Bryophyte specimens were collected occasionally at the Botanical Institute, Fontes do Ipiranga State Park, São Paulo, SP and Paranapiacaba Biological Reserve, Santo André, SP, from September 2001 to February 2006, aiming to verify which Hyphomycetes take part in bryophyte decomposition. Eight species of bryophytes were collected and the technique of successive washing was applied to plant material to isolate the fungi. Seventeen taxa of Hyphomycetes were isolated. These fungi were previously recorded on leaf litter of vascular plants but this is the first time they are reported on bryophytes in Brazil. It is relevant to note that Arthrobotrys oligospora Fresen. and Monacrosporium aphrobrochum (Drechsler) Subram. were isolated and these fungi have structures to capture nematodes, showing that nematode predatory conidial fungi can occur on dead bryophytes.
litter microfungi; diversity; Brazil