Journal articles on the topic 'Epiphytes'
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Liu, Lu-Lu, Bin Yang, Hua-Zheng Lu, Yi Wu, Xian-Jing Meng, Yong-Jiang Zhang, and Liang Song. "Dry-Season Fog Water Utilization by Epiphytes in a Subtropical Montane Cloud Forest of Southwest China." Water 13, no. 22 (November 15, 2021): 3237. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13223237.
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Fog water is generally considered to be an important water source for epiphytes in cloud forests because they cannot directly access ground-level water sources. However, the water use proportions of potential water sources and water use efficiency of epiphytes in the subtropical montane cloud forests (MCF) remain to be further explored. In this study, we investigated the water use pattern in the dry season and the intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) of four epiphyte groups (i.e., epiphytic lichens, epiphytic bryophytes, epiphytic ferns, and epiphytic seed plants) using stable isotope (δ2H, δ18O, and δ13C) techniques. Our results indicated that the water sources of epiphytes were significantly different among groups and species. The contribution proportions of fog water to epiphytic lichens, epiphytic bryophytes, epiphytic ferns, and epiphytic seed plants were 83.2%, 32.7%, 38.8% and 63.7%, respectively. Epiphytic lichens and epiphytic seed plants mainly depended on fog water whereas the epiphytic bryophytes and epiphytic ferns relied on both fog water and humus. This may be due to their differences in morphological and structural traits (e.g., thallus or leaves, rhizoid or roots). Additionally, the difference in WUEi was also significant among epiphyte groups and species, which could be related to their different water acquisition patterns. In conclusion, our study reveals the differentiation of water utilization in epiphytes and confirms the importance of fog water for epiphytes during the dry season.
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Benavides, Ana-Maria, Jan H. D. Wolf, and Joost F. Duivenvoorden. "Recovery and succession of epiphytes in upper Amazonian fallows." Journal of Tropical Ecology 22, no. 6 (October 20, 2006): 705–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467406003580.
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The species richness, number of plants, biomass, and species composition of holo- and hemi-epiphytes were recorded in fifty-six 0.04-ha plots, distributed over forest fallows of 2–30 y old and mature forests in lowland Amazonia (Amacayacu National Park, Colombia). A total of 9190 epiphytic plants representing 162 species were recorded on 4277 phorophytes. Seventy species were classified as holo-epiphyte and 85 as hemi-epiphyte. Aroids were most diverse (58 species) and represented 76% of the total recorded biomass. Anemochory was more dominant among holo-epiphytes and zoochory among hemi-epiphytes. The species richness, density and biomass of both holo- and hemi-epiphytes increased significantly from young fallows to old fallows and mature forests. Hemi-epiphytes had greater density and biomass than holo-epiphytes. In canonical ordination, forest age did not relate to the species composition of holo-epiphytes. However, for hemi-epiphytes, the age effect was significant, suggesting that species turnover takes place in the ageing fallows.
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Anthelme, Gnagbo, Egnankou Mathieu, Pagny Junior, Kouao Lydie, Yao Carmel, Tiébré Marie-Solange, Kouassi Henri, and Adou Yves. "Epiphytic Dynamics of the Adaptations to the Changes of Habitats in Taï National Park." American Journal of Life Sciences 12, no. 4 (July 15, 2024): 65–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20241204.11.
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Anthropogenic pressures in the eastern zone of the Taï National Park have led to the fragmentation of plant formations. The forests in the eastern part of the park have suffered significant degradation of plant cover and a significant loss of biodiversity. Therefore, this study makes it possible to contribute to monitoring the dynamics of reconstitution of the plant cover based on the ecological characteristics and the distribution of epiphytes present in the Djapadji management sector. Floristic inventories were carried out. In the plots, all trees with a DBH ≥ 5 cm were counted and recorded for the study of the structure of plant formations, all species carrying an epiphyte were recorded and the epiphyte was identified. The analysis of the data presents a flora composed of 26 epiphytes distributed in 18 genera and 9 families, mainly present in mountain forests. The diversity of epiphytic plants is highest in mountain forests, followed by hydromorphic, secondary and gallery forests. Strict epiphytes and Hemiepiphytes are more present in the most preserved habitats, while accidental epiphytes are observed in reconstitution biotopes. The distribution of epiphytic plants allows us to affirm that the formerly anthropized forests of the Djapadji sector present a good dynamic of reconstitution.
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Sanger, Jennifer C., and James B. Kirkpatrick. "Moss and vascular epiphyte distributions over host tree and elevation gradients in Australian subtropical rainforest." Australian Journal of Botany 63, no. 8 (2015): 696. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt15169.
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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.
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Hsu, Chia-Chun, Fu-Wen Horng, and Chen-Meng Kuo. "Epiphyte biomass and nutrient capital of a moist subtropical forest in north-eastern Taiwan." Journal of Tropical Ecology 18, no. 5 (August 21, 2002): 659–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467402002432.
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A plot of 1200 m2 was selected to represent the average epiphyte abundance of a moist subtropical broadleaved forest at Fushan in north-eastern Taiwan. In this plot, all epiphytes of 18 sample trees with dbh > 5 cm were removed and weighed to estimate their biomass and nutrient content. We found that the biomass of epiphytes and their associated detrital matter in this plot was 3360 kg ha-1. The nutrient capital of the epiphytes (kg ha-1) was: N = 42.4, P = 1.9, Mg = 5.5, Na = 1.3, Ca = 14.5 and K = 28.9. Although the epiphytic biomass constituted less than 2% of the total above-ground biomass of the forest, the epiphytes comprised about 21-43% of the total foliage nutrient capital of the ecosystem. Because nutrients contained in epiphytes and tree foliage are more readily available to other organisms than those in woody components, epiphytes may play a greater role in ecosystem nutrient cycling than their relatively small biomass would suggest.
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Cornelissen, J. H. C., and H. Ter Steege. "Distribution and ecology of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in dry evergreen forest of Guyana." Journal of Tropical Ecology 5, no. 2 (May 1989): 131–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467400003400.
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ABSTRACTA floristic and ecological study of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens on standing mature Eperua trees was carried out in dry evergreen (walaba) forest in Guyana, South America. The trees were sampled from their base up to the highest canopy twigs, using mountaineering techniques. Clear vertical distribution patterns of epiphytic species and life-forms were found. Many species, particularly foliose lichens, appear to be preferential or exclusive to either Eperua grandiflora or E. falcata (Leguminosae), which are the dominant trees in the walaba forest. Special attention is given to the species-rich epiphyte vegetation on the upper canopy twigs, which include two categories of species: the sun epiphytes and the pioneers (facultative epiphylls).
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SCHMIDT, GEROLD, and GERHARD ZOTZ. "Herbivory in the epiphyte, Vriesea sanguinolenta Cogn. & Marchal (Bromeliaceae)." Journal of Tropical Ecology 16, no. 6 (November 2000): 829–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467400001747.
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Although herbivory in ground-rooted flora is well documented, current knowledge of the herbivore pressure on vascular epiphytes remains mostly anecdotal. Here, we present the results of a 3-year study on the herbivory in a population of the epiphytic bromeliad Vriesea sanguinolenta. In different years, 26–61% of all epiphytes showed traces of herbivore attack, while up to 4.4% of the entire leaf area of the epiphyte population was consumed annually. The recorded levels of damage to photosynthetic tissue, mostly caused by the larvae of Napaea eucharilla (Riodinidae, Lepidoptera), indicate that vascular epiphytes may be regularly and sometimes even lethally attacked by insect herbivores. The level of damage is comparable to ground-rooted tropical flora, which certainly does not support the prevalent notion of low and negligible levels of herbivory in vascular epiphytes.
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Valencia-Díaz, Susana, Alejandro Flores-Palacios, Verónica Rodríguez-López, Elsa Ventura-Zapata, and Antonio R. Jiménez-Aparicio. "Effect of host-bark extracts on seed germination in Tillandsia recurvata, an epiphytic bromeliad." Journal of Tropical Ecology 26, no. 6 (October 11, 2010): 571–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467410000374.
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Abstract:Tree species are potential hosts for epiphytes; however in some forests epiphytes have a biased distribution among hosts. In a tropical dry forest of Mexico, previous research showed that there are trees with few epiphytes. It is possible that the bark of these hosts contain allelochemicals that influence epiphyte seed germination. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether hosts with low epiphyte abundance (Ipomoea murucoides, I. pauciflora and Lysiloma acapulcense) would inhibit seed germination of Tillandsia recurvata through aqueous and organic bark extracts, (2) to determine whether germination of T. recurvata would differ among the hosts with low epiphyte abundance and a host with high epiphyte abundance (Bursera copallifera) and (3) to relate the chemical composition of organic bark extracts with inhibition of T. recurvata seed germination. Hexanic and dichloromethanic extracts were partially chemically characterized. Total phenolics and flavonoids concentrations of methanolic extracts were analysed. Aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts with few epiphytes inhibited T. recurvata seed germination. Aqueous and dichloromethanic extracts of B. copallifera inhibited slightly the germination of T. recurvata. There was a positive correlation between concentration of flavonoids and inhibition of seed germination. Results suggest that a combination of compounds may be responsible for affecting the germination of T. recurvata. This study demonstrates the chemical effect of aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts on germination of an epiphytic bromeliad.
