Malesia Bryophytes Diversity

Bryophyte is a division of plants that lives on land, generally it is green and reproduces through spores, has ecological and economic functions, and plays an important role in forest ecosystems. It spreads out almost in all parts of the earth with different characters in each group. It is divided into 3 groups, namely liverwort, true moss, and hornwort, which are phylogeny and true liverwort is in the same lineage. The number of bryophytes species is around 18000 with the largest distribution area of bryophyte diversity in tropical and subtropical latitudes, such as the Malesia region which includes Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Brunei. Various studies were carried out related to the diversity of bryophyte, especially in the Malesia region, and found various types including new species, new records, and new characters.

A palynological investigation of true-moss (Bryidae) spores: morphology and occurrence in modern and late Quaternary lake sediments of Alaska

This study describes (i) spore morphology of 121 Alaskan species of true moss (Bryidae) and (ii) percentages of Bryidae and Sphagnum spores in mud-water interface samples from 46 Alaskan lakes and a late-Quaternary sediment core from Idavain Lake in southwestern Alaska. Bryidae spores were collected from herbarium specimens, prepared by standard palynological chemical treatment and described under light microscopy. An identification key based on spore shape, wall structure, and size recognized 11 major morphological groups. Although family, genus, or species identifications were not possible for most groups, spores of a few genera and species were distinctive. Bryidae spores occurred in 80% of the modern sediment samples, representing boreal forest and three areas of tundra (North Slope, Seward Peninsula, and southwestern Alaska). Bryidae and Sphagnum spore percentages showed greatest differences between the North Slope tundra and other vegetation types, whereas pollen percentages distinguished boreal forest from tundra regions as a group. Bryidae spores were present throughout the Idavain Lake record but were most common in late-glacial sediments. Variations in the abundance of Bryidae spores are consistent with or enhance paleoenvironmental interpretations based on pollen and other spore types.Key words: Bryidae, palynology, spores, Alaska, Quaternary, paleoenvironment.