scholarly journals Vascular epiphytes in urban trees in Goiânia city, Brazilian Cerrado

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e02
Author(s):  
Talita Nunes de Castro Figueiredo ◽  
Jorge Luís Sousa Ferreira ◽  
Francine Neves Calil ◽  
Jácomo Divino Borges ◽  
Carlos De Melo E Silva Neto
Keyword(s):  
Urban Trees ◽  
Albizia Lebbeck ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
City State ◽  
Epiphyte Species

The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of epiphyte species in trees that compose the urban trees of four avenues of Goiânia city – state of Goiás. All individuals from the avenue median and sidewalks were quantified, all epiphyte host individuals were inventoried and the epiphytes found were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively.  The species Ficus rubiginosa was present in 68.63% of the cases, followed by Ficus luschnathiana (15.69%), Ficus insipida (5.88%) and Ficus guaranitica (5.88%). A total of 84.62% of the hosts are Poincianella pluviosa, 51.92% are individuals of height between 14 and 16 meters and 35.29% have a diameter between 46.00 and 61.99 cm. The hemiepiphytes occurred on Libidibia ferrea, Ceiba speciosa, Albizia lebbeck and Pachira aquatica. The occurrence of hemiepiphytes prevailed on trunk bifurcations (44.23%), branch bifurcation (19.23%), branch hollows (17.31%) and on branches and roots (3.85%). About 15.65% of each adult arboreal in Goiânia city is inferred to hold at least one epiphyte.

Host preferences of low-trunk vascular epiphytes in a cloud forest of Veracruz, Mexico

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 651-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Mehltreter ◽  
Alejandro Flores-Palacios ◽  
José G. García-Franco
Keyword(s):  
Water Retention ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Host Group ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Lower Trunk ◽  
Tree Ferns ◽  
Epiphyte Species

The diversity, abundance and frequency of vascular epiphytes on the lower trunk were compared between two host groups of a Mexican cloud forest: angiosperm trees (n = 72) and tree ferns (n = 28). The bark of the five most frequent host trees and the root mantle of the two tree ferns were analysed for their thickness, water content, water retention capacity and pH. A total of 55 epiphyte species and 910 individuals were found on the 27 host species. On hosts with a dbh range of 5–10 cm, epiphytes were significantly more diverse (4.3±0.9 species per host) and more abundant (12.5±2.2 individuals per host) on tree ferns than on angiosperm trees (1.9±0.2 species per host and 3.9±0.6 individuals per host). However, these differences were not significant for the dbh class of 10–20 cm, because epiphyte numbers increased on angiosperm trees with larger host size, but not in tree ferns. Most epiphyte species had no preference for any host group, but four species were significantly more frequent on tree ferns and two species on angiosperm trees. The higher epiphyte diversity and abundance on tree fern trunks of the smallest dbh class is attributed to their presumably greater age and to two stem characteristics, which differed significantly between host groups, the thicker root mantle and higher water retention capacity of tree ferns. These bark characteristics may favour germination and establishment of epiphytes.

Association of vascular epiphytes with landscape units and phorophytes in humid lowland forests of Colombian Amazonia

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (03) ◽  
pp. 223-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Benavides ◽  
A. Vasco ◽  
A. J. Duque ◽  
J. F. Duivenvoorden
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Randomization Tests ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Landscape Unit ◽  
Lowland Forests ◽  
Landscape Units ◽  
Epiphyte Species

Abstract:The species composition of vascular epiphytes and phorophytes (trees and lianas) was studied in ten 0.1-ha forest plots distributed over three landscape units (floodplains, swamps and well-drained uplands) in Colombian Amazonia. The aim was to analyse how host-preferences contributed to the patterns in epiphyte assemblages among the landscape units. In the plots 82 species (3310 plants) were holo-epiphytes, 11 species were primary hemi-epiphytes (179 plants) and 61 were secondary hemi-epiphytes (2337 plants). A total of 411 species of tree and liana were recorded as phorophytes. Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Mantel tests showed that the species composition of holo-epiphytes and secondary hemi-epiphytes differed among the landscape units. For both groups the effect of landscape unit on species composition strongly decreased after controlling for the phorophyte composition in the plots. The phorophyte composition significantly explained epiphyte composition and this effect was not removed after accounting for the effect of landscape unit. At the level of individual species, randomization tests yielded only few significant epiphyte–phorophyte associations. For 84% of the epiphyte species the average indicator of patchiness was below 1.5 demonstrating that most epiphyte individuals occurred scattered over different phorophytes. This probably hampered the analyses of host preferences for individual epiphyte species.

