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Victoriano-Romero E, Figueroa-Castro DM, Morales-Linares J. Network analyses show horizontal and vertical distribution of vascular epiphytes on their hosts in a fragment of cloud forest in Central Mexico. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2024:10.1007/s10265-024-01569-6. [PMID: 39180625 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-024-01569-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Cloud forests figure as one of the most diverse ecosystems, accounting not only for a high number of plant species but also with a great variety of interactions among them. A common interaction in these forests is the one between vascular epiphytes and their hosts. However, few studies have used the network approach to analyze them. Here, we analyze the horizontal and vertical structure of the vascular epiphyte - host network in a cloud forest in central Mexico. We quantified the number of epiphyte stands on each host both total and per-stratum. Complete network, group, and species metrics were estimated at both levels of analysis. The host - epiphyte networks had relatively low network size but were highly connected; moderately nested, with low specialization, and modularity; but higher vulnerability than generality, and high niche overlap. The community was composed by a high number of generalist species. To our knowledge this is the first study in which network analyses are conducted with standardized data and including all host and epiphyte species in the community. The analyses suggest that the networks are robust, and that functional redundancy might be probable, two advantageous characteristics in a very fragmented and threatened cloud forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Victoriano-Romero
- Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edif. 112A, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, Puebla C.P., 72570, México
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edif. 112A, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, Puebla C.P., 72570, México
| | - Dulce María Figueroa-Castro
- Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edif. 112A, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, Puebla C.P., 72570, México.
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Ecológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edif. 112A, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, Puebla C.P., 72570, México.
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edif. 112A, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, Puebla C.P., 72570, México.
| | - Jonas Morales-Linares
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edif. 112A, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, Puebla C.P., 72570, México
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Zotz G, Andrade JL, Einzmann HJR. CAM plants: their importance in epiphyte communities and prospects with global change. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:685-698. [PMID: 36617243 PMCID: PMC10799991 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND SCOPE The epiphytic life form characterizes almost 10 % of all vascular plants. Defined by structural dependence throughout their life and their non-parasitic relationship with the host, the term epiphyte describes a heterogeneous and taxonomically diverse group of plants. This article reviews the importance of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) among epiphytes in current climatic conditions and explores the prospects under global change. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We question the view of a disproportionate importance of CAM among epiphytes and its role as a 'key innovation' for epiphytism but do identify ecological conditions in which epiphytic existence seems to be contingent on the presence of this photosynthetic pathway. Possibly divergent responses of CAM and C3 epiphytes to future changes in climate and land use are discussed with the help of experimental evidence, current distributional patterns and the results of several long-term descriptive community studies. The results and their interpretation aim to stimulate a fruitful discussion on the role of CAM in epiphytes in current climatic conditions and in altered climatic conditions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Zotz
- Functional Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Box 5634, D-26046 Oldenburg, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Box 0843-03092, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - José Luis Andrade
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 No. 130, Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Helena J R Einzmann
- Functional Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Box 5634, D-26046 Oldenburg, Germany
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Zotz G, Armenia L, Einzmann HJR. A new approach to an old problem: how to categorize the habit of ferns and lycophytes. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:513-522. [PMID: 37642212 PMCID: PMC10666995 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Substrate preferences are often treated as species traits and are used to distinguish different habits, i.e. an epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial habit. Such a categorization, however, ignores substantial intraspecific variation. An approach that takes biological variability within a species into account is needed. METHODS We focused on four large genera of ferns and lycophytes and found relevant information in >500 sources, such as online databases, checklists, floras and species descriptions. Translating textual information into a quantitative index, we quantified the propensity to grow on either substrate as a continuous trait for 1475 species. KEY RESULTS Only a minority of species exhibited strict substrate fidelity, but a majority of them showed clear habitat preferences. The relative frequencies of intermediates between strict lithophytes, epiphytes and terrestrials does not support the frequent notion of ecological similarity of the lithophytic and epiphytic habitat. CONCLUSIONS The compiled data are useful immediately for ecological and evolutionary studies with the focal taxa. More importantly, we propose the replacement of the concept of distinct habits with one of gradual differences. This should have a profound impact on any such study with plants in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Zotz
