Effects of bryophytes on plant natural regeneration

Seed is the foundation of plant natural regeneration, and the growth of seedlings and young trees is the most sensitive stage of this regeneration process. As the main ground cover of many ecosystems, bryophytes play an important role in the process of vascular plants' natural regeneration. In many vegetation types, there are bryophyte communities with good development. Many researches proved that the existence of bryophytes could affect the germination, build-up, and growth of vascular plants, and further, affect the symbiosis of plant species. Some bryophyte species could even indicate the regeneration of tree species. We reviewed the effects of bryophytes on the early stage of plant regeneration, including the microclimate changes induced by the physio-logical characteristics of bryophytes, and the effects of bryophyte communities on seed dispersal, seed germination, and seedlings establishment, and discussed the interspecific relationships between bryophytes and vascular plants in the stage of regeneration, and the allelopathy of bryophytes on vascular plants.