Diversity and distribution of mosses in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico

Abstract

Through field work, bibliographic information and herbarium collections, a preliminary list of mosses for the state of Hidalgo was compiled. Records for 355 species were supported by 3 068 herbarium specimens at MEXU; when varieties are included along with taxa unsupported by local herbarium specimens, the number of taxa reaches 420. A collecting effort analysis indicates that 74.5% of the moss flora has been surveyed, that is, 56 taxa remain to be added. Species distribution modeling using 20 climatic variables from the WorldClim database for 150 species produced a map of potential distribution using a 5-minute cell network; it shows that the species potential richness is higher in central and southeastern Hidalgo, although most collections were obtained in southern and northwestern stations. Because large portions of the state land area are underexplored for mosses, no biodiversity hotspots are recognized. The Caribbean element is best represented in the Eastern Sierra Madre, but the confluence of the latter with the Neovolcanic Belt does not seem to show other major floristic differences between them, despite their geographical proximity.