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Functional Ecology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Box 2503, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
| | - Lisa Armenia
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Functional Ecology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Box 2503, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Helena J R Einzmann
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Functional Ecology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Box 2503, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
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Ramírez-Martínez A, Ticktin T, Mondragon D. Host tree species effects on long-term persistence of epiphytic orchid populations. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1059136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The destinies of epiphytic orchids (about 70% of all orchids) are linked to their host trees. However, there is little information on if differences in host trees characteristics can affect the long-term persistence of orchid populations, and how this might vary under different climatic conditions. We compared the population dynamics of two epiphytic orchid species, Alamania punicea and Oncidium brachyandrum growing on two host trees with contrasting leaf phenologies: the deciduous Quercus martinezii and the semideciduous Q. rugosa, over 3 years with varying levels of rainfall, in a montane tropical oak forest in Oaxaca, Mexico. Using data from > 500 individuals growing on 63 host trees, we applied linear mixed effects models, Integral Projection Models, and Life Table Response Experiments to identify the effects of host tree on orchid vital rates and population growth rates. For both orchid species, survival and growth did not differ between host species during wettest year. However, during the driest year both vital rates were higher on the semi-deciduous host Q. rugosa than on the deciduous Q. martinezii. Host species did not affect fecundity for A. punicea, but for O. brachyandrum fecundity was higher on the deciduous host. For A. punicea, λ values were similar between hosts during the wettest and intermediate years, but significantly lower (Δ λ = 0.28) on the deciduous than on the semi-deciduous host during the driest year. This was due primarily to lower survival on the deciduous host. For O. brachyandrum, λ was slightly higher (Δ λ = 0.03) on the deciduous than the semideciduous host during the wettest year, due to higher growth and reproduction. However, during the intermediate and driest years, λ values were significantly higher on the semi-deciduous than on the deciduous host (Δ λ = 0.13 and 0.15, respectively). This was due to higher survival and growth. A. punicea populations appear more vulnerable to dry conditions than O. brachyandrum, likely due to its smaller pseudobulbs, and hence lower water-storing capacity. Our results show that host tree species can both influence the vital rates and the long-term dynamics of orchid populations, and these effects vary across orchids species and over time. Our results highlight the importance of maintaining a diversity of host trees to ensure long-term population persistence.
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Reyes-García C, Pereira-Zaldívar NA, Espadas-Manrique C, Tamayo-Chim M, Chilpa-Galván N, Cach-Pérez MJ, Ramírez-Medina M, Benavides AM, Hietz P, Zotz G, Andrade JL, Cardelús C, de Paula Oliveira R, Einzmann HJR, Guzmán Jacob V, Krömer T, Pinzón JP, Sarmento Cabral J, Wanek W, Woods C. New Proposal of Epiphytic Bromeliaceae Functional Groups to Include Nebulophytes and Shallow Tanks. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11223151. [PMID: 36432880 PMCID: PMC9693514 DOI: 10.3390/plants11223151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The Bromeliaceae family has been used as a model to study adaptive radiation due to its terrestrial, epilithic, and epiphytic habits with wide morpho-physiological variation. Functional groups described by Pittendrigh in 1948 have been an integral part of ecophysiological studies. In the current study, we revisited the functional groups of epiphytic bromeliads using a 204 species trait database sampled throughout the Americas. Our objective was to define epiphytic functional groups within bromeliads based on unsupervised classification, including species from the dry to the wet end of the Neotropics. We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis with 16 functional traits and a discriminant analysis, to test for the separation between these groups. Herbarium records were used to map species distributions and to analyze the climate and ecosystems inhabited. The clustering supported five groups, C3 tank and CAM tank bromeliads with deep tanks, while the atmospheric group (according to Pittendrigh) was divided into nebulophytes, bromeliads with shallow tanks, and bromeliads with pseudobulbs. The two former groups showed distinct traits related to resource (water) acquisition, such as fog (nebulophytes) and dew (shallow tanks). We discuss how the functional traits relate to the ecosystems inhabited and the relevance of acknowledging the new functional groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casandra Reyes-García
