Taxonomic diversity of mosses across vegetation types and functional traits in Aguascalientes, Mexico
TL;DR
Moss diversity in Aguascalientes remains underdocumented, highlighting the need to expand sampling to poorly explored habitats and to incorporate phylogenetic and landscape connectivity approaches to strengthen conservation efforts.
Abstract
Background: Mosses play key ecological roles; however, their diversity remains underdocumented in several states of Mexico. Questions: Do moss species richness and composition in Aguascalientes vary according to vegetation type and functional traits? Study species: Mosses (Bryophyta). Study site and years: State of Aguascalientes, Mexico, based on an assessment of studies conducted between 2014 and 2018. Methods: Floristic inventories were compiled, and diversity was estimated using Hill numbers. Associations between functional traits and vegetation types were evaluated using χ² tests, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and beta diversity analyses. Results: A total of 118 moss species were recorded, including 23 new state records for Aguascalientes. The highest species richness was observed in broadleaf forest, followed by matrix habitats, tropical dry forest, and xerophytic shrubland. Functional analyses revealed significant associations: epiphytic species and pleurocarpous mosses were mainly concentrated in broadleaf forest; xerophytic shrubland primarily harbored dioicous species adapted to dry conditions; and epixylic species were associated with broadleaf forest, tropical dry forest, and matrix habitats. Conclusions: Each vegetation type contributes a distinct assemblage of species and functional traits. Moss diversity in Aguascalientes remains underdocumented, highlighting the need to expand sampling to poorly explored habitats and to incorporate phylogenetic and landscape connectivity approaches to strengthen conservation efforts.