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Tsioli, Soultana, Vasillis Papathanasiou, Anastasia Rizouli, Maria Kosmidou, Christos Katsaros, Eva Papastergiadou, Frithjof C. Küpper, and Sotiris Orfanidis. "Diversity and composition of algal epiphytes on the Mediterranean seagrass Cymodocea nodosa: a scale-based study." Botanica Marina 64, no. 2 (March 15, 2021): 101–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bot-2020-0057.
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Abstract Cymodocea nodosa, a typical marine angiosperm species in the Mediterranean Sea, hosts a range of epiphytic algae. Epiphyte abundance varies at different spatial scales, yet epiphyte diversity and community composition are poorly understood. This study explores the epiphytes on C. nodosa from two reference meadows (Thasos, Vrasidas) and one anthropogenically stressed meadow (Nea Karvali) in the northern Aegean Sea (Kavala Gulf, Greece). A nested destructive sampling design at three spatial scales (metres, hundreds of metres, kilometres) and stereoscopic/microscopic observations were used. Light microscopy revealed a total of 19 taxa of macroalgae populating the leaves of C. nodosa. The most commonly encountered taxa with highest cover (%) were Hydrolithon cruciatum and Feldmannia mitchelliae. DNA sequencing (18S rDNA) confirms the presence of a number of dinoflagellate and red algal epiphytes, and this represents the first application of DNA metabarcoding to study the diversity of seagrass epiphytes. Epiphytic communities studied at species/taxon and functional (Ecological Status Groups) levels separated the reference low-stressed meadows from the degraded one, with the functional approach having higher success. The ecological evaluation index classified the studied meadows into different Ecological Status Classes according to anthropogenic stress.
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Nurrahma, Aditiya, Ismanto ., and Taufikurrahman Nasution. "KEANEKARAGAMAN EPIFIT BERPEMBULUH PADA BATANG POHON INANG ANGIOSPERMAE DAN GYMNOSPERMAE DI KEBUN RAYA CIBODAS." EKOLOGIA 22, no. 2 (October 31, 2022): 75–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.33751/ekologia.v22i2.5789.
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Epiphytes are types of plants that attach and grow on other plants to obtain sunlight, water, air, and minerals for their growth. The aim of this study are knowing the diversity of vascular epiphytes on the host trunks of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms, knowing the differences in vascular epiphytic communities on the host trunks of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms and to determine factors causing vascular epiphytes communities on the host trunk is used in this research. Sampling plot is located on the host tree's trunk to facilitate the calculation of vascular epiphytes; a simple plot measuring 2 m x 0,5 m was made facing east and west. Determination of the number of tree sampling is done based on the Area Species Curve. The results of this study indicate that the vascular epiphyte diversity on trunks of Gymnospermae is higher than Angiospermae, meanwhile that Shannon Wiener diversity index of vascular epiphytes on Angiosperms and Gymnosperms host trunks being moderate category. Jaccard Similarity index was 0.44 and indicated the different of epiphytes community between Angiospermae and Gymnospermae tree host. The dominant species based on Important value index in Angiosperms are Davallia hymenophylloides (35,05%), Goniophlebium subauriculatum (20,92%), and Dendrobium mutabile (20,07) while ini Gymnosperme are Davallia hymenophylloides (41,36%), Goniophlebium subauriculatum (15,94%), and Peperomia tetraphylla (15,55%). In Angiospermae, the factors that influence the diversity of vascular epiphyte species are roughness and thickness, while in Gymnosperms the influential factors are roughness and diameter.
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Noisette, Fanny, Anna Depetris, Michael Kühl, and Kasper Elgetti Brodersen. "Flow and epiphyte growth effects on the thermal, optical and chemical microenvironment in the leaf phyllosphere of seagrass ( Zostera marina )." Journal of The Royal Society Interface 17, no. 171 (October 2020): 20200485. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2020.0485.
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Intensified coastal eutrophication can result in an overgrowth of seagrass leaves by epiphytes, which is a major threat to seagrass habitats worldwide, but little is known about how epiphytic biofilms affect the seagrass phyllosphere. The physico-chemical microenvironment of Zostera marina L. leaves with and without epiphytes was mapped with electrochemical, thermocouple and scalar irradiance microsensors as a function of four irradiance conditions (dark, low, saturating and high light) and two water flow velocities (approx. 0.5 and 5 cm s −1 ), which resemble field conditions. The presence of epiphytes led to the build up of a diffusive boundary layer and a thermal boundary layer which impeded O 2 and heat transfer between the leaf surface and the surrounding water, resulting in a maximum increase of 0.8°C relative to leaves with no epiphytes. Epiphytes also reduced the quantity and quality of light reaching the leaf, decreasing plant photosynthesis. In darkness, epiphyte respiration exacerbated hypoxic conditions, which can lead to anoxia and the production of potential phytotoxic nitric oxide in the seagrass phyllosphere. Epiphytic biofilm affects the local phyllosphere physico-chemistry both because of its metabolic activity (i.e. photosynthesis/respiration) and its physical properties (i.e. thickness, roughness, density and back-scattering properties). Leaf tissue warming can lead to thermal stress in seagrasses living close to their thermal stress threshold, and thus potentially aggravate negative effects of global warming.
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Muñoz, Alejandro A., Paulina Chacón, Fernanda Pérez, Elizabeth S. Barnert, and Juan J. Armesto. "Diversity and host tree preferences of vascular epiphytes and vines in a temperate rainforest in southern Chile." Australian Journal of Botany 51, no. 4 (2003): 381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt02070.
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Vines and epiphytes contribute importantly to the biodiversity of temperate rainforests of southern South America. However, compared with their tropical counterparts, these functional groups have received less attention. We evaluated diversity, floristic composition and relative abundance of vascular epiphytes and vines within a humid temperate forest in northern Chiloé Island, southern Chile. We assessed whether epiphyte and vine species exhibit preferences among host tree species and tested whether species richness on tree hosts differs from that expected by chance, by comparing observed frequencies of occurrence (FO) and species richness with randomly simulated frequency distributions generated under the assumption of no epiphyte preferences. Finally, we tested for associations of epiphyte and vine species with host tree size (trunk diameter at breast height). Eleven species of ferns and nine angiosperms (seven vines, one epiphytic angiosperm and one shrub) were recorded growing epiphytically in a sample of 499 trees. The most abundant species were three vines, Luzuriaga polyphylla (Hook.) Macbr., Griselinia racemosa (Phil.) Taub. and Mitraria coccinea Cav., and five species of filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae). Most epiphytes and vines (65%) showed preference for one or two tree species, with seven species being overrepresented on Podocarpus nubigena Lindl. hosts and 10 underrepresented on Drimys winteri J.R. et G.Forster. Epiphyte and vine species richness was significantly lower than expected by chance on D. winteri and higher than expected on Nothofagus nitida (Phil.) Krasser. Three epiphytic ferns showed preferences for large-sized trees, while frequency of occurrence of three common vines was independent of host tree size.
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Lippert, Ana Paula Utzig, Vinícius Leão Silva, Ivanete Teresinha Mallmann, Andressa Müller, Annette Droste, and Jairo Lizandro Schmitt. "Edge effect on vascular epiphytes in a subtropical Atlantic Forest fragment." Journal of Environmental Analysis and Progress 7, no. 3 (August 3, 2022): 135–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.24221/jeap.7.3.2022.4931.135-149.
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Epiphytes are efficient indicators of environmental quality. The Atlantic Forest is a hotspot for epiphyte richness; however, it is experiencing one of the highest rates of degradation, exposing epiphytes to edge effects. This study aimed to evaluate the floristic composition and richness of vascular epiphytes and their relationship with phorophyte features and microenvironmental variables at the edge and in the interior of a subtropical Atlantic Forest fragment in Brazil. Twenty-five trees were analyzed, respectively, at the edge and in the interior of the fragment. Height and diameter of phorophytes, temperature, relative air humidity, photosynthetically active radiation and canopy opening were measured. A total of 41 epiphytic species were recorded, 40 occurring in the interior and 23 at the edge. Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Polypodiaceae were the richest families, representing 75% of all species. The average number of species per tree in the interior was twice that for the edge. Pleopeltis pleopeltifolia, Microgramma squamulosa, M. vacciniifolia and Rhipsalis teres concentrated great biomass in both environments, with twice as much in the interior. Epiphyte richness and biomass was lower on thinner trees with more open canopies at the edge. Our results indicate that the forest interior is more beneficial for epiphytes, which are sensitive to environmental changes caused by the edge effect. The contrast between the epiphytic communities of the edge and the interior reveals the need to increase richness and abundance of native trees and prevent cattle grazing, the planting of exotic species and more human settlements in the habitat matrix.