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, 43 St., Chuburna de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Mexico
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-999-942-83-30
| | - Narcy Anai Pereira-Zaldívar
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, 43 St., Chuburna de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Mexico
| | - Celene Espadas-Manrique
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, 43 St., Chuburna de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Mexico
| | - Manuela Tamayo-Chim
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, 43 St., Chuburna de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Mexico
| | - Nahlleli Chilpa-Galván
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, 43 St., Chuburna de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Mexico
| | | | - Marypaz Ramírez-Medina
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, 43 St., Chuburna de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Mexico
| | | | - Peter Hietz
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Zotz
- Functional Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Box 2503, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 32402, Panama
| | - José Luis Andrade
- Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, 43 St., Chuburna de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Mexico
| | - Catherine Cardelús
- Departments of Biology and Environmental Studies, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr E Ext, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA
| | | | - Helena J. R. Einzmann
- Functional Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Box 2503, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Valeria Guzmán Jacob
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, University of Goettingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Krömer
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz 91090, Mexico
| | - Juan P. Pinzón
- Departamento de Botánica, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Road Mérida-Xmatkuil km 15.5, Mérida 97315, Mexico
| | | | - Wolfgang Wanek
- Center of Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassipl, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Carrie Woods
- Department of Biology, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N Warner St., Tacoma, WA 98416, USA
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DaRocha W, Antoniazzi R, Delabie JHC, Schroth G, Fernandes GW, Neves FS. Disentangling the factors that shape bromeliad and ant communities in the canopies of cocoa agroforestry and preserved Atlantic Forest. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wesley DaRocha
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
- Laboratório de Mirmecologia CEPEC/CEPLAC Itabuna Brazil
| | - Reuber Antoniazzi
- Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches Texas USA
| | - Jacques H. C. Delabie
- Laboratório de Mirmecologia CEPEC/CEPLAC Itabuna Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambiental Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz Ilhéus Brazil
| | | | - Geraldo W. Fernandes
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
- Departamento de Genética Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
| | - Frederico S. Neves
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
- Departamento de Genética Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
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Elias JPC, Mortara SR, Nunes-Freitas AF, van den Berg E, Ramos FN. Host tree traits in pasture areas affect forest and pasture specialist epiphyte species differently. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:598-606. [PMID: 33871870 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Epiphytes have commensal relationships with their host trees. Besides the influence of tree traits, little has been discussed concerning the ecology of epiphytes in disturbed habitats (e.g., pasture). We herein tested whether the occurrences of pasture and forest specialist epiphytes in pastures are affected differently by tree traits. We hypothesized that (H1) the richness and abundance of generalist epiphytes would be positively associated with area availability; (H2) the richness and abundance of forest epiphyte species would be associated both with (H2.a) area availability and (H2.b) tree traits related to higher seed adherence, and/or (H2.c) less severe habitat (e.g., high humidity and more shade). METHODS We sampled 9567 epiphyte individuals from 16 species on 759 scattered remnant trees. The epiphyte species were divided into two ecological groups: forest specialists and pasture specialists. We evaluated four host tree traits: two related to tree size (crown area and trunk diameter) and two related to habitat type (crown leaf density and bark rugosity). RESULTS The richness and abundance of both pasture and forest specialists were positively related with tree size. However, the abundance of pasture specialists was negatively related with crown leaf density, whereas richness of forest epiphytes was positively related with bark rugosity. CONCLUSIONS Large scattered trees tend to present higher richness and abundance of both pasture and forest specialist epiphytes compared to the smaller trees. However, high crown leaf density limits abundance of pasture specialist epiphytes, whereas rugose bark increases the richness of forest epiphytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P C Elias
