The MOVECLIM – AZORES project: Bryophytes from Santa Maria Island (2019)

Bryophytes were sampled along an elevational gradient using the GIMS protocol (Borges et al. 2018), a standardized approach adapted from the BRYOLOAT methodology (Ah-Peng et al. 2012), incorporating taxonomic information on phorophytes and associated environmental variables (Gabriel et al. 2014).

In addition, non-systematic, opportunistic sampling was conducted based on field observations, targeting bryophytes across a range of microhabitats and along an altitudinal gradient from 31 m (Santo Espírito, Baía da Maia) to 464 m (Santa Bárbara, Pico Alto). Within each GIMS sampling unit, five substrate types were surveyed: rupicolous, terrestrial, lignicolous, epiphytic, and epiphyllous. The study generated a total of 264 event records (eventID) of which 203 were from the MOVECLIM survey and 61 from opportunistic sampling.