Urban mosses in México City

Abstract

EIGHTY-SEVEN SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF MOSSES ARE KNOWN FROM PRESENT URBAN LOCALITIES IN MEXICO CITY. THIS NUMBER INCLUDES 23 TAXA COLLECTED ONLY IN THE EARLY 1900´S. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE SOIL INHABITANTS MAY YET BE RE-DISCOVERED, THE EXPANSION OF THE URBAN AREA IN MEXICO CITY MAY HAVE ELIMINATED SEVERAL EPIPHYTIC SPECIES PERMANENTLY.THE CHANGES IN MOSS DIVERSITY, INCLUDING THE EXTINCTION OF SPECIES OR MOSS COMMUNITIES, ARE MAINLY DUE TO DISAPPEARANCE OF NATURAL HABITATS IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND TO ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.