Biogeography of Mindoro mosses

The moss flora of Mindoro Island was updated based on the 2004–2006 expeditions conducted by the author. The island’s moss flora now consists of 282 species in 128 genera and 39 families, which is higher than Palawan but far less than those of Luzon and Mindanao. Generally, the flora is most abundant in the eastern rainy part of the island, especially along mid-elevations on the east-facing slope of the central mountain range in the transition zone between montane and mossy forests. Moss diversity is also greater in riverine forests than in inland forests at low elevations. Only three moss taxa, Rhaccocarpus alpinus, Dicranoloma daymannianum and Distichophyllum noguchianum, have their Philippine range restricted to the island. Distichophyllum noguchianum is a Philippine endemic. Floristically, the Mindoro moss flora is identified more with Luzon within the Philippine archipelago, while its sharing of other widespread Malesian taxa reinforced its role as an integral component of the Malesian flora. Reports of taxa with Australasian affinity show growing evidence for a Gondwanan influence on the island moss flora, although a tenuous one. Likewise, the presence of moss taxa such as Acroporium johanneswinkleri, Cryptogonium phyllogonioides and Glyptothecium sciuroides in Mindoro, reinforce the important role of Palawan as link in the exchange of biota between Mindoro, Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia during the Pleistocene. Finally, the importance of the island in enriching the Philippine flora and the necessity to protect its remaining forests are discussed.