Effects of Forest Restoration Age on the Species Diversity of the Epiphytic Bryophyte Community

Forest restoration involves re-establishing forest ecosystems on disturbance areas. This can result in differences in species diversity between restored and natural forest, including that of the epiphytic bryophyte community. Consequently, this research compared the species diversity of the epiphytic bryophyte communities among framework species restoration plots of Chiang Mai University's Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU-CMU), aged 13 and 21 years, and Dong Seng Natural Forest, Mae Sa Mai Village, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. The surveys were carried in June 2019. Fifteen species of 14 genera and 12 families of epiphytic bryophytes found on the bark of the framework tree species: Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I.C.Nielsen (Thai name: Mah Kham Pae), Erythrina stricta Roxb. (Thai name: Tawng Lahng Bah) and Sarcosperma arboreum Hook.f. (Thai name: Mah Yang). Epiphytic bryophytes were divided into 3 groups, i.e., acrocarpous mosses 4 species (26.7%), pleurocarpous mosses 5 species (33.3%) and leafy liverworts 6 species (40.0%). The species richness of epiphytic bryophytes did not differ between the forest restoration plots of two different ages. However, the similarity index of the epiphytic bryophyte community in the older restoration forest was higher than that of the younger restoration forest, when compared to the natural forest. Therefore, as the restored forest ages, the epiphytic bryophytes community becomes more similar to that of natural forest.