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Chowdhury, Roshni, and Monoranjan Chowdhury. "Upright Stratification of Vascular Epiphytes in Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Eastern Himalaya." International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 50, no. 3 (February 9, 2024): 441–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.55863/ijees.2024.3209.
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Vascular epiphyte makes a significant contribution to the tropical and sub-tropical diversity. In this study vertical distribution of vascular epiphytes and their significance presence were analysed within the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. Tree species were sampled upon which VEA (Vascular epiphytic assemblage) were studied by using binocular and rope climbing method. A total of 1057 individual epiphytes representing 59 species belonging to 10 families were sampled. Trees were grouped over heights, DBH and Vertical distribution according to zonation pattern confirmed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). Orchids and ferns were found dominant species of the study area.
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Benavides, A. M., A. Vasco, A. J. Duque, and J. F. Duivenvoorden. "Association of vascular epiphytes with landscape units and phorophytes in humid lowland forests of Colombian Amazonia." Journal of Tropical Ecology 27, no. 03 (March 10, 2011): 223–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467410000726.
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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.
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Freiberg, Martin, and Elke Freiberg. "Epiphyte diversity and biomass in the canopy of lowland and montane forests in Ecuador." Journal of Tropical Ecology 16, no. 5 (September 2000): 673–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467400001644.
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Epiphyte diversity as well as distribution and composition of epiphytic biomass was investigated in two lowland and two montane rain forests in Ecuador. Species numbers of epiphytes per tree were slightly higher in the montane (22–41 in Los Cedros, 33–54 in Otonga) than in the lowland forests (9–43 in Yasuni, 19–32 in Tiputini), however differences were not significant. In contrast, some epiphyte families did show significant altitudinal differences. The total epiphytic biomass per branch surface decreased from the centre of the crown to the periphery, and was generally higher in the montane (6.0 kg m−2 on central branches in Los Cedros, 1.8 kg m−2 in Otonga) than in the lowland forests (1.3 kg m−2 in Yasuni and 1.8 kg m−2 in Tiputini). Especially, dry weight of bryophytes and dead organic matter was higher in the mountains. In contrast, the biomass of green parts of vascular epiphytes on central branches was about the same in all four forests (0.4–0.6 kg m−2). A comparison with literature data from other study sites of tropical moist forests supports the observation that biomass of vascular epiphytes does not significantly change with altitude. It is discussed, that the high bryophytic biomass in montane compared to lowland forests is a major reason for differences in humus biomass between these forest types.
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Barbosa, D. E. F., G. A. Basílio, S. G. Furtado, and L. Menini Neto. "THE IMPORTANCE OF HETEROGENEITY OF HABITATS FOR THE SPECIES RICHNESS OF VASCULAR EPIPHYTES IN REMNANTS OF BRAZILIAN MONTANE SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST." Edinburgh Journal of Botany 77, no. 1 (October 16, 2019): 99–118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0960428619000313.
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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.
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CARDOSO, WEVERSON CAVALCANTE, RAQUEL NEGRÃO, VALQUÍRIA FERREIRA DUTRA, and CASSIA MÔNICA SAKURAGUI. "Rediscovering Rhipsalis hoelleri (Cactaceae), a Critically Endangered species from Brazilian Atlantic Forest ." Phytotaxa 498, no. 1 (April 23, 2021): 63–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.498.1.8.
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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.
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Pypker, Thomas G., Michael H. Unsworth, and Barbara J. Bond. "The role of epiphytes in rainfall interception by forests in the Pacific Northwest. I. Laboratory measurements of water storage." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36, no. 4 (April 1, 2006): 809–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x05-298.
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Old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) forests frequently contain large populations of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes. To determine the effect these epiphytes have on canopy hydrology we measured the maximum water fraction (f(x)max; maximum mass of internal and external water stored by an epiphyte divided by its tissue dry mass) of common lichens, bryophytes, and dead branches in the laboratory and the water storage and interception efficiency (pi) (the rainfall stored on a branch divided by the rainfall intercepted by the branch) of whole epiphyte-laden branches under a rainfall simulator at three intensities (11.3, 16.1, and 39.8 mm·h1). The f(x)max values for epiphytic fruticose lichens, foliose lichens, and bryophytes were 2.2 ± 0.4, 3.4 ± 0.6, and 10.0 ± 0.5, respectively. The water stored by an epiphyte-laden branch during and after exposure to simulated rainfall could be predicted if the biomass of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes on the branch was known (R2 = 0.8, p value < 0.0001). For all three rainfall intensities, the branches required >6 mm of rainfall to saturate. Values of pi averaged between 0.5 and 0.7 after 2 mm of rainfall and did not differ among the three intensities (all p values > 0.05). We conclude that epiphytes increase the canopy water storage of a typical old growth Douglas-fir forest by >1.3 mm.
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Wagner, Katrin, Wolfgang Wanek, and Gerhard Zotz. "Functional Traits of a Rainforest Vascular Epiphyte Community: Trait Covariation and Indications for Host Specificity." Diversity 13, no. 2 (February 23, 2021): 97. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13020097.
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Trait matching between interacting species may foster diversity. Thus, high epiphyte diversity in tropical forests may be partly due to the high diversity of trees and some degree of host specificity. However, possible trait matching between epiphyte and host is basically unexplored. Since the epiphytic habitat poses particular challenges to plants, their trait correlations should differ from terrestrial plants, but to what extent is unclear as epiphytes are underrepresented or missing in the large trait databases. We quantified 28 traits of 99 species of vascular epiphytes in a lowland forest in Panama that were related to plant size, leaf, stem, and root morphology; photosynthetic mode; and nutrient concentrations. We analyzed trait covariation, community weighted means, and functional diversity for assemblages on stems and in crowns of four tree species. We found intriguing differences between epiphytes and terrestrial plants regarding trait covariation in trait relations between plant maximal height, stem specific density, specific root length, and root tissue den-sity, i.e., stem and root economic spectra. Regarding host specificity, we found strong evidence for environmental filtering of epiphyte traits, but only in tree crowns. On stems, community weighted means differed in only one case, whereas > 2/3 of all traits differed in tree crowns. Although we were only partly able to interpret these differences in the light of tree trait differences, these findings mark an important step towards a functional understanding of epiphyte host specificity.
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Zotz, Gerhard, and Birgit Vollrath. "The epiphyte vegetation of the palm Socratea exorrhiza - correlations with tree size, tree age and bryophyte cover." Journal of Tropical Ecology 19, no. 1 (January 2003): 81–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467403003092.
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We conducted a survey of the epiphyte flora growing on the stilt palm Socratea exorrhiza in a primary lowland rain forest in Panama by means of a canopy crane. For each palm in a 0.9-ha plot, we determined diameter at breast height, tree height, per cent bryophyte cover and the number, identity and attachment site of all vascular epiphytes. The 118 palm trees hosted a total of 701 epiphytes and hemi-epiphytes, belonging to 66 species. Trees were estimated to be c. 20 y old before colonization with vascular epiphytes began. Epiphyte species were highly clumped and segregated along the vertical axis of the trunk. Sequential colonization led to an increased number of species and individuals as the tree grows. Epiphytes were associated with bryophyte patches much more than expected by chance, but no species seemed to depend upon them for establishment. The influence of tree size, age and bryophyte cover on the composition of the epiphyte community are discussed.
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Hargis, Hailey, Sybil G. Gotsch, Philipp Porada, Georgianne W. Moore, Briana Ferguson, and John T. Van Stan. "Arboreal Epiphytes in the Soil-Atmosphere Interface: How Often Are the Biggest “Buckets” in the Canopy Empty?" Geosciences 9, no. 8 (August 5, 2019): 342. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9080342.
