Exploring the diversity of bryophytes through DNA barcoding in montane forests of the Private Conservation Area San Pablo Communal – Gocta Waterfall, Peru

Abstract

Bryophytes (liverworts, mosses, and hornworts) play crucial ecological roles in the ecosystem. However, for the Private Conservation Area (PCA) San Pablo Communal – Gocta Waterfall, there are no records of the diversity of this group of plants, despite being in the territory of the Peruvian Yungas, which is considered to be a biodiversity hotspot. In this study, the diversity of bryophytes within the PCA was characterized using the rbcL. In addition, Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices were used to evaluate the species richness within the three life zones of the PCA [Tropical Premontane Dry Forest (TP—df), Tropical Low Montane Dry Forest (TLM—df) and Tropical Low Montane Humid Forest (TLM—hf)]. A total of 139 individuals were collected and 83 species were identified; these individuals were located in 49 genera and 33 families. The predominant species were Boulaya sp., Dicranolejeunea axillaris, and Frullania cuencensis. The diversity indices showed a high diversity of bryophytes in the PCA, with values between 2.90 and 3.85 for the Shannon index and 0.93 and 0.97 for the Simpson index. This study provides information based on molecular tools on the bryophyte flora and contributes to the conservation of biodiversity in the San Pablo Communal PCA, Gocta Waterfall.