The Bryophyte Flora of São Tomé and Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea): Past, Present and Future

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter aims to present a review of the knowledge of the bryological flora for the São Tomé and Príncipe Islands (Gulf of Guinea). An updated catalogue is presented, as well as a brief overview of the first expeditions conducted by the University of Coimbra. The labels of the historical herbarium collections and correspondence were analyzed, which provides an important source of data contributing toward research in taxonomy and conservation of these oceanic islands. Since 2007, exploratory fieldwork was carried out in different habitats of this archipelago along an altitudinal gradient, aiming to improve the knowledge of the ecology and distribution patterns of its bryophyte flora. A total of 304 taxa of bryophytes (133 mosses, 164 liverworts and seven hornworts) are currently reported, of which 21 are endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe and 144 species are shared endemics with the African continent. Several vouchers, especially in the herbaria of the University of Lisbon and of the California Academy of Sciences, are still under study and will likely provide further insights and new discoveries.