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Fragmentos Florestais, ECOFRAG, Universidade Federal de Alfenas - UNIFAL/MG, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Sara R Mortara
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Fragmentos Florestais, ECOFRAG, Universidade Federal de Alfenas - UNIFAL/MG, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
- International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - André F Nunes-Freitas
- Laboratório de Ecologia Florestal e Biologia Vegetal, LEF, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Br-465 km 7, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eduardo van den Berg
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brazil
| | - Flavio N Ramos
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Fragmentos Florestais, ECOFRAG, Universidade Federal de Alfenas - UNIFAL/MG, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
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Paula Oliveira R, Zotz G, Wanek W, Franco AC. Leaf trait co‐variation and trade‐offs in gallery forest C
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and CAM epiphytes. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerhard Zotz
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wanek
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science University of Vienna Vienna Austria
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Functional Traits of a Rainforest Vascular Epiphyte Community: Trait Covariation and Indications for Host Specificity. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13020097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
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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RAMÍREZ MARTÍNEZ ADRIANA, MONDRAGÓN CHAPARRO DEMETRIAMARTHA, RIVERA GARCÍA RAÚL. VASCULAR EPIPHYTES: THE UGLY DUCKLING OF PHENOLOGICAL STUDIES. ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2021. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v26n2.83473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenology of vascular epiphytes, which represent account for about 10 % of the world’s flowering plants and perform important ecological functions, has been just partially explored. Since phenology is a key tool for the management and conservation of species, the objective of this review was to synthesize the information published so far about the phenology of vascular epiphytes, detect gaps of knowledge, and suggest future lines of investigation to understand the underlying mechanisms. We conducted an online search for articles in Google Scholar and in the ISI Web of Science database from 1800 to 2020, with different combinations of keywords. 107 studies addressing the phenology of different holo-epiphyte species were found; 88 % of the studies were performed in the Neotropic, especially in tropical and subtropical wet forests. The phenology of only ca.2% (418 spp.) of all reported epiphyte species has been explored. There is a bias toward the study of the flowering and fruiting phenology in members of the Orchidaceae (192 spp.) and Bromeliaceae (124 spp.) families. In general, the vegetative and reproductive phenology of epiphytes tends to be seasonal; however, there is a huge gap in our understanding of the proximate and ultimate factors involved. Future research should explicitly focus on studying those factors.
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López López JI, Parra Tabla VP, Mondragón D. VARIATION IN THE FLOWERING PHENOLOGY OF AN EPIPHYTIC BROMELIAD ALONG AN ELEVATIONAL GRADIENT. ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2020. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v26n1.82875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevational patterns in flowering phenology have been reported for trees, shrubs and herbs. However, for vascular epiphytes that rely on atmospheric sources for humidity and nutrients, and depend on phorophyte microhabitat, elevational patterns of variation are unknown. In this study, we described the flowering phenology of Tillandsia carlos-hankii, an epiphytic bromeliad, along an elevational gradient in Capulálpam de Méndez, Oaxaca. We analyzed the onset, seasonality and duration of flowering along and within different elevation zones, and we evaluated the effect of phorophyte features (tree height, DBH and canopy diameter) on flowering start date and duration. From June 2016 to May 2017, we periodically recorded phenological data from six populations along three elevation zones (“low” 2151 to 2283 m. a. s. l., “medium”: 2284 to 2416 m. a. s. l. and “high” 2417 to 2548 m. a. s. l.), monitoring two population per zone. Start of flowering occurred between December and January, beginning six to 16 days earlier at low elevations than in the other zones, although this difference was not statistically significant. We observed marked flowering seasonality at all the elevation zones, with differences between zones (W≥18.49, p<0.0001) and between the populations at medium and high elevations (W≥8.57, p≤0.05). Flowering duration spanned fromDecember to May. Phorophyte features were not related to the onset or duration of flowering (t≤-1.47, p≥0.14, in all cases). Our results suggest that vascular epiphytes follow the same elevational patterns in phenology as other life forms, and that populations in the same elevation range can vary. The causes of such intra-elevational variation merit further investigation.
