The Rediscovery and Conservation Status of Bazzania Bhutanica In
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BryophytesAbroad Bazzania bhutanica in Bhutan The rediscovery and conservation status of Bazzania bhutanica in Bhutan Prior to 2009, only hutan is a small kingdom in the east n Tongsa Dzong, one of the splendid religious fortresses Himalayan Mountains sandwiched of Bhutan. D. Long one colony of Bazzania between India and China (Tibet), v B. bhutanica at one of its two known localities at Buduni near Samtse in south-west Bhutan, where it is bhutanica was known still relatively unexplored for critically endangered due to pressures of deforestation bryophytes, but nevertheless known from Bhutan. However, and development. D. Long Bto have a rich bryophyte flora. Mizutani (1967) during an investigation recorded six species of Bazzania from Bhutan, & Grolle, 1990), which increased the number although three of these [B. tridens (Reinw. et al.) of Bazzania species known from Bhutan to 14. last winter, a second Trevis., B. himalayana (Mitt.) Schiffn. and B. Study of the mosses has progressed more slowly, colony was discovered. sikkimensis (Steph.) Herz. were erroneous records but it is hoped to publish an updated moss originating from the Kalimpong district, West checklist soon. Many new records for Bhutan David G. Long, Bengal (former ‘British Bhutan’)]. His reports and a few species new to science emerged from Baboo Ram Gurung of B. imbricata (Mitt.) S.Hatt., B. griffithiana the liverwort collections; one of the latter was (Steph.) Mizutani and B. appendiculata (Mitt.) Bazzania bhutanica, discovered in 1982 and and Rebecca Pradhan S.Hatt. were based on specimens collected by published as a new species by Kitagawa & Grolle describe the story William Griffith in Bhutan in 1838. (1987). As a result of a number of botanical expeditions During a week at Samchi (now Samtse) in behind this species, its in the late 1970s and 1980s many bryophytes south-west Bhutan, close to the Indian border, in ecology and the threats were collected by DGL. Study of the liverworts February/March 1982, a number of ravines and from these visits was led by the late Riclef Grolle stream valleys leading down to the Indian plains to its existence. and resulted in publication of a checklist (Long were explored by A.J.C. Grierson and DGL, and 28 FieldBryology No101 | May10 FieldBryology No101 | May10 29 Bazzania bhutanica in Bhutan Bazzania bhutanica in Bhutan n Above: Meteorium buchanani (Meteoriaceae), a common epiphyte in mossy temperate oak forests in Bhutan. D. Long Bazzania. Since that study, Meagher (2006) has x Centre: Wiesnerella denudata (Wiesnereallaceae), a rare, complex thalloid liverwort found along streams in humid described a new species, Bazzania scalaris, from temperate broadleaf forests in Bhutan. D. Long Papua New Guinea, and suggested that its closest x Right: Bazzania tridens growing on shady rocks in the same ravines where B. bhutanica was relocated. D. Long relative is B. bhutanica, though this differs from B. scalaris in that ‘the cuticle [of B. bhutanica] is a few bryophytes were collected as well as many forest, on crumbling shady rock face, 380 m, strongly asperous and often coarsely verruculose, the flowering plants. It was in one of these ravines 1 March 1982, D.G. Long 10532 (E, KYO, cells of the lateral leaves have evenly thickened walls that Bazzania bhutanica was discovered. These NICH, JE). and indistinct trigones, and the lobes of the lateral foothills of the Bhutan Himalaya have in the At the time of collection, its significance was leaves are only weakly spreading’ and ‘ the leaves are past supported luxuriant subtropical forests not realized and no detailed records of ecology, much shorter and more or less contiguous to slightly (Grierson & Long, 1983) rich in large and often population size, threats, etc., were made, though imbricate’. To date B. scalaris is the only known valuable trees such as Ailanthus grandis, Bombax the bryophyte species Fissidens javanicus Dozy & close relative of B. bhutanica. creiba, Pterospermum acerifolium, Shorea robusta, Molk., Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) Carruth. and Over recent decades the ‘Bryophyte Terminalia myriocarpa and Tetrameles nudiflora, Solenostoma truncatum (Nees) R.M.Schust. ex Specialist Group’ of the IUCN Species Survival but over the past century intermittent logging Váňa & D.G.Long were collected in the same Commission has been compiling a global ‘Red has removed many of these trees and much of locality. List’ of bryophytes (Anonymous 2009), and the forest is now secondary. Nevertheless, along A set of the 1982 liverworts was sent to Riclef following discussions with DGL, four liverworts many streams in valleys and ravines, reasonable Grolle in Jena, and his preliminary study of from Bhutan were included on that list along forest cover has sometimes survived and such Long 10532 led him to believe it might be a new with an evaluation of their conservation status: places are important refugia for trees, shrubs, species, and he therefore sent it to N. Kitagawa in