www.tropicalplantresearch.com 63 Received: 10 June 2020 Published: 30 April 2021 https://doi.org/10.22271/tpr.2021.v8.i1.009 8(1): 63–70, 2021 DOI: 10.22271/tpr.2021.v8.i1.009 ISSN (Online): 2349-1183; ISSN (Print): 2349-9265 TROPICAL PLANT RESEARCH The Journal of the Society for Tropical Plant Research Research article Diversity and distribution of bryophytes in different microclimatic conditions of Mount Panchase, Central Nepal Sushila Sharma 1 , Menuka Paudel 2 , Deepak Raj Pant 2 , Biva Aryal 3 and Giri Prasad Joshi 2 * 1 School of Medical Sciences, Banasthali, Kathmandu, Nepal 2 Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal 3 Society of Natural Resource Conservation and Development, Dillibazar, Kathmandu, Nepal *Corresponding Author: giri.joshi@cdb.tu.edu.np [Accepted: 08 March 2021] Abstract: Mount Panchase, situated at the bordering areas of three districts i.e. Syangja, Kaski, and Parbat in Central Nepal, is considered to be one of the biodiversity hotspot. The present study aimed to explore the diversity and distribution of bryophytes in different microclimatic conditions of Mount Panchase. Bryophytes were collected from all habitats (soil, rock and plant bark) following the standard protocol. Altogether 62 species belonging to 30 families and 44 genera were recorded from the elevational range 1,648 m to 2,517 m above mean sea level. Among the classes, Bryopsida was found largest with 36 species followed by Marchantiopsida (10 species), Jungermanniopsida (10 species), Polytrichopsida (4 species) and Anthocerotopsida (2 species). Among the three habitats maximum bryophytes were collected from soil. Similarly, different microclimatic conditions contributed by south (dry) and north-facing slopes (moist) and hilltop (mixed type) provide unique pattern of bryophyte distribution. Altogether, 32 species were recorded from the north-facing slope and 24 species from the south-facing slope, this number included 13 common species from both slopes. Additionally, 19 bryophyte species collected from the hilltop (2,517 m) were unique as they were absent in both slopes. Keywords: Bryopsida - Elevational range - Habitat preference - Slope direction - Terrestrial. [Cite as: Sharma S, Paudel M, Pant DR, Aryal B & Joshi GP (2021) Diversity and distribution of bryophytes in different microclimatic conditions of Mount Panchase, Central Nepal. Tropical Plant Research 8(1): 63–70] INTRODUCTION Bryophytes are an important component of the ecosystem and show their dominance throughout the forest floor especially in a temperate forest (Sun et al. 2013). Although high humidity and rainfall are the important factors which provide a favorable environment for their luxuriant growth, few bryophytes can tolerate extreme desiccation and temperature (Pradhan 2013, 2014a, Puri 1973). Among the 25,000 species of bryophytes globally, Nepal hosts 1,215 species and represents 4.86 % (Asakawa et al. 2013, Pradhan 2018). Being a mountainous country there are a variety of habitats suitable for bryophytes in Nepal, which are however still not explored properly. Mount (Mt.) Panchase, located in the mid-hills along the Mahabharat range in central Nepal, covers an elevation range from 900 to 2,517 m. Additionally, its east-west orientation provides distinct south and north- facing slopes that contribute to different microclimatic conditions on two faces. Besides, the area falls in the region that receives the highest annual rainfall in Nepal (Nayava 1980). These features in aggregate provide a variety of habitats suitable for the growth of different plants. Mt. Panchase has already been explored for the diversity of vascular plants and come up with the existence of significant number of Pteridophytes (92 spp.) Gymnosperms (5 spp.), and Angiosperms (608 spp.) including 125 species of Orchids (Bhandari et al. 2015, Bhandari et al. 2018, Thakur & Rajbhandary 2018). Despite this, the area has remained unexplored for the diversity of bryophytes. Therefore, present study aimed to explore diversity and distribution of bryophytes in different microclimatic conditions of Mt. Panchase.