Geographic Pattern of Bryophyte Species Richness in China: The Influence of Environment and Evolutionary History

How contemporary environment interacts with macroevolutionary processes to generate the geographic pattern of bryophyte species is still unresolved. China very rich in bryophytes, more than 3,000 bryophytes covering 70% families world. In this study, we assessed effects (average temperature coldest season TCQ, precipitation warmest PWQ, and elevational range) recent diversification rates (estimated as mean number per genus, MSG) on geographical richness for two groups (i.e., liverworts mosses) China. We compiled provincial level distribution estimated rate by MSG Univariate, multivariate regressions path model analyses were used assess relationships between richness, MSG, their potential environmental drivers. Species all significantly increased increase either or analyses, indicating that provinces high mainly inhabited (especially liverworts) from lineages particularly MSG. contrast, mosses was insignificantly decreased univariate regression analysis. Both energy water availability. mosses, availability, while The range but decrease range. Our study suggests humid tropical subtropical mountains are not only diversity hotspots also cradles liverworts, refuges hold many monotypic oligotypic genera.