Effects of environmental factors and heavy metals on the vertical distribution of bryophytes in a sinkhole environment

Abstract

• A sinkhole ecosystem, as a refuge for plant diversity, has been subjected to intensive exploitation, leading to ecosystem destruction of sinkholes in China. Understanding the responses of bryophyte distribution to destruction of the sinkhole environment are crucial to implementing protection measures for bryophyte diversity. • Haolong sinkhole in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, the third largest sinkhole in the world, was selected as the study area. The Wilson Shmida index was used to analyse bryophyte species diversity; a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to reveal species vertical distribution of bryophytes, the Single and Multiple Species Distribution Models (SSDM, MSDM) were used for analysis of the relationship between bryophyte species distribution, environmental factors and heavy metals. • A total of 183 species from 74 genera in 36 families of bryophytes were collected from Haolong sinkhole, of which 26 species are endemic to China. Bryophyte species diversity was ranked in the order: agricultural section < forest section < grassland. In the vertical direction, bryophyte distribution was divided into point, disjunctive and continuous distributions using the GLM. The SSMA and MSDM indicated that bryophyte species of each of these three distributions can be divided into a temperature-slope zone, light-depth-pH-humidity zone, Pb (B)-Hg (B) zone and mixed heavy metals zone according to the effect of environmental factors and heavy metals such as As. • Environmental factors or heavy metals, such as As, in Haolong sinkhole effectively cooperate in bryophyte distribution. An effective way to protect bryophyte diversity, in particular species endemic to China in the sinkhole environment, is through education and involvement of the local villagers to minimize further damage to the sinkhole environment.

Advancement of bryophytes from traditional uses to pharmaceutical applications: A review

“…The ecological significance of bryophytes for carbon sequestration and heavy metal uptake has been further underscored by their interactions with other plants, and their responses to environmental factors. The importance of the colony structure and shoot morphology of bryophytes in relation to water balance, desiccation, and carbon sequestration functions has been explored, highlighting the intricate ecological roles of bryophyte species (Elumeeva et al, 2011;Li et al, 2020). Moreover, research has examined how alterations in land use/cover and climate affect vegetation carbon storage, highlighting the intricate relationships among the ecological variables that impact carbon sequestration (Li et al, 2021).…”

Bioindication of heavy metals using bryophyte communities in the Songtao manganese carbonate ore region, China

“…However, the species diversity of a bryophyte community can adequately re ect levels of environmental pollution (Yang et al, 2011). Changes in environmental conditions transform the structure and functional characteristics of animal and plant communities and heavy metals pollution stress reduces the stability of the community and also species diversity (Chen et al, 1989;Xu et al, 2004;Yang et al, 2011;Li et al, 2020). In Guizhou Province, bryophytes have been used to monitor heavy metal pollution in mercury, gold, copper and bauxite mines.…”