Forest microclimate as a driver of epiphytic bryophyte diversity along a subtropical elevational gradient

Aim: Considering the importance of microclimate in maintaining the diversity of epiphytic bryophytes, we investigated epiphytic bryophytes along an elevational gradient in the subtropical forest of eastern China to unravel the diversity patterns of epiphytic liverworts and mosses along the elevational gradients, and the roles of forest microclimates, topographic variables and host plant composition attributes in shaping these elevational diversity patterns. 
Location: Tianmushan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang, China.
Taxon: Epiphytic bryophytes.
Methods: Species diversity patterns of liverworts and mosses were compared based on inventory of 16 plots along an elevational gradient from 367 m to 1470 m. In-situ microclimatic data of air temperature and moisture were collected under constant monitoring for over three years. Spatial linear model and structural equation models were used to assess the relative roles of the environmental variables in shaping the patterns of species diversity..., , , # Forest microclimate as a driver of epiphytic bryophyte diversity along a subtropical elevational gradient

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.p2ngf1w1p](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.p2ngf1w1p)

The data include the alpha diversity of bryophytes and forest microclimate in Tianmushan National Nature Reserve. 

## Description of the data and file structure

Bryophyte field surveys were conducted between April and November 2018, focusing on the collection of epiphytic mosses and liverworts. We assessed the alpha diversity of epiphytic bryophytes in Mt. Tianmu by calculating species richness, the exponential of the Shannon index, and the inverse of the Simpson index, respectively. We used stand basal area (BA) and plant species richness (PSR) to capture the attributes of host plant composition. Our analysis incorporates two topographic variables: slope and aspect. Slope was measured using a clinometer and aspect using a compass at the central point of each research plot. We focused on air t...