Current status of diversity and distribution of Bryophytes of Odisha

Abstract

In an attempt to reveal the biodiversity status of one of the least studied plant groups of Eastern Ghats, the authors have catalogued the diversity and distribution of bryoflora of Odisha situated in the Northern Eastern Ghats biogeographic regions of India. One hundred fourty nine species of bryophytes including 102 mosses under 23 families, 41 liverworts under 16 families and 6 hornworts under 2 families were reported from Odihsa as a result of 7 years of primary survey (2008-2015) conducted in some selected bryodiversity rich habitats covering 12 districts of Odisha and also from scrutiny of different research publications including research papers, books and research reports. In terms of species richness, the Deomali hills was found to be the most diverse in terms of bryophytes followed by Similipal biosphere reserve, Mahendragiri hills, Niyamgiri hills, Baphlimali hills and Khandadhar hills. Deomali hills also showed highest diversity in endemic mosses. Five mosses such as Fissidens orishae Gangulee, Erpodium mangiferae Müll. Hal., Hyophila comosa Dixon, Stereophyllum confusum Ther., Neckeropsis exserta (Hook. ex Schwagr.) Broth. are found to be endemic to India that occur in Odisha. Aneura pinguis (L.) Dumort.,  Anoectangium stracheyanum Mitt., Cyathophorella hookeriana (Griff.) M. Fleisch., Cyathophorum adiantum (Griff.) Mitt., Distichophyllum schmidtii Broth., Eurhynchium striatulum (Spruce) Schimp., Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., Leucobryum juniperoideum (Brid.) Müll. Hal., Lophocolea bidentata (L.) Dumort., Macromitrium sulcatum (Hook.) Brid., Notothylas levieri Schiffner, Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) Gray Pellia epiphylla (L.) Corda., Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Brid., Pogonatum neesii (Müll. Hal.) Dozy., Polytrichum commune Hedw., Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw., Racopilum cuspidigerum (Schwagr.) Angstrom, Racopilum orthocarpum Wilson ex Mitt., Riccia beyrichiana Hampe ex Lehm., Riccia billardieri Mont. & Nees.,  Spruceanthus semirepandus (Nees) Verd., Thuidium cymbifolium (Müll. Hal.)  Paris, Thuidium koelzii H. Rob., Trematodon  longicollis Michx., are some of the new distributional record of occurrence for the Eastern Ghats.The present study reveals that Fissidentaceae, Pottiaceae, Bryaceae, Dicranaceae, Aytoniaceae, Marchantiaceae, Funariaceae and Anthocerotaceae are dominant families in the study area. The authors have also identified few forest pockets and critical habitat in the state where bryophyte diversity shall be very rich that needs a detailed survey in near future. The authors discuss the list of bryophytes of the state in a regional context of rarity, as well as address some general subject matters regarding cryptogam conservation and further work needed in the state of Odisha. The study would provide a prelude data for future bryological studies and bryomonitoring in the Eastern Ghats in general and the state of Odisha in particular.