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Arboreal epiphytes (plants residing in forest canopies) are present across all major climate zones and play important roles in forest biogeochemistry. The substantial water storage capacity per unit area of the epiphyte “bucket” is a key attribute underlying their capability to influence forest hydrological processes and their related mass and energy flows. It is commonly assumed that the epiphyte bucket remains saturated, or near-saturated, most of the time; thus, epiphytes (particularly vascular epiphytes) can store little precipitation, limiting their impact on the forest canopy water budget. We present evidence that contradicts this common assumption from (i) an examination of past research; (ii) new datasets on vascular epiphyte and epi-soil water relations at a tropical montane cloud forest (Monteverde, Costa Rica); and (iii) a global evaluation of non-vascular epiphyte saturation state using a process-based vegetation model, LiBry. All analyses found that the external and internal water storage capacity of epiphyte communities is highly dynamic and frequently available to intercept precipitation. Globally, non-vascular epiphytes spend <20% of their time near saturation and regionally, including the humid tropics, model results found that non-vascular epiphytes spend ~1/3 of their time in the dry state (0–10% of water storage capacity). Even data from Costa Rican cloud forest sites found the epiphyte community was saturated only 1/3 of the time and that internal leaf water storage was temporally dynamic enough to aid in precipitation interception. Analysis of the epi-soils associated with epiphytes further revealed the extent to which the epiphyte bucket emptied—as even the canopy soils were often <50% saturated (29–53% of all days observed). Results clearly show that the epiphyte bucket is more dynamic than currently assumed, meriting further research on epiphyte roles in precipitation interception, redistribution to the surface and chemical composition of “net” precipitation waters reaching the surface.
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Caners, Richard T., S. Ellen Macdonald, and René J. Belland. "Responses of boreal epiphytic bryophytes to different levels of partial canopy harvestThis paper is one of a selection of papers published as part of the special Schofield Gedenkschrift." Botany 88, no. 4 (April 2010): 315–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b09-089.
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Epiphytic mosses and liverworts contribute substantially to the bryophyte diversity of circumpolar boreal forests but are susceptible to altered growing conditions after forest harvesting. Management practices that retain some trees after harvest may enhance epiphyte survival; however, the effectiveness of this emerging method needs to be assessed. We examined the survival, composition, and nearest neighbour relationships of epiphytic bryophytes on trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) across a range (10%–100%) of dispersed green-tree retention 5 years after harvest in boreal mixed-wood forest. Growth of the forest floor moss Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp. in B.S.G. was used as an indicator of changes in moisture availability for epiphytes following harvesting. Epiphyte richness and abundance increased with canopy retention and were positively correlated with local abundance of coniferous trees. Positive associations among neighbouring species in intact forest demonstrated that interspecies relationships form naturally. However, there was a shift in species composition after harvesting and fewer interspecific associations with declining retention. These trends were accompanied by reduced Hylocomium splendens growth, which implies that moisture may be an important driver of epiphyte response. Although different levels of canopy retention were similarly capable of maintaining some epiphytes, the loss of species associated with intact forest will require consideration of alternative management practices for their conservation.
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Zhang, Tingting, Wenyao Liu, Tao Hu, Dandan Tang, Yuxuan Mo, and Yi Wu. "Divergent Adaptation Strategies of Vascular Facultative Epiphytes to Bark and Soil Habitats: Insights from Stoichiometry." Forests 12, no. 1 (December 24, 2020): 16. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f12010016.
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Understanding the stoichiometric traits of plants is critical for studying their ecological adaptation strategies. Facultative epiphytes (which can also live on the ground) are an important component of epiphytic flora of montane forest ecosystems. However, a key gap persists in our understanding how facultative epiphytes can adapt different nutritional conditions of ground and canopy habitats? To study adaptive strategies of facultative epiphytes and the characteristics of the content and stoichiometric homeostasis of C, N, and P elements, we conducted a field experiment and a greenhouse N and P additions cultivation experiment. We found that epiphytic individuals of facultative epiphytes showed lower C:N and C:P ratios, higher variation in elemental composition, and more pronounced N limitation than terrestrial individuals. Moreover, facultative epiphytes showed strong control over the elemental composition of leaves, and their stoichiometric homeostasis of leaves and stems were stronger than roots. Furthermore, the homeostasis of facultative epiphytes decreased in the order N > P. Our results indicated that epiphytic and terrestrial individuals of facultative epiphytes have difference in nutrient limitation, and they use plastic strategies in different habitats. Epiphytic individuals survive in the intermittent habitat through luxury consumption of nutrient while terrestrial individuals were relatively conservative nutrient users. Furthermore, our results implied that facultative epiphytes maintain stable metabolic leaf activity via variable element concentrations of roots to adapt to highly heterogeneous forest habitats.
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Tsutsumi, Chie, Kazumitsu Miyoshi, Tomohisa Yukawa, and Masahiro Kato. "Responses of seed germination and protocorm formation to light intensity and temperature in epiphytic and terrestrial Liparis (Orchidaceae)." Botany 89, no. 12 (December 2011): 841–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b11-066.
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Epiphytes begin their life history with seed germination on trees and live on the trees throughout the lives. In contrast, the seeds of terrestrial plants germinate on the ground. To clarify differences in early life history between epiphytes and terrestrial species, we compared the responses of in vitro asymbiotic seed germination and protocorm formation to various light intensities and temperatures between the epiphyte Liparis fujisanensis and two closely related terrestrial species, Liparis koreojaponica and Liparis kumokiri (Orchidaceae). Epiphytic germination was higher at low temperature and under high light intensity than that of the terrestrial species. Protocorms were formed only in the dark in the three species. Field measurements of temperature and photosynthetically active radiation in six natural habitats of the species from 2005 to 2006 showed that the habitats of the epiphyte were exposed to higher light intensities than those of the terrestrial species. The high germination capability of epiphyte seeds in wider ranges of light intensity and temperature may be beneficial to its seedling growth in the early growing season in exposed aboveground habitats.
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Hsu, Rebecca C. C., Chienyu Lin, and Chienwen Chen. "Topography-Induced Local Climatic Variations as the Decisive Factor in the Shaping of Epiphyte Distributions in Chilan, Northeastern Taiwan." Forests 14, no. 2 (February 10, 2023): 358. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f14020358.
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To identify the determining microclimatic factors affecting epiphyte distributions, we comprehensively investigated the epiphyte community of montane cloud forests in Chilan. Four sites of adjacent old-growth forests were chosen based on the degree of prevailing wind exposure. At each site, a micrometeorological station was installed about 20 m in the forest canopy. Five emergent trees (with heights of 19~46 m and DBHs of 73~230 cm) were selected at each site for tree structure measurement and epiphyte inventory. In total, 2043 occurrences of 61 epiphytic species were recorded. Epiphytes were most abundant and diverse at the Lake site, followed by the Lee, Wind, and WindN sites. The epiphyte assemblages greatly differed across these sites, which was likely determined by the range variation in vapor pressure deficit (VPD). At least 14 site-exclusive species were identified across the four sites. This is the first study comparing epiphyte distributions of old-growth forests at a fine topographic scale. We found that small changes in microclimate, especially the range variance of VPD, dramatically affect epiphyte communities. Our results reinforce the understanding that epiphytes are a highly sensitive functional group of the forest ecosystem and serve as a good indicator of climate change.
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Winoto-Lewin, Yanti, and Jamie B. Kirkpatrick. "Species of accidental woody epiphytes vary between host trees in Tasmanian wet forests." Australian Journal of Botany 68, no. 8 (2020): 532. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt19104.
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Little is known about accidental epiphytes in Australian temperate forests. In western Tasmania, we determined whether: (1) the occurrence and abundance of accidental epiphytes increases with moisture availability and the size of host; (2) the species of host affects the occurrence of individual taxa of accidental epiphytes; (3) moist microhabitats favour accidental epiphytes. We recorded the accidental woody epiphytes on 21 trees in each of 20 locations and measured attributes of the host and the location and attachment height of the individual epiphytes. Epiphyte occurrence, but not abundance, was associated with the basal area of host tree, January rainfall and the taxon of the host. Eucalypts, gymnosperms and tree ferns were the outstanding hosts. The rainforest tree Nothofagus cunninghamii occurred as an epiphyte on eucalypts more than expected, while Proteaceae species occurred less than expected. In contrast, there was a strong positive association between the gymnosperm Athrotaxis selaginoides as a host and Proteaceae as epiphytes, possible reflecting their joint status as palaeoendemics. Accidental epiphytes were concentrated on the west and south-west of trees and near their bases, further indicating a strong effect of moisture availability on their occurrence. Our results reinforce the importance of conserving old growth forest to maintain ecosystem complexity.
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Rapp, Joshua M., and Miles R. Silman. "Epiphyte response to drought and experimental warming." F1000Research 3 (January 13, 2014): 7. http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.3-7.v1.