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Zarate-García AM, Noguera-Savelli E, Andrade-Canto SB, Zavaleta-Mancera HA, Gauthier A, Alatorre-Cobos F. Bark water storage capacity influences epiphytic orchid preference for host trees. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2020; 107:726-734. [PMID: 32346866 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Of all orchid species described, 70% live on phorophytes. Trees offer a vital space with characteristics that influence the successful establishment and life cycle of orchids. Field inventory and distribution analysis suggest that phorophyte selection is biased to certain tree species that would serve as better hosts. Phorophyte bark is known as an important factor that influences this preference, but the chemical and physical properties of bark that contribute to creating a favorable space for orchids are still poorly understood. In this work, the effect of bark physical characteristics on phorophyte preference of tropical orchids was studied. METHODS Orchids and their phorophytes were counted and identified along transects inside two natural reserves in Southeast Mexico. A rhytidome classification was used to describe the bark decoration patterns of the phorophytes. To quantify bark fissuring, we developed a new protocol based on image processing of light micrographs using free-access software. Bark topology characterization was complemented with scanning electronic microscopy. Maximum and minimum water content was also determined. RESULTS Analyses of bark decorations and bark fissuring were not enough to explain the preference found for some tropical trees. In contrast, a positive relationship was found among water-storage capacity, bark porosity, and phorophyte preference. The host trees preferred by most orchids have bark with higher pore density and higher water retention after draining. CONCLUSIONS Unexpectedly, the phorophytes preferred by orchids are not those with more fissured bark but those with a higher ability to retain minimum water content after draining, which is a bark property positively correlated with higher pore density. Our data indicate that the bark microenvironment, determined by topology and water storage capacity, has a pivotal role in phorophyte specificity, a key factor that affects orchid diversity and distribution in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel M Zarate-García
- Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Carretera Haltunchen-Edzna km 17.5, Sihochac, 24450, Municipio de Champotón, Campeche, México
| | - Eliana Noguera-Savelli
- Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Carretera Haltunchen-Edzna km 17.5, Sihochac, 24450, Municipio de Champotón, Campeche, México
| | - Silvia B Andrade-Canto
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43 No.130 x 32 y 34, Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97205, Merida, Yucatán, México
| | - Hilda A Zavaleta-Mancera
- Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillos, Km. 36.5, Mexico 136 5, Montecillo, 56230, Montecillo, México
| | - Adrien Gauthier
- UniLaSalle - AGHYLE research unit UP 2018.C101, 3 rue du Tronquet - CS 40118-76134, Mont-Saint-Aignan, Cedex, France
| | - Fulgencio Alatorre-Cobos
- CONACYT Research Fellow-Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Carretera Haltunchen-Edzná km 17.5, Sihochac, 24450, Municipio de Champotón, Campeche, México
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Ramírez-Martínez A, Mondragón D, Valverde T, Chávez-Servia JL. Spatial variation in host preference in the endangered epiphytic bromeliad Tillandsia carlos-hankii. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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14
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Schmeller DS, Weatherdon LV, Loyau A, Bondeau A, Brotons L, Brummitt N, Geijzendorffer IR, Haase P, Kuemmerlen M, Martin CS, Mihoub JB, Rocchini D, Saarenmaa H, Stoll S, Regan EC. A suite of essential biodiversity variables for detecting critical biodiversity change. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 93:55-71. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Revised: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk S. Schmeller
- Department of Conservation Biology; Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ; 04318 Leipzig Germany
- ECOLAB; Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS; Toulouse France
| | - Lauren V. Weatherdon
- United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge CB3 0DL U.K
| | - Adeline Loyau
- ECOLAB; Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS; Toulouse France
- Department of System Ecotoxicology; Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ; 04318 Leipzig Germany
| | - Alberte Bondeau
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE); Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Technopôle Arbois-Méditerranée Bât; F-13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex 04 France
| | - Lluis Brotons
- Forest Sciences Centre of Catalonia (CEMFOR-CTFC); Catalonia Spain
- CREAF, Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications; Autonomous University of Barcelona; Catalonia Spain
- CSIC, Cerdanyola del Vallés; Catalonia Spain
| | - Neil Brummitt
- Department of Life Sciences; Natural History Museum; London SW7 5BD U.K
| | - Ilse R. Geijzendorffer
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE); Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Technopôle Arbois-Méditerranée Bât; F-13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex 04 France
- Tour du Valat, Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes, Le Sambuc; Arles 13200 France
| | - Peter Haase
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation; Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt; D-63571 Gelnhausen Germany
- Faculty of Biology; University of Duisburg-Essen; 45141 Essen Germany
| | - Mathias Kuemmerlen
