Abstract: The bryophyte communities were investigated in abandoned mercury mine of Yunchangping town, Guizhou province. Based on the extensive investigation and identification of the bryophyte specimens, 62 taxa in 52 genera of 13 families were found (2 species in 2 genera of 2 families are Hepaticae, 60 taxa in 50 genera of 11 families are Musci). Two-way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) were used to analyze their distribution patterns. The results showed that 12 sampling plots could be classified into two groups. Group 1 contained waste rock sampling plots and waste solid sampling plots, group 2 contained abandoned mercury mine caves, which indicated the habitats of abandoned mercury mine caves are different from waste rock and waste solid, the habitats of waste rock and waste solid are similar. The dominant communities are Barbula fallax Com., Weisia planifolia Com., Barbula constricta Com., Gymnostomum anoectangioides Com. and Gymnostomum subrigidulum Com., their biomass range from 55.20 to 448.20 g·m^-2, and the quantity of saturated water absorption ranges from 260.80 to 3 599.40 g·m^-2, which indicate the bryophyte communities are very significant for the ecology environment renovation of the mine area because of their special ecological function.

Key words: bryophyte communities, abandoned mercury mine, two-way Indicator Species Analysis(TWINSPAN), Detrended Correspondence Analysis(DCA), ecological restoration