fire severity. Therefore, terricolous lichen and bryophyte communities (richness and diversity) can be used as model organisms for the assessment of the effects of prescribed fires on tropical páramos for subsequent management and conservation.

Epiphytic bryophytes are an important component in terms of the diversity and functioning of montane forests known as biodiversity hotspots. Bryophytes are highly dependent on their external environments because they are sensitive to environmental changes related to disturbance, fragmentation, air pollution, and climate change. The richness and composition of bryophytes in remnants of primary and secondary forests were analyzed, where the richness and cover were recorded on trunk bases of 120 trees. Changes in species richness and diversity were analyzed using generalized linear models (GLMs), and changes in species composition, using multivariate analysis. A total of 57 bryophyte species (36 liverworts and 21 mosses) were recorded in trunk bases. For the first time, 19 new liverworts for the province of El Oro are reported. The richness and diversity of bryophyte species decrease in disturbed forests when compared to primary forests, with a marked decrease in species less adapted to conditions of high light (shade epiphytes). In the same line, species composition is different in each type of forest, where bryophytes with high humidity requirements were abundant in primary forests. This study confirms that forest disturbance is a key factor in determining not only the number of species but also the composition of bryophyte species. The maximum tree diameter and primary forest remnants are important factors in the conservation of sensitive bryophyte species at the base of trees in one of the last remnants of mountain forests in El Oro Province, Ecuador.

Bryophytes are one of the main resources for bird nest construction; however, studies are limited and have been oriented to preliminary species lists. We evaluated for the first time in Ecuador the changes in the richness and composition of bryophytes in 17 nests of the species Myadestes ralloides and Catharus fuscater, of the family Turdidae. The presence/absence of bryophytes was recorded in each nest. A total of 25 bryophyte species were recorded (13 mosses and 12 liverworts). The most frequent species in the nests of the two species were the mosses Thuidium tomentosum and Meteoridium remotifolium and the liverworts Trichocolea flaccida and Frullania peruviana. The results indicated that bryophyte species’ richness and composition did not differ between the nests of the two studied bird species, because they select similar bryophyte species for nest elaboration. In general, our study showed that for the two species of birds of the family Turdidae, mosses and liverworts are key components in the elaboration of nests both internally and externally. On the other hand, we would suggest that further investigations should focus on analyzing the relation between bird nests and bryophyte phytochemistry, as well as the functional traits of bryophytes.

Epiphytic organisms are characteristic elements of the Andean dry forest, playing a crucial role in ecosystem diversity and functionality, but they are threatened by deforestation-related factors. The diversity of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes was recorded in the Pisaca Reserve, which has an artificial pond locally known as “Laguna Pisaca”, serving as a critical micro-watershed. This pond provides water services to the city of Catacocha, motivating local communities to protect its biodiversity. In each zone (low, middle and high), 10 plots of 5 × 5 m were established, where the presence and coverage of lichens and bryophytes were sampled in 4 trees per plot (120 trees). Richness and diversity (Shannon–Weaver and Simpson indices) were calculated. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to analyze the effect of the zone on richness and diversity, and multivariate analysis was used to analyze species composition. A total of 90 species were recorded (65 lichens and 25 bryophytes), distributed in three zones: 74 in the high, 67 in the low and 41 in the middle zone. Species richness and composition showed significant variations in relation to the three zones, influenced by forest structure, small altitudinal changes and forests disturbance. The forests of the Pisaca Reserve harbor a great diversity of lichens and epiphytic bryophytes, which serve as refuges for biodiversity in the Andean dry montane forest of South Ecuador.

La contaminación del aire en zonas urbanas debido a las emisiones automotrices e industriales es un problema global, incluyendo la ciudad de Quito- Ecuador. En este contexto, estudios previos han señalado el uso efectivo de bioindicadores de la calidad del aire utilizando criptógamas epífitas (briofitas y líquenes), que son organismos sensibles a los contaminantes porque absorben agua y nutrientes del ambiente. En este estudio, determinamos por primera vez los cambios en la riqueza y composición de criptógamas epífitas en el árbol hospedador Schinus molle comparando zonas de alto, medio y bajo tráfico de vehículos. Para ello, registramos la frecuencia y la cobertura de líquenes y briófitos con una cuadrícula de 10 x 50 cm, dividida en veinte cuadrados de 5 x 5 cm sobre árboles de Schinus molle. Se registraron 30 especies (23 líquenes y 7 briofitas). La riqueza, la cobertura y la diversidad no indicaron cambios en relación con el tráfico de vehículos, sin embargo, la composición de las comunidades indicó ligeros cambios en relación con el tráfico de vehículos. La composición de las especies indicó cambios en relación con el tráfico de vehículos, donde las especies de los géneros Leptogium y Teloschistes eran dominantes en las zonas con poco tráfico, por el contrario, las especies de los géneros Candelaria, Physcia y Frullania se observaron en zonas con más tráfico que son tolerantes a la contaminación. Schinus molle es una especie muy importante como refugio para la diversidad de criptógamas epífitas en zonas urbanas.