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The high diversity and abundance of vascular epiphytes in tropical montane cloud forest is associated with frequent cloud immersion, which is thought to protect plants from drought stress. Increasing temperature and rising cloud bases associated with climate change may increase epiphyte drought stress, leading to species and biomass loss. We tested the hypothesis that warmer and drier conditions associated with a lifting cloud base will lead to increased mortality and/or decreased recruitment of epiphyte ramets, altering species composition in epiphyte mats. By using a reciprocal transplant design, where epiphyte mats were transplanted across an altitudinal gradient of increasing cloud immersion, we differentiated between the effects of warmer and drier conditions from the more general prediction of niche theory that transplanting epiphytes in any direction away from their home elevation should result in reduced performance. Ramet mortality increased, recruitment decreased, and population size declined for epiphytes in mats transplanted down slope from the highest elevation, into warmer and drier conditions, but epiphytes from lower elevations showed greater resistance to drought in all treatments. Epiphyte community composition changed with elevation, but over the timescale of the experiment there were no consistent changes in species composition. Our results suggest some epiphytes may show resistance to climate change depending on the environmental context, although if climate change results in consistently drier conditions and higher cloud bases, biomass loss and shifting species composition in epiphyte communities is likely.
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Rapp, Joshua M., and Miles R. Silman. "Epiphyte response to drought and experimental warming in an Andean cloud forest." F1000Research 3 (June 6, 2014): 7. http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.3-7.v2.
Full textAbstract:
The high diversity and abundance of vascular epiphytes in tropical montane cloud forest is associated with frequent cloud immersion, which is thought to protect plants from drought stress. Increasing temperature and rising cloud bases associated with climate change may increase epiphyte drought stress, leading to species and biomass loss. We tested the hypothesis that warmer and drier conditions associated with a lifting cloud base will lead to increased mortality and/or decreased recruitment of epiphyte ramets, altering species composition in epiphyte mats. By using a reciprocal transplant design, where epiphyte mats were transplanted across an altitudinal gradient of increasing cloud immersion, we differentiated between the effects of warmer and drier conditions from the more general prediction of niche theory that transplanting epiphytes in any direction away from their home elevation should result in reduced performance. Effects differed among species, but effects were generally stronger and more negative for epiphytes in mats transplanted down slope from the highest elevation, into warmer and drier conditions, than for epiphyte mats transplanted from other elevations. In contrast, epiphytes from lower elevations showed greater resistance to drought in all treatments. Epiphyte community composition changed with elevation, but over the timescale of the experiment there were no consistent changes in species composition. Our results suggest some epiphytes may show resistance to climate change depending on the environmental and evolutionary context. In particular, sites where high rainfall makes cloud immersion less important for epiphyte water-balance, or where occasional drought has previously selected for drought-resistant taxa, may be less adversely affected by predicted climate changes.
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Paolucci, Lucas N., Ricardo R. C. Solar, and Laura C. Leal. "Proximity shapes similarity in epiphytic composition of Neotropical ant gardens." Journal of Tropical Ecology 32, no. 4 (June 16, 2016): 325–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467416000298.
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Abstract:Ant gardens (AGs) are specialized ant-plant associations where arboreal ants build their carton nests in association with epiphytes that use the carton as a substrate. Most of the epiphytes are planted by ants; therefore, seed selection by ants is a key driver of the epiphyte composition of AGs. However, deterministic post-dispersal factors, such as the surrounding environmental conditions and plant succession, may also influence epiphyte composition. Here we ask whether epiphyte composition on a local scale is associated with dispersal constraints, local environmental conditions (light availability, number of branches and nest height) or AG successional stage. We sampled all epiphyte species in 18 AGs formed by Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior in Central Amazon, Brazil. AGs were located within a range of 1 km and at a maximum of 20 m from the edges of a dirt road within a primary forest. Epiphytic composition showed strong spatial structure, decreasing in similarity with increasing distance. Environmental conditions and AG successional stage were not related to AG floristic composition, suggesting a key role of stochastic processes related to seed dispersal. A combination of seed abundance and attractiveness in neighbouring AGs seems to drive the higher similarity in epiphyte composition among closer AGs.
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Riordan, Erin C., Katharine L. Gerst, Orlando Vargas Ramirez, and Philip W. Rundel. "Differential Species Richness and Ecological Success of Epiphytes and Hemiepiphytes of Neotropical Araceae and Cyclanthaceae." Plants 12, no. 23 (November 28, 2023): 4004. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants12234004.
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Numerous plant functional traits of ecophysiology and morphology associated with an epiphytic life history have promoted relatively high rates of evolutionary diversification and ecological success in tropical families such as the Orchidaeae, Polypodiaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Cactaceae. Epiphytic life histories are relatively uncommon in the Araceae and rare in the Cyclanthaceae which lack key functional traits for epiphytism. Only two lineages of Neotropical Araceae, Anthurium and Philodendron, include examples of epiphyte life histories. The evolution of a hemiepiphytic life history represented an important development for tropical Araceae by providing functional traits that have greatly expanded opportunities for adaptive radiation and ecological success as indicated by species richness and frequency of occurrence. The key adaptive trait allowing the diversification of hemiepiphytic Araceae was the development of heteroblastic growth of leaves and stems. Although hemiepiphytic life histories are present in the Cyclanthaceae, the family has undergone only modest speciation and limited ecological success in both its epiphytes and hemiepiphytes. Extensive sampling of more than 4600 trees from primary forest on four soil groups in northeastern Costa Rica have found a modest diversity of 15 species of epiphytic Araceae but only two species of epiphytic Cyclanthaceae. In contrast, 38 species of hemiepiphytic Araceae and 5 species of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae were sampled, indicating relatively limited adaptive radiation of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae and lower ecological success. Using summed values of frequency of occurrence as a measure of ecological success, epiphytic Araceae were 18 to 42 times more frequent than epiphytic Cyclanthaceae in swamp, alluvial, and residual soil forests. Summed frequencies of occurrence of hemiepiphytic Araceae were 7 to 13 times higher than those of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae. The four soil groups were similar in their floristic composition of epiphytic and hemiepiphytic Araceae and Cyclanthaceae, but the frequencies of occurrence of both epiphytes and hemiepiphytes were, with few exceptions, highest on swamp soil plots, with alluvial soil plots slightly less favorable.
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Ellis, Christopher J. "A hypervolume approach to niche specialism, tested for the old-growth indicator status of calicioids." Lichenologist 54, no. 6 (November 2022): 379–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0024282922000330.
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AbstractCertain lichen epiphytes are restricted to old-growth forest stands with long ‘ecological continuity’, explained by i) niche specialism and their dependence on microhabitats associated with old stands including veteran or senescent trees, and/or ii) dispersal limitation with probabilities of colonization being relaxed over extended time periods. ‘Calicioid’ species are among the most important old-growth indicators, yet they reproduce sexually via small spores that appear widely dispersed at ecological scales. This suggests that they should have a high level of niche specialism compared to lichen epiphytes in general, explaining their role as old-growth indicators. However, comparisons of niche specialism are challenging, and this study uses epiphytic, corticolous calicioid species as an appropriate test case. Having measured 20 variables that constrain the lichen epiphyte niche, these were collapsed into a ‘hypervolume’ representing the sampled environmental space available for occupancy by lichens in Scotland as a study system. It was then possible to examine the occupancy of this hypervolume by individual lichens (niche breadth), with the proportion/percent occupied used to estimate a niche specialism score. Consequently, epiphyte calicioid species are confirmed to have a high degree of niche specialism compared to lichen epiphytes in general, and compared to other old-growth indicators, with their niche position directed towards drier climates including locally sheltered microhabitats associated with old-growth forest structure.
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Acuña-Tarazona, Margoth, Tarin Toledo-Aceves, Alejandro Flores-Palacios, Vinicio J. Sosa, and M. Luisa Martínez. "Post-stripping recolonization of vascular epiphytes in cloud-forest fragments in Mexico." Journal of Tropical Ecology 31, no. 6 (August 12, 2015): 499–508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467415000395.
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Abstract:The response of vascular epiphyte communities following natural or human disturbance has been little studied. Over 5 y, we evaluated the post-stripping recolonization of vascular epiphytes in cloud forest. Vascular epiphytes were experimentally removed from branch and trunk plots (1 m in length) on five trees in two secondary cloud forest fragments in southern Mexico. Similarity between colonizer and established communities was compared in each fragment using a further five trees with no stripping. All seedlings were recorded yearly. Non-vascular epiphyte cover was estimated in each plot. The recolonization rate was very high; after 5 y, epiphyte density of the colonizer community (27.4 ± 6.8 individuals per segment) reached similar values to those of the established community (26.7 ± 3.3) in nearby trees. While similarity (composition and abundance) between the colonizer community and established community was high (81%), diversity accumulation curves indicated that the colonizer community presents a lower diversity of epiphytes (5.5 equivalent species) than the established community (11.4). Colonization of xerophytic bromeliads was high, while pteridophytes and orchids presented reduced recovery. The immediately surrounding source of propagules had a strong influence on recolonization. In both the colonizer and established communities, dominance rank was bromeliads > peperomias > pteridophytes. The results show that the recovery capacity of epiphytic vegetation in secondary forest is high, if propagule sources are close by. However, at 5 y after disturbance, it is unclear whether the colonizer community would present the same species composition as the established community or if it would give rise to a different community.