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation; Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt; D-63571 Gelnhausen Germany
- Department of Systems Analysis; Integrated Assessment and Modelling, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology - Eawag; Überlandstrasse 133 8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Corinne S. Martin
- United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge CB3 0DL U.K
| | - Jean-Baptiste Mihoub
- Department of Conservation Biology; Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ; 04318 Leipzig Germany
- Sorbonne Universités; UPMC Univ Paris 06, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CESCO; UMR 7204, 75005 Paris France
| | - Duccio Rocchini
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology; Fondazione Edmund Mach, Research and Innovation Centre; 38010 S. Micehle all'Adige (TN) Italy
| | | | - Stefan Stoll
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation; Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt; D-63571 Gelnhausen Germany
- Ecosystem Research Facility Eußerthal, Institute of Environmental Science; University of Koblenz-Landau; Koblenz-Landau Germany
| | - Eugenie C. Regan
- United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge CB3 0DL U.K
- The Biodiversity Consultancy; Cambridge CB2 1SJ U.K
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Wang Q, Guan WB, Gi Wong MH, Ranjitkar S, Sun WN, Pan Y, El-Kassaby YA, Shen LX. Tree size predicts vascular epiphytic richness of traditional cultivated tea plantations in Southwestern China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2017.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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16
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Ticktin T, Mondragón D, Gaoue OG. Host genus and rainfall drive the population dynamics of a vascular epiphyte. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Ticktin
- Botany DepartmentUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa 3190 Maile Way Honolulu Hawaii 96822 USA
| | - Demetria Mondragón
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CIIDIR‐Oaxaca) Calle Hornos No. 1033 Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Oaxaca CP 71230 Mexico
| | - Orou G. Gaoue
- Botany DepartmentUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa 3190 Maile Way Honolulu Hawaii 96822 USA
- University of Parakou BP 123 Parakou Benin
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Coyle JR. Intraspecific variation in epiphyte functional traits reveals limited effects of microclimate on community assembly in temperate deciduous oak canopies. OIKOS 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.03239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Coyle
- Dept of Biology; Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill NC 27599-3280 USA
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Chaves CJN, Dyonisio JC, Rossatto DR. Host trait combinations drive abundance and canopy distribution of atmospheric bromeliad assemblages. AOB PLANTS 2016; 8:plw010. [PMID: 26888951 PMCID: PMC4804201 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plw010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Epiphytes are strongly dependent on the conditions created by their host's traits and a certain degree of specificity is expected between them, even if these species are largely abundant in a series of tree hosts of a given environment, as in the case of atmospheric bromeliads. Despite their considerable abundance in these environments, we hypothesize that stochasticity alone cannot explain the presence and abundance of atmospheric bromeliads on host trees, since host traits could have a greater influence on the establishment of these bromeliads. We used secondary and reforested seasonal forests and three distinct silvicultures to test whether species richness, phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity of trees can predict the differential presence, abundance and distribution of atmospheric bromeliads on hosts. We compared the observed parameters of their assemblage with null models and performed successive variance hierarchic partitions of abundance and distribution of the assemblage to detect the influence of multiple traits of the tree hosts. Our results do not indicate direct relationships between the abundance of atmospheric bromeliads and phylogenetic or functional diversity of trees, but instead indicate that bromeliads occurred on fewer tree species than expected by chance. We distinguished functional tree patterns that can improve or reduce the abundance of atmospheric bromeliads, and change their distribution on branches and trunk. While individual tree traits are related to increased abundance, species traits are related to the canopy distribution of atmospheric bromeliad assemblages. A balance among these tree functional patterns drives the atmospheric bromeliad assemblage of the forest patches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleber Juliano Neves Chaves
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Biodiversidade, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Campus de Rio Claro, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Júlio César Dyonisio
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Campus de Jaboticabal, 14884-900 Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Davi Rodrigo Rossatto
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Campus de Jaboticabal, 14884-900 Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
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Marí MLG, Toledo JJ, Nascimento HEM, Zartman CE. Regional and Fine Scale Variation of Holoepiphyte Community Structure in Central Amazonian White-Sand Forests. Biotropica 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maikel L. G. Marí
- Department of Biodiversity (CBIO); National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA); Av. André Araújo 2936 Petrópolis Manaus C. P. 2223, CEP 69080-971 Amazonas Brazil
| | - José J. Toledo