Rediscovering Rhipsalis hoelleri (Cactaceae), a Critically Endangered species from Brazilian Atlantic Forest 

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 498 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68
Author(s):  
WEVERSON CAVALCANTE CARDOSO ◽  
RAQUEL NEGRÃO ◽  
VALQUÍRIA FERREIRA DUTRA ◽  
CASSIA MÔNICA SAKURAGUI
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
The World ◽  
Center Of Diversity ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Epiphyte Species ◽  
High Diversity ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

Rhipsalis Gaertner (1788: 138) belongs to Cactaceae Juss., which is among the major taxonomic groups including the highest numbers of threatened species in the world (Goettsch et al. 2015). The center of diversity and endemism of this genus is in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, a world hotspot of biodiversity (Myers et al. 2000). This forests harbors 5% of all flowering plants species on the planet (Stehmann et al. 2009), including a high diversity of vascular epiphytes. Cactaceae is the sixth most expressive family in terms of number of epiphytes in the Atlantic Forest (2.2% of all vascular epiphyte species at the domain; Freitas et al. 2016) and Rhipsalis is the largest genus of epiphytic cacti (40 species according to Calvente 2012), highlighting the importance of this genus amongst the global epiphytic flora.

Ants as epiphyte gardeners: comparing the nutrient quality of ant and termite canopy substrates in a Venezuelan lowland rain forest

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 887-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
NICO BLÜTHGEN ◽  
VIVIANE SCHMIT-NEUERBURG ◽  
STEFAN ENGWALD ◽  
WILHELM BARTHLOTT
Keyword(s):  
Neotropical Forests ◽  
Lowland Rain Forest ◽  
Nutrient Quality ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Lowland Forests ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Ant Gardens ◽  
Epiphyte Species ◽  
Highly Evolved

The poor availability of suitable substrate and nutrients strongly limits the distribution and growth of vascular epiphytes in lowland rain forests (Benzing 1990, Nieder et al. 2000). In some epiphyte species nutrition may be assisted by adventitious roots that grow into animal debris in plant cavities such as domatia and bromeliad tanks (Huxley 1980). For epiphyte species lacking these modifications, animals may nevertheless play a substantial role by providing a large proportion of the limited substrate in lowland forests (Catling 1995, Longino 1986). Such associations between epiphytes and nutrient/substrate-providing animals may often be non-specific and commensalistic (Davidson & Epstein 1989, Longino 1986), while highly evolved mutualistic associations occur in the case of ant gardens which are very abundant in neotropical forests (Huxley 1980, Kleinfeldt 1986, Ule 1901). Ant gardens typically are densely inhabited by different epiphytes from various plant families whose seeds or fruits are attractive to the ants and carried into the nest (Davidson 1988). In addition, ants have been suggested to play a role in protection and nutrition of ant-garden epiphytes (Kleinfeldt 1978, 1986). Ants may benefit from epiphytes through increased nest stability (Yu 1994) or nutrition via extrafloral nectaries, fruit pulps or seed arils (Davidson 1988, Kleinfeldt 1986). In this study,we compare the nutrient quality of such ant gardens with other similar substrates rarely inhabited by epiphytes, namely nests and galleries of ants and termites.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HETEROGENEITY OF HABITATS FOR THE SPECIES RICHNESS OF VASCULAR EPIPHYTES IN REMNANTS OF BRAZILIAN MONTANE SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-118
Author(s):  
D. E. F. Barbosa ◽  
G. A. Basílio ◽  
S. G. Furtado ◽  
L. Menini Neto
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Vegetation Heterogeneity ◽  
Initial Hypothesis ◽  
Epiphyte Species ◽  
Seasonal Semideciduous Forest