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Schmidt, Susanne, and Dieter P. Tracey. "Adaptations of strangler figs to life in the rainforest canopy." Functional Plant Biology 33, no. 5 (2006): 465. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/fp06014.
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Figs are rainforest keystone species. Non-strangler figs establish on the forest floor; strangler figs establish epiphytically, followed by a dramatic transition from epiphyte to free-standing tree that kills its hosts. Free-standing figs display vigorous growth and resource demand suggesting that epiphytic strangler figs require special adaptations to deal with resource limitations imposed by the epiphytic environment. We studied epiphytic and free-standing strangler figs, and non-strangler figs in tropical rainforest and in cultivation, as well as strangler figs in controlled conditions. We investigated whether the transition from epiphyte to free-standing tree is characterised by morphological and physiological plasticity. Epiphyte substrate had higher levels of plant-available ammonium and phosphate, and similar levels of nitrate compared with rainforest soil, suggesting that N and P are initially not limiting resources. A relationship was found between taxonomic groups and plant N physiology; strangler figs, all members of subgenus Urostigma, had mostly low foliar nitrate assimilation rates whereas non-strangler figs, in subgenera Pharmacocycea, Sycidium, Sycomorus or Synoecia, had moderate to high rates. Nitrate is an energetically expensive N source, and low nitrate use may be an adaptation of strangler figs for conserving energy during epiphytic growth. Interestingly, significant amounts of nitrate were stored in fleshy taproot tubers of epiphytic stranglers. Supporting the concept of plasticity, leaves of epiphytic Ficus benjamina L. had lower N and C content per unit leaf area, lower stomatal density and 80% greater specific leaf area than leaves of conspecific free-standing trees. Similarly, glasshouse-grown stranglers strongly increased biomass allocation to roots under water limitation. Epiphytic and free-standing F. benjamina had similar average foliar δ13C, but epiphytes had more extreme values; this indicates that both groups of plants use the C3 pathway of CO2 fixation but that water availability is highly variable for epiphytes. We hypothesise that epiphytic figs use fleshy stem tubers to avoid water stress, and that nitrate acts as an osmotic compound in tubers. We conclude that strangler figs are a unique experimental system for studying the transition from rainforest epiphyte to tree, and the genetic and environmental triggers involved.
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Gravendeel, Barbara, Ann Smithson, Ferry J. W. Slik, and Andre Schuiteman. "Epiphytism and pollinator specialization: drivers for orchid diversity?" Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 359, no. 1450 (October 29, 2004): 1523–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2004.1529.
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Epiphytes are a characteristic component of tropical rainforests. Out of the 25 000 orchid species currently known to science, more than 70% live in tree canopies. Understanding when and how these orchids diversified is vital to understanding the history of epiphytic biomes. We investigated whether orchids managed to radiate so explosively owing to their predominantly epiphytic habit and/or their specialized pollinator systems by testing these hypotheses from a statistical and phylogenetic standpoint. For the first approach, species numbers of 100 randomly chosen epiphytic and terrestrial genera were compared. Furthermore, the mean number of pollinators per orchid species within the five subfamilies was calculated and correlated with their time of diversification and species richness. In the second approach, molecular epiphytic orchid phylogenies were screened for clades with specific suites of epiphytic adaptations. Epiphytic genera were found to be significantly richer in species than terrestrial genera both for orchids and non–orchids. No evidence was found for a positive association between pollinator specialization and orchid species richness. Repeated associations between a small body size, short life cycle and specialized clinging roots of twig epiphytes in Bulbophyllinae and Oncidiinae were discovered. The development of twig epiphytism in the first group seems repeatedly correlated with speciation bursts.
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Palacios-Mosquera, Y., D. Mondragón, and A. Santos-Moreno. "Vertebrate florivory of vascular epiphytes: the case of a bromeliad." Brazilian Journal of Biology 79, no. 2 (April 2019): 201–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.176023.
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Abstract The avoidance of vertebrate herbivory is thought to be one of the possible drivers for the evolution of epiphytism. Scarce literature suggests that epiphyte herbivory is mainly related to insect attack on reproductive structures. In a pine-oak forest we observed almost all inflorescences of an epiphytic bromeliad (Tillandsia carlos-hankii) with signs of florivory; the degree of damage suggested that vertebrate herbivores could be involved. To assess the intensity of vertebrate florivory damage we recorded the percentage of damaged individuals in a 500 m2 plots during two flowering seasons. To identify possible vertebrate herbivores, we installed 20 mixed capture stations, 10 photo-traps focused on bromeliads and analyzed stomach contents of captured vertebrates. Florivory was observed on 62% of individuals during the first flowering season and 77% on the second; and average one individual lost 41% of reproductive structures. Vertebrates associated with florivory were a bird, Icterus bullockii (Aves, Passeriformes, Icteridae), a squirrel Sciurus aureogaster (Mammalia, Rodentia, Sciuridae), and mice, Peromyscus gratus, P. levipes and P. aztecus (Mammalia, Rodentia, Cricetidae). Our results suggest that vascular epiphytes are used as opportunistic resources for small vertebrates during seasons when preferred resources are scarce.
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Tejo, Camila F., Darlene Zabowski, and Nalini M. Nadkarni. "Total and epiphytic litter under the canopy of Acer macrophyllum in an old-growth temperate rainforest, Washington State, USA." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 45, no. 11 (November 2015): 1654–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2014-0492.
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The amounts and ecological importance of epiphytic litterfall has often been overlooked in forest ecosystem studies. However, epiphytes participate in whole-ecosystem dynamics by capturing and retaining nutrients from atmospheric sources and transferring these nutrients to other ecosystem components. We quantified epiphytic litterfall under the canopy of mature bigleaf maples (Acer macrophyllum Pursh) and compared it with other litter components in an old-growth temperate rainforest in Washington State. Total litterfall during one year was 4760 kg·ha−1, with the greatest contribution from bigleaf maple leaves. Of the total litter input, 546 kg·ha−1 consisted of epiphytic litter, equivalent to 12% of total fine litter input, the highest contribution of epiphyte litterfall documented for this type of forest. Compared with other studies in the Pacific Northwest, our estimations of conifer needle inputs relate to the location of the littertraps. Bigleaf maple leaves dominated carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) returns in litter; epiphytic litterfall contributed 240 kg·ha−1·year−1 of C (∼11% of total C inputs) and 5.7 kg·ha−1·year−1 of N (∼11% of total N inputs) to the forest floor. Inputs of N from epiphytes and bigleaf maple litter under the canopy of this tree could be important in augmenting N in this old-growth ecosystem.
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Cortes-Anzures, Beatriz Olivia, Angélica María Corona-López, Víctor Hugo Toledo-Hernández, Susana Valencia-Díaz, and Alejandro Flores-Palacios. "Branch mortality influences phorophyte quality for vascular epiphytes." Botany 95, no. 7 (July 2017): 709–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2017-0023.
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Trees generate resources for other guilds (e.g., lianas), including the production of supporting branches for the establishment of epiphytes. In a tropical dry forest of central Mexico, we studied whether branch mortality is associated with phorophyte quality. For a one-year period, we monitored the survival of branches with and without vascular epiphytes in tree species with high epiphyte loads (Bursera copallifera (Sessé & Moc. Ex DC.) Bullock, Bursera glabrifolia (Kunth.) Engl.) and low (Bursera fagaroides (Kunth) Engl., Conzattia multiflora (B.L. Rob.) Standl., Ipomoea pauciflora M.Martens & Galeotti, Sapium macrocarpum Müll.Arg.). The lowest (C. multiflora) and highest (I. pauciflora) branch mortalities occurred in phorophytes with low epiphyte loads, whereas branch mortality in S. macrocarpum was 60% and in all Bursera species was <25%. In B. copallifera and B. glabrifolia, the highest branch mortality was in branches with epiphytes, suggesting a negative influence of these plants, but mortality was also associated with larger/older branches. At the end of monitoring, 95% of the epiphytes of I. pauciflora were growing on dead branches. We conclude that branch mortality is low in phorophytes with high epiphyte loads; but in phorophytes with low epiphyte loads, branches can be ephemeral or long lasting. Low epiphyte abundances in phorophytes with long-lasting branches can be caused by other traits that remain to be examined (e.g., seed capture).