- Department of Environmental Sciences; Federal University of Amapá; Rod. Juscelino Kubitschek Km 02 Jardim Marco Zero 68902280 Macapá AP Brazil
| | - Henrique E. M. Nascimento
- Department of Biodiversity (CBIO); National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA); Av. André Araújo 2936 Petrópolis Manaus C. P. 2223, CEP 69080-971 Amazonas Brazil
| | - Charles E. Zartman
- Department of Biodiversity (CBIO); National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA); Av. André Araújo 2936 Petrópolis Manaus C. P. 2223, CEP 69080-971 Amazonas Brazil
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Sarmento Cabral J, Petter G, Mendieta-Leiva G, Wagner K, Zotz G, Kreft H. Branchfall as a Demographic Filter for Epiphyte Communities: Lessons from Forest Floor-Based Sampling. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128019. [PMID: 26083417 PMCID: PMC4470510 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Local variation in the abundance and richness of vascular epiphytes is often attributed to environmental characteristics such as substrate and microclimate. Less is known, however, about the impacts of tree and branch turnover on epiphyte communities. To address this issue, we surveyed branches and epiphytes found on the forest floor in 96 transects in two forests (Atlantic rainforest in Brazil and Caribbean rainforest in Panama). In the Brazilian forest, we additionally distinguished between edge and core study sites. We quantified branch abundance, epiphyte abundance, richness and proportion of adults to investigate the trends of these variables over branch diameter. Branches <2 cm in diameter comprised >90% of all branches on the forest floor. Abundance and richness of fallen epiphytes per transect were highest in the Brazilian core transects and lowest in the Panamanian transects. The majority of epiphytes on the floor (c. 65%) were found attached to branches. At all three study sites, branch abundance and branch diameter were negatively correlated, whereas epiphyte abundance and richness per branch, as well as the proportion of adults were positively correlated with branch diameter. The relationship between branch diameter and absolute epiphyte abundance or richness differed between study sites, which might be explained by differences in forest structure and dynamics. In the Panamanian forest, epiphytes had been previously inventoried, allowing an evaluation of our surveying method by comparing canopy and forest floor samplings. Individuals found on the forest floor corresponded to 13% of all individuals on branches <10 cm in diameter (including crowns), with abundance, richness and composition trends on forest floor reflecting canopy trends. We argue that forest floor surveys provide useful floristic and, most notably, demographic information particularly on epiphytes occurring on the thinnest branches, which are least accessible. Here, branchfall acts as an important demographic filter structuring epiphyte communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano Sarmento Cabral
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Conservation Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Gunnar Petter
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Conservation Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Glenda Mendieta-Leiva
- Functional Ecology of Plants, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Wagner
- Functional Ecology of Plants, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Zotz
- Functional Ecology of Plants, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Holger Kreft
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Conservation Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Wagner K, Mendieta-Leiva G, Zotz G. Host specificity in vascular epiphytes: a review of methodology, empirical evidence and potential mechanisms. AOB PLANTS 2015; 7:plu092. [PMID: 25564514 PMCID: PMC4306756 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plu092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Information on the degree of host specificity is fundamental for an understanding of the ecology of structurally dependent plants such as vascular epiphytes. Starting with the seminal paper of A.F.W. Schimper on epiphyte ecology in the late 19th century over 200 publications have dealt with the issue of host specificity in vascular epiphytes. We review and critically discuss this extensive literature. The available evidence indicates that host ranges of vascular epiphytes are largely unrestricted while a certain host bias is ubiquitous. However, tree size and age and spatial autocorrelation of tree and epiphyte species have not been adequately considered in most statistical analyses. More refined null expectations and adequate replication are needed to allow more rigorous conclusions. Host specificity could be caused by a large number of tree traits (e.g. bark characteristics and architectural traits), which influence epiphyte performance. After reviewing the empirical evidence for their relevance, we conclude that future research should use a more comprehensive approach by determining the relative importance of various potential mechanisms acting locally and by testing several proposed hypotheses regarding the relative strength of host specificity in different habitats and among different groups of structurally dependent flora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Wagner
- Universität Oldenburg, Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, AG Funktionelle Ökologie, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Glenda Mendieta-Leiva
- Universität Oldenburg, Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, AG Funktionelle Ökologie, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Zotz
- Universität Oldenburg, Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, AG Funktionelle Ökologie, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panamá, República de Panamá
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