Epiphytes are an important component of the diversity of tropical forests, and they also have several ecological functions. Vegetation heterogeneity is one of the features responsible for the high biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest, especially in the domain’s seasonal semideciduous forest (SSF). This biodiversity presents as high endemism and species richness. Owing to the seasonal nature of SSF, organisms that require high humidity (e.g. epiphytes) would be expected to show low species richness in these forests. The aims of this study were to conduct a survey of the vascular epiphytes in remnants of montane SSF in the Serra do Ibitipoca, Brazil, and to evaluate the importance of habitat heterogeneity for the richness and composition of species in these areas. We also evaluated whether the intrinsic characteristics of the SSF phytophysiognomy and fragmentation could result in low species richness and a high number of accidental epiphyte species. The study was conducted in the course of 18 expeditions undertaken between September 2013 and December 2016, covering five fragments of montane SSF (totalling 23.6 ha). We recorded 96 species (only one of which is an accidental epiphyte), distributed across 41 genera and 10 families. This is the highest epiphytic species richness recorded in Brazilian SSF to date. The results refuted the initial hypothesis and reinforce the importance to the epiphytic community of conservation of fragments with different structures.

The resorption of phosphorus is greater than that of nitrogen in senescing leaves of vascular epiphytes from lowland Panama

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 693-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Zotz
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
N:P Ratio ◽  
Nutrient Ratios ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Mature Leaves ◽  
P Limitation ◽  
N:P Ratios ◽  
Epiphyte Species ◽  
Nutrient Relations

The epiphytic habitat is assumed to be nutrient deficient, although this generally held notion is based almost completely on circumstantial evidence (Zotz & Hietz 2001). Most studies on the nutrient relations of vascular epiphytes focus on nitrogen (Bergstrom & Tweedie 1998, Hietz & Wanek 2003, Stewart et al. 1995). Although nitrogen plays a key role in limiting plant growth worldwide, there is an on-going discussion whether nitrogen or rather phosphorus are more limiting in many tropical forests (Grubb 1989, Harrington et al. 2001, Vitousek & Howarth 1991). To identify which nutritional factor is most limiting for plant growth, nutrient ratios have been proposed as a very useful tool (Koerselman & Meuleman 1996). These authors stated that N:P ratios exceeding 16 are indicative of P limitation, while an N:P ratio <14 suggests N limitation. Some reports of such ratios in the epiphyte literature indicate that phosphorus may indeed be limiting for epiphytes in tropical forests. For example, the N:P ratio of two field-grown bromeliads (Tillandsia circinnata and T. usneoides) decreased dramatically from 23.6 and 40.4, respectively, to 3.6 and 3.4, respectively, when fertilized with both N and P in the laboratory (Benzing & Renfrow 1974a). On the other hand, however, the average N:P ratios of mature leaves of 41 epiphyte species compiled from a number of papers did not appear particularly high (12.1±10.5, cf. Zotz & Hietz 2001).

scholarly journals Vascular Epiphyte Assemblages on Isolated Trees along an Elevational Gradient in Southwest Panama

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Calixto Rodríguez Quiel ◽  
Gerhard Zotz
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Isolated Trees ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Epiphyte Species ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

Ongoing destruction of tropical forests makes isolated pasture trees potentially important for the persistence of original forest dwellers such as many vascular epiphytes. We studied epiphyte assemblages on 100 isolated trees at ten pasture sites in southwest Panama along an elevational gradient ranging from 140 to 1240 m a.s.l. We analysed epiphyte species composition (richness, similarity) and registered climate and host trait variables of potential influence on their occurrence. We found a total of 5876 epiphyte individuals belonging to 148 species. Epiphyte abundance, species richness and diversity all varied about 4-fold among the 10 sites, with a high similarity of epiphyte assemblages among sites. Two sites at 870 and 1050 m a.s.l. did not fit into the overall elevational trend of increased abundance, species richness and diversity. However, all three measures were significantly correlated with humidity as the independent variable. This highlights that a gradient in humidity, and not elevation as such, is responsible for the typical elevational changes in epiphyte assemblages, so that special local conditions may lead to deviations from expected patterns. Our documentation of current elevational diversity patterns also provides a baseline for the study of long-term changes in epiphyte assemblages in anthropogenically modified landscapes.

