Checklist of Bryophytes (Anthocerotophyta, Bryophyta and Marchantiophyta) of the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

The number of bryophyte species from Maranhão has increased considerably in recent years due to new studies, with the frequent publication of new occurrences for the state. Effort is needed to organize and update the names to create an updated list of bryophyte taxa for the state of Maranhão based on published bibliographic surveys and reanalysis of collections. Here we provide an updated checklist of bryophytes of Maranhão as well as an assessment of the richness and taxonomic composition of the species and their phytogeographic distribution in relation to other Brazilian states. A total of 3727 collection records were analyzed, resulting in 269 species distributed in 110 genera and 43 families. The most representative division was Bryophyta with 151 species, the richest family was Lejeuneaceae (70 spp.), and the richest genus was Fissidens (24 spp.). One species—Ceratolejeunea maranhensis, from the Amazon domain—is endemic to Maranhão and eight are endemic to Brazil. The number of species found in this study places Maranhão in the thirteenth position among the Brazilian states in terms of diversity of bryophytes, revealing the importance of Maranhão as a center for the study and conservation of Brazilian bryofloristic diversity.