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Cheramgoi, Evelyn, Joel Langat, Richard Mose, and Caroline Mutai. "EFFECTS OF EPIPHYTES ON TEA PRODUCTION AND THEIR MANAGEMENT." International Journal of Tea Science 14, no. 01 (March 30, 2018): 01–05. http://dx.doi.org/10.20425/ijts1411.
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Epiphytes are a group of non-parasitic plants that settle to obtain support from plants. Under the natural forest ecosystem, the presence of epiphytes is an indicator of unpolluted and undisturbed environment. However, massive infestation by epiphytes to commercial tree crops including tea is a concern to productivity. A study was conducted initiated to determine the influence of different management options on epiphytes which included mosses, ferns, maidenhair ferns, and tongue ferns. The study evaluated the influence of different management options on epiphytes and to determine the effect of the management options on tea yields. The experiment was laid on a field infested with epiphytes in split plot design treatment structure in a randomized complete block layout, replicated three times. In the main plots the epiphytes were manually removed from the tea bush branches whereas the control was left in situ while the subplots involved use of agricultural chemicals; Copper Nordox, Cuprocaffaro, Milraz, Hydrate of lime, Round up Turbo and control (untreated). Post-treatment scoring for 3 years of all types of epiphytes was done using a scale to determine the level of yellowing, scorching, and regrowth. Yield data were also recorded for one prune cycle of four years and data was subjected to analysis of variance. The main treatments (disturbed and undisturbed) management options did not influence the efficacy of the chemical products on epiphytic mosses but disturbance reduced (p less than or equal to0.05) levels of the epiphytic ferns. Copperbased products (Copper Nordox and Cuprocaffaro) reduced (p less than or equal to0.05) in mosses levels (reducing the degree of yellowing and regrowth) than other products and the control. However, all chemical products reduced (p less than or equal to 0.05) levels of epiphytic ferns. The removal of epiphytes on the tea branches increased (p less than or equal to0.05) the yield of tea, while chemical products were ineffective in improving yields. This study, therefore, concludes that the epiphytes on the tea frame have effects on the functioning of the tea bush and removal of the massive epiphytes is necessary for improved productivity of tea bush.
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Choi, Bae Young, Suhyeon Lee, Jaewook Kim, Hyeonseon Park, Joon-Hyeok Kim, Minji Kim, Soo-Je Park, Ki-Tae Kim, Hojin Ryu, and Donghwan Shim. "Comparison of Endophytic and Epiphytic Microbial Communities in Surviving and Dead Korean Fir (Abies koreana) Using Metagenomic Sequencing." Forests 13, no. 11 (November 16, 2022): 1932. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f13111932.
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Plant endophyte and epiphyte communities cooperatively interact with their host plants and play crucial roles in sustaining plant fitness. In Korea, a variety of studies have been conducted to elucidate the reasons for the declining population of the endangered Korean fir (Abies koreana), but the relationship between microbiota and the healthy condition of trees remains unclear. Here, we conducted bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS sequence analyses to dissect the composition of endophytic and epiphytic microbiota in both live and dead trees located in the same Mt. Jiri habitat. In the live trees, the bacterial class Armatimonadia and the lichenized fungi groups were significantly dominant, whereas many bacterial and fungal taxa mainly found in rotten wood were enriched in the dead trees. Functional prediction of the microbial communities in live trees suggested the possibility that bacterial endophytes and epiphytes play a role in inorganic nutrient metabolism and fungal endophytes and epiphytes produce biologically active secondary metabolites, thereby contributing to the healthy condition of Korean fir trees. The ecological function of endophytes and epiphytes in dead trees was predicted to be involved in the decomposition of wood for nutrient recycling. Our analyses revealed a distinct difference in microbial communities depending on the health condition of Korean fir trees. The results from this study would be useful for understanding the ecological function of endophytic and epiphytic microorganisms to conserve and manage this endangered species from ecologically vulnerable environments.
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OLOYEDE, Fatai Adekanye, Anthony I. ODIWE, and Ayodeji S. OLUJIYAN. "Composition and Distribution of Vascular Epiphytes in Different Areas in Obafemi Awolowo, Nigeria." Notulae Scientia Biologicae 6, no. 3 (September 22, 2014): 316–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.15835/nsb639331.
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Composition and distribution of vascular epiphytes were studied in three different areas at Obafemi Awolowo University estate, Nigeria. Each plot, in the selected area, was used for identification of host and epiphytes. Trees were carefully examined. Presence, positions on the host plants and life-forms of all the epiphytes were recorded. Diameter at breast height of the hosts, bark characteristics and height were determined. The climatic data of the areas were measured to determine the relationship between them and epiphytes distributions. Result showed 41 epiphytes belonging to 14 genera and 11 families were identified. Open area had the highest number of epiphytes (22) followed by forest patches (14) then secondary forest (five). The epiphytes were not host specific except epiphytic ferns and Ficus vogelii. Diameter at breast height has effect on the epiphytes distribution and composition. The distribution of epiphytes and environmental factors were lowest in the secondary forest. Moraceae was the most dominant host family (44.8%) while Nephrolepis undulata and Nephrolepis biserrata were the most common species of epiphytes. Most epiphytes preferred sub-canopy level, few occurred in the canopy level but none at emergent level. Climatic factors, diameter at breast height and bark characteristics of the host plants are useful in determining compositions and distributions of these epiphytes.
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Getaneh, Zeleke Assefa, and Feleke Woldeyes Gamo. "Vascular Epiphytes in Doshke and Kurpaye: A Comparative Study, Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia." International Journal of Biodiversity 2016 (May 31, 2016): 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9482057.
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Epiphytes comprise about 10% of the world’s total flora. However, the survival of these important elements of the global vegetation is recognized to be increasingly threatened, and surveys made to study them remain far from being complete. This study has focused on investigating the vascular epiphytes (true epiphytes, hemiepiphytes, and accidental epiphytes) in Doshke and Kurpaye forests of Gamo Gofa zone, southwest Ethiopia. A total of 40 (20 in each) 25 m × 25 m quadrats were established along four line transects for vegetation data collection. A total of 35 species of vascular epiphytes were recorded in the two sites (22 and 14 species from Doshke and Kurpaye, resp.). Drynaria volkensii was the only species to be recorded from the two sites. Doshke and Kurpaye forests also varied in the number of phorophytes (17 and 10 phorophytes species, resp.). The richest epiphyte family of Doshke is Orchidaceae (5 species) and that of Kurpaye is Polypodiaceae (3 species) while Orchidaceae dominate the combined flora being represented by 7 species. In terms of vertical distribution, most species were located at the canopy area. Most vascular epiphytes showed no preference for host trees except for a few species which exhibited higher occurrence rates on the host plant species Syzygium guineense, Schrebera alata, and Acacia tortilis. Vascular epiphyte abundance and species richness were both significantly positively correlated with host tree size. Vascular epiphytes of the studied forests are under a serious pressure, mainly due to anthropogenic activities, and this may lead to their local extinction.
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Schmitt, JL, and PG Windisch. "Biodiversity and spatial distribution of epiphytic ferns on Alsophila setosa Kaulf. (Cyatheaceae) caudices in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil." Brazilian Journal of Biology 70, no. 3 (August 2010): 521–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842010000300008.
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The extractive exploitation of the tree fern Alsophila setosa Kaulf. alters forest formations and diminishes the availability of micro-habitat for epiphytes. A survey of epiphytic fern communities on A. setosa at 16 study sites in different forest formations in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, documented the occurrence of 31 species representing 16 genera and six families. The greatest richness of species occurred in Polypodiaceae (39%) and in the genus Asplenium L. (22%). Habitual holoepiphyte was the predominant ecological category, representing 61% of the species. Similarity analysis demonstrated heterogeneity in the composition of the epiphytic ferns at the study sites and indicated that the vegetation type is not the main factor for floristic difference. The lowest total specific richness (5) was recorded for the seasonal deciduous forest site. The majority of the sites presented similar averages of phorophyte height and epiphyte richness per caudex. In 25% of the sites the height of the host plants presented significant correlation with specific richness. Considering that the majority of the epiphytes are habitual and that some of them occur exclusively or preferentially on tree ferns, the maintenance of these host plants in the vegetation is essential for the conservation of epiphytic species.
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Haris, B. A. J., M. Kasim, Salwiyah, A. M. Balubi, and W. Jalil. "Epiphyte attachment preference on Eucheuma denticulatum (Rhodophycea) Thallus and Vertical Net." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1119, no. 1 (December 1, 2022): 012076. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1119/1/012076.