Moss and vascular epiphyte distributions over host tree and elevation gradients in Australian subtropical rainforest

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Sanger ◽  
James B. Kirkpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
New South ◽  
Host Tree ◽  
Elevation Gradients ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Epiphyte Species ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

There is a lack of comprehensive studies on the ecology of epiphytic flora in Australia’s rainforests. Globally, rainforest epiphyte distribution is determined by three main factors: micro-climate within the host tree; landscape changes in macro-climate; and the characteristics of the host tree. We tested the influence of these factors on the species richness and composition of vascular and non-vascular epiphytes in the subtropical rainforest of the Border Ranges in New South Wales. Vascular epiphytes and mosses were recorded in situ from four height zones, with 10 trees sampled at five elevations between 300 and 1100 m above sea level (asl). Vascular epiphyte species richness was highest in the inner canopy (6.3 species), whereas mosses tended to have a uniform distribution over the height zones (3.8–5.0 species). We found that both moss and vascular epiphyte species richness peaked at mid-elevations (500–700 m), with moss richness at a slightly higher elevation than the vascular epiphytes. Host tree characteristics (bark roughness, host size) explained very little of the species composition or richness of epiphytes. Strong patterns in species richness and composition over host tree and elevation gradients suggest that moisture, temperature and light may be the major influences on epiphyte distributions in the Border Ranges.

scholarly journals VASCULAR EPIPHYTES: THE UGLY DUCKLING OF PHENOLOGICAL STUDIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-261
Author(s):  
ADRIANA RAMÍREZ MARTÍNEZ ◽  
DEMETRIA MARTHA MONDRAGÓN CHAPARRO ◽  
RAÚL RIVERA GARCÍA
Keyword(s):  
Web Of Science ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Ugly Duckling ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Wet Forests ◽  
Management And Conservation ◽  
Epiphyte Species

The phenology of vascular epiphytes, which represent account for about 10 % of the world’s flowering plants and perform important ecological functions, has been just partially explored. Since phenology is a key tool for the management and conservation of species, the objective of this review was to synthesize the information published so far about the phenology of vascular epiphytes, detect gaps of knowledge, and suggest future lines of investigation to understand the underlying mechanisms. We conducted an online search for articles in Google Scholar and in the ISI Web of Science database from 1800 to 2020, with different combinations of keywords. 107 studies addressing the phenology of different holo-epiphyte species were found; 88 % of the studies were performed in the Neotropic, especially in tropical and subtropical wet forests. The phenology of only ca.2% (418 spp.) of all reported epiphyte species has been explored. There is a bias toward the study of the flowering and fruiting phenology in members of the Orchidaceae (192 spp.) and Bromeliaceae (124 spp.) families. In general, the vegetative and reproductive phenology of epiphytes tends to be seasonal; however, there is a huge gap in our understanding of the proximate and ultimate factors involved. Future research should explicitly focus on studying those factors.

scholarly journals Vascular epiphytes contribute disproportionately to global centres of plant diversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Taylor ◽  
Gerhard Zotz ◽  
Patrick Weigelt ◽  
Lirong Cai ◽  
Dirk Karger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Latitudinal Diversity Gradient ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Vascular Plant Diversity ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
Epiphyte Species

Aim: Vascular epiphytes are ubiquitous features of wet tropical forests where they contribute substantially to local and regional plant diversity. While some basic epiphyte distribution patterns are relatively well studied, little effort has been made to understand the drivers responsible for constraining their global distribution. This study quantifies the substantial contribution of epiphytes to global gradients and centres of vascular plant diversity and explores whether epiphytes vary from terrestrial plants in relation to contemporary and historical environmental variables. Location: Global. Time period: Present. Major taxa studied: Vascular epiphytes. Methods: We integrated EpiList 1.0, a comprehensive list comprising > 30,000 vascular epiphyte species, and species distributions derived from the GIFT database to describe the global biogeography of epiphytes. We used generalized linear mixed effects models to assess the relationship between epiphytic and terrestrial plant diversity, and contemporary and historical environmental predictors. Results: We find that epiphytes substantially contribute to global centres of vascular plant diversity, accounting for up to 39% of the vascular flora in the Neotropics. Epiphytes decrease in species numbers with increasing latitude at a rate three times faster than terrestrial plants, a trend that is driven mainly by the distribution of tropical forests and precipitation. Further, large regional differences emerge that are explained by several large endemic angiosperm families (e.g., Neotropical Bromeliaceae) that are absent in other tropical regions. Main conclusions: Our results show that epiphytes are disproportionately diverse in most global centres of plant diversity and play an important role in driving the global latitudinal diversity gradient for plants. The distribution of precipitation and tropical forests emerge as major drivers of the latitudinal diversity gradient in epiphyte species richness. Finally, our findings demonstrate how epiphyte floras in different biogeographical realms are composed of different families and higher taxa revealing an important signature of historical biogeography.

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