Assessment of bryophyte diversity in selected localities of Assam, North East India: a quantitative approach

A study on the quantitative estimation of diversity in 32 selected grids in the bryophyte-rich localities of Assam, North East India has been carried out. Assessment was done in 160 macroplots of 10 m x 10 m, randomly established in the forest and within each macroplot, five microquadrats (10 cm x 10 cm) were placed at different habitats, viz. saxicolous, terricolous and epiphytic. A total of 80 taxa belonging to 29 species of liverworts under 18 genera and 10 families, and about 51 species of mosses belonging to 27 genera and 13 families were assessed. In the study area, Lejeuneaceae and Fissidentaceae as well as Cololejeunea latilobula (Herzog.) Tixier and Entodontopsis tavoyensis (Hook ex Harv.) W. R. Buck & R. R. Ireland were the dominant families and taxa respectively. Four species were new additions to NE India, and seven taxa were reported for the Assam region. The present study elucidates the bryophyte species diversity and the species richness, and evenness of the region, which can further define their importance in the community.