Forest bryophyte and litter jointly plays an important ecological role in soil and water conservation.Most of previous studies paid attention to bryophyte or litter alone on its eco-hydrological role,but neglected the comprehensive function of bryophyte-litter layer as a coupling component of forest ecosystem;especially for the bryophyte-litter layer in some high-altitude southwest forest of China,the related research was rare.Forest in the Gongga Mountain is a type of alpine ecosystem with rich coniferous and broad-leaved vegetation in western Sichuan of China,enriched by an abundance of bryophyte and litter under forest canopy.Examining the hydrological impact of the bryophyte-litter layer can provide valuable insights into the water conservation capacity of the forest floor.This study aimed to investigate the water-holding capacity of bryophyte and litter on the forest floors of the Gongga Mountain,which has coniferous and broad-leaved vegetation cover.The study was conducted through field research and immersion tests using sampling bottles.The study revealed following facts:(1)The maximum water-holding capacity of bryophyte and litter in the Gongga Mountain ranged from 327.9％to 432.6％,with a maximum water retention capacity of 16.6-79.4 t/hm2 and an effective interception capacity of 7.1-34.2 t/hm2.As compared with broad-leaved forests,coniferous forests exhibited more significant water-holding and interception capabilities.(2)Among the ground layer components,bryophyte and bryophyte-litter layer demonstrated the highest water retention capacity and effective interception rate,and hence the bryophyte-litter and litter layer displayed the highest water holding and interception capacities.Bryophyte significantly enhanced the water conservation capacity of the ground layer in coniferous forests.(3)The water-holding capacity of the ground layer exhibited a logarithmic relationship with time,and the water absorption rate indicated a power function relationship with time.The water-holding capacity and absorption rate of different ground layer components increased rapidly within 0-2 h,followed by a slow increase within 2-12 h,and then nearly reached saturation after 12 h.(4)The overall water-holding capacity of the bryophyte-litter layer was equivalent to the sum of the water holding capacities of the bryophyte and litter layer.However,the water absorption rate of the bryophyte-litter layer was higher,rendering it more efficient in intercepting short-term precipitation.Our findings provide reference and a theoretical basis for further research and practices related to water conservation and ecological hydrology in subalpine forests.
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