Andrewsianthus ferrugineus Grolle (Endangered), lianas, herbs and bryophytes characteristic of Nara, Japan, who confirmed its distinctness. This B. bhutanica (Critically Endangered), Scapho- those forests. The primary human activities in led to its description as a new species (Kitagawa phyllum speciosum (Horik.) H.Inoue (Vul- these forests are firewood and fodder harvesting, & Grolle, 1987). They noted that B. bhutanica nerable) and Schistochila macrodonta W.E. and cattle grazing, both of which are sustainable was very distinctive and different from all other Nicholson (Endangered). The ‘CR’ status in moderation, but a significant threat to known Bazzania species though it showed accorded to B. bhutanica was due to the view that biodiversity if over-indulged. similarities to the related genus Acromastigum, it was considered to be facing an extremely high The data given on the original collection was: but they regarded these as superficial and more Bhutan, Samchi District, ravine at Buduni important characters, such as branching pattern v Mossy temperate mixed conifer/broadleaf forests on W of Samchi, 26°54ʹN, 89°03ʹE, subtropical and stem anatomy, confirmed its placement in the Dochu La, east of the capital, Thimphu. D. Long 30 FieldBryology No101 | May10 FieldBryology No101 | May10 31 Bazzania bhutanica in Bhutan Bazzania bhutanica in Bhutan risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate Bhutan, Samtse District, Buduni Kholsa hookeri and Pothos scandens, and the large ferns at Samtse as Critically Endangered is fully future because of its ‘occurrence estimated to be ravine west of Samtse, 26°54ʹ26.8ʹʹN, Angiopteris sp. and Cyathea spinulosa. The B. justified and should be maintained. We strongly less than 100 km2, area of occupancy estimated to 89°04ʹ05.8ʹʹE, 295 m, steep-sided valley in bhutanica plants formed yellow-green mats recommend that a search for further colonies in be less than 10 km2’ and ‘known to exist at only a degraded subtropical forest, on soil in exposed closely appressed to a vertical, gravelly, north- other parts of southern Bhutan be undertaken as single location’. vertical face of river terrace by stream, 6 Dec west-facing bank (an eroded ancient river soon as possible, and recommend to the Royal As B. bhutanica had not been seen in the 2009, Long, Pradhan & Gurung 38845 terrace), in the Buduni ravine with about 50% Government of Bhutan that future industrial wild for 27 years, it was considered urgent (THIMPHU, E); Lafeti Khola valley west cover in an area of approximately 5 × 1 m, development be zoned in a more appropriate and important that an attempt be made to re- of Samtse, 26°54ʹ27.3ʹʹN, 89°03ʹ52.1ʹʹE, closely associated with a Hymenophyllum species area. find the plant and clarify its current status. 296 m, steep-sided valley in degraded and the bryophytes Pallavicinia lyellii, Fissidens 1 2 WWF awarded a small grant in 2009 to BRG subtropical forest, on vertical river terrace face sp. and Bazzania tridens (Reinw. et al.) Trevis., David G. Long , Baboo Ram Gurung and 3 to undertake this investigation and through RP by stream, 6 Dec 2009, Long, Pradhan & which was more bluish-green in colour than B. Rebecca Pradhan 1 an approach was made to DGL to assist with a Gurung 38854 (THIMPHU, E). bhutanica. In the Lafeti site B. bhutanica was Royal Botanic Garden, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR (e [email protected]); new survey. DGL was able to visit Bhutan for The two localities are ecologically almost more abundant than at Buduni, occupying 30– 2 3 weeks in November/December 2009 and all identical, in stream valleys in degraded subtropical 40% cover on a vertical bank of approximately c/o Mani Kala Laygoi, Royal Institute of Health 3 three of us undertook 2 days of field work at forest, with trees such as Castanopsis indica, 10 × 2 m. The associated bryophytes were as at Sciences, Thimphu, Bhutan; Royal Society for Samtse to carry out a search for B. bhutanica. Chisocheton cumingianus, Duabanga grandiflora, Buduni, though Hymenophyllum was absent. In Protection of Nature, Thimphu, Bhutan. On 6 December 2009 we re-located the plant in Lithocarpus fenestratus, Litsea salicifolia, both sites, the colonies were heavily shaded by Acknowledgments the original locality at Buduni and also in a new Pandanus furcatus and Tetrameles nudiflora, overhanging shrubs. We thank the National Biodiversity Centre of the Ministry of locality nearby at Lafeti Khola, and were able shrubs including Boehmeria macrophylla, In terms of conservation, both sites are Agriculture, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan and the Minister of to collect small voucher samples, record more Callicarpa arborea, Hyptianthera stricta, Piper highly vulnerable to immediate and future Agriculture Lyonpo Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Royal Government detailed ecological data, reassess the threats and sp. and Wendlandia grandis, climbers such as threats. Immediate threats are any increase of Bhutan, for support for botanical work in Bhutan, and the take digital images of the plant and its habitat.