Epiphytic diversity patterns in lowland and subandean forests

• Main Authors: Luis Francisco Henao-Diaz, Natalia María Pacheco-Fernández, Sofía Argüello-Bernal, Margarita María Moreno-Arocha, Pablo R. Stevenson
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose de Caldas 2012-12-01
• Series: Colombia Forestal
• Subjects: Araceae; bosque húmedo subandino; bosque húmedo tropical; Bromeliaceae; hostilidad ambiental; Orchidaceae; riqueza de especies.
• Online Access: http://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/ojs/index.php/colfor/article/view/3758

Tropical rainforests are the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Although many theories have been proposed to explain their richness we currently know little about their relative importance. This diversity is threatened by anthropogenic disturbances such as fragmentation and forest degradation. In this study we compared epiphytic plant diversity patterns in lowland and subandean forests. More epiphytic diversity was found in subandean (PNN Cueva de los Guácharos) compared to lowland forest (Palmarí Reserve). In addition a higher abundance of epiphytes was found in conserved forest. Tree host diversity was higher in lowland forests than in subandean forests, so we can reject the possibility that differences between the patterns of epiphytic diversity are caused by regional effects of plant diversity. Our results suggest that humidity seems to be the most important environmental filter explaining epiphyte diversity.