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Abstract The attachment of epiphytes on culture equipment and seaweed thalli has proven to be one of the factors preventing Eucheuma denticulatum growth. This research aimed to clarify epiphyte preference for E. denticulatum thallus and culture equipment by using vertical nets. Vertical net is a cultivation technology that protects seaweeds from herbivorous pests (fish and turtles). This research was conducted at Tanjung Tiram Coast, one of seaweed cultivation areas in Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. This research used vertical nets and E. denticulatum thalli. The study took place at 3 stations, each using 3 tools and 3 replications. The results showed that there were 7 species of epiphyte attaching to the vertical net equipment and 6 species attaching to the thalli of E. denticulatum. The densities of epiphytes attaching to the vertical net equipment and E. denticulatum thalli were 110 ind./cm2 and 250 ind./cm2 on average, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in density between the epiphytes attached to the vertical net equipment and those attached to the E. denticulatum thalli. They also showed that the epiphyte density insignificantly influenced the overall seaweed weight. Correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between the abundance of epiphytes attached to the vertical nets and brightness.
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Tancos, K. A., and K. D. Cox. "Effects of Consecutive Streptomycin and Kasugamycin Applications on Epiphytic Bacteria in the Apple Phyllosphere." Plant Disease 101, no. 1 (January 2017): 158–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/pdis-06-16-0794-re.
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Antibiotic applications are essential for fire blight management in the eastern United States. Recently, streptomycin-resistant Erwinia amylovora strains were found in New York. There are growing concerns that streptomycin resistance may develop from postbloom streptomycin applications in local orchards. Our goal was to investigate the impacts of increasing streptomycin and kasugamycin applications on bacterial epiphyte community composition and antibiotic resistance in the phyllosphere of ‘Idared’ apple plantings in 2014 and 2015. Rinsate samples from leaves treated with 0, 3, 5, and 10 applications of streptomycin and kasugamycin were collected to isolate, enumerate, and identify epiphytic bacterial species. The majority of isolated epiphytic bacteria were identified as Pantoea agglomerans and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp., whereas E. amylovora was rarely found. Overall, postbloom streptomycin use did not result in an increased recovery of streptomycin-resistant E. amylovora. However, other streptomycin-resistant epiphytes (P. agglomerans and Pseudomonas spp.) did increase with increasing streptomycin applications. Increasing kasugamycin applications reduced the overall number and percentage of streptomycin-resistant epiphytes in the phyllosphere, which has important implications regarding the use of kasugamycin in orchards where streptomycin resistance is a concern.
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BLÜTHGEN, NICO, VIVIANE SCHMIT-NEUERBURG, STEFAN ENGWALD, and WILHELM BARTHLOTT. "Ants as epiphyte gardeners: comparing the nutrient quality of ant and termite canopy substrates in a Venezuelan lowland rain forest." Journal of Tropical Ecology 17, no. 6 (November 2001): 887–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467401001651.
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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.
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Ojala, E., M. Mönkkönen, and J. Inkeröinen. "Epiphytic bryophytes on European aspen Populus tremula in old-growth forests in northeastern Finland and in adjacent sites in Russia." Canadian Journal of Botany 78, no. 4 (April 21, 2000): 529–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b00-023.
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We studied the occurrence and cover of epiphytic bryophytes and one lichen species (Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.) growing on Populus tremula L. trunks. Our aim was to explore the spatial scales where epiphyte species respond to their environment. At the landscape scale, fragmented Finnish old-growth forests close to the Russian border and farther west in a heavily fragmented landscape were compared with Russian sites with more continuous old-growth forest landscapes to assess the effect of landscape structure on epiphyte assemblages. We studied factors affecting populations at the level of individual sites and local habitat patches within the forests. Twelve sites were surveyed for epiphytes. We estimated epiphyte occurrence from 353 Populus tremula trunks. There seemed to be only minor differences in the structure of epiphyte assemblages between the three landscapes surveyed. Species richness varied also independently of the landscape structure but was positively related to regional Populus tremula abundance (alpha diversity) and the size of the substrate trunk (point diversity). At the regional scale, the most important factor affecting the occurrence of epiphytes was the abundance of Populus tremula. At the local scale, the size of the Populus tremula surveyed and tree density around the trunk surveyed correlated positively with the occurrence of some species. The size and abundance of Populus tremula as well as tree density are the most important factors for maintaining viable populations of the studied species.Key words: biodiversity, boreal forest, Bryophyte, forest management, landscape structure, Lobaria pulmonaria.
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Lyons, Betsy, Nalini M. Nadkarni, and Malcolm P. North. "Spatial distribution and succession of epiphytes on Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock) in an old-growth Douglas-fir forest." Canadian Journal of Botany 78, no. 7 (July 1, 2000): 957–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b00-064.
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We examined the distribution and abundance of nonvascular epiphytes on western hemlock trees in an old-growth coniferous forest focusing on patterns of epiphyte distribution at different spatial scales, epiphyte abundance amongst trees differing in size, and crown structures associated with epiphyte abundance. Total epiphyte cover was greatest in four canopy microhabitats: the upper canopy strata, crowns of large trees, lower crown branches, and inner branch plots. Epiphyte functional groups were stratified vertically within the stand and horizontally within branches. Alectorioid and "other" lichens were most abundant in the upper canopy and outer branch plots. Cyanolichens and Sphaerophorus globosus (Huds.) Vain. were most abundant in the lower to mid canopy. Although cyanolichens were most abundant in middle branch plots, Sphaerophorus was most abundant in inner branch plots. Bryophytes were most abundant in the lower canopy and inner branch plots. At the stand level, canopy height and tree size were the main influences on epiphytes. Within trees, plots closer to the tree trunk and lower in the crown had the greatest abundance of epiphytes. In this forest, understory trees were colonized first by bryophytes, not by alectorioid and "other" lichens as is common for small trees in young stands.Key words: epiphyte succession, lichens, western hemlock, old growth, forest canopy, crown structure.
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Cruz-Angón, Andrea, Martha L. Baena, and Russell Greenberg. "The contribution of epiphytes to the abundance and species richness of canopy insects in a Mexican coffee plantation." Journal of Tropical Ecology 25, no. 5 (September 2009): 453–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467409990125.
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Abstract:The abundance of epiphytes has been assumed to be important in explaining the high diversity of tropical canopy arthropods. In this study we assessed the possible role that the presence of epiphytes may have on the diversity and abundance of canopy insects in an experimental study conducted in a coffee plantation in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico. Epiphytes were removed from trees in one of two plots in two sites of the coffee plantation. In each plot we collected insects from threeInga jinicuiltrees by knockdown insecticide fogging. Insects were sorted to morphospecies, counted and measured. Trees with epiphytes had significantly higher numbers of species and individuals and insects larger than 5 mm were also more species-rich and abundant in trees with epiphytes. The magnitude of the enhancement was surprisingly large with the epiphyte plot samples having on average 90% more individuals and 22% more species than plots without epiphytes. These differences were even greater for large (>5 mm) insects (184% and 113% respectively). Our results support the tenet that epiphytes provide valuable resources to arthropods, which we have illustrated for canopy insects in shade trees of coffee plantations.
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Atmaja, Putu Satya Pratama, Dietriech G. Bengen, and Hawis H. Madduppa. "The Second Skin of Seagrass Leaves: A Comparison of Microalgae Epiphytic Communities Between Two Different Species Across Two Seagrass Meadows in Lesser Sunda Islands." Tropical Life Sciences Research 32, no. 2 (June 29, 2021): 97–119. http://dx.doi.org/10.21315/tlsr2021.32.2.7.
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Epiphytes as the important features in the seagrass ecosystems have been studied widely, and their functions as a primary producer, influence rates of herbivory grazer, and prevent seagrass leaf from desiccation is well known. However, patterns and distribution among seagrasses especially in Indonesia, which was known as hotspot marine biodiversity is not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to examined epiphytic assemblages on two seagrass species with different morphological and longevity, Enhalus acoroides and Cymodocea rotundata, in two different meadows (conservation area and non-conservation area) in Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali and Lombok). A total of 22 taxa of microalgae epiphytes species were identified from eight sites and 2 different species of seagrass. The highest number of collected species between class was from Bacillariophyceae (18), followed by Cyanophyceae (3) and Fragilariophyceae (1). Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) revealed a significant difference of microalgae epiphytes assemblages between sites and seagrasses. Epiphytes assemblages in conservation area were more abundant than non-conservation area, both in Bali and Lombok. On seagrass comparison, Enhalus acoroides showed higher abundance of epiphytes assemblages than those on Cymodocea rotundata. Based on principal component analysis (PCA), this study highlights the microalgae epiphytic communities strongly influenced by seawater temperature, phosphate’s concentration, and pH in sediment. This study also demonstrated that the assemblages of microalgae epiphytic communities affected by differences of seagrass morphological and longevity.