scholarly journals Vascular Epiphytes in Doshke and Kurpaye: A Comparative Study, Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Zeleke Assefa Getaneh ◽  
Feleke Woldeyes Gamo
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Southwest Ethiopia ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Canopy Area ◽  
Line Transects ◽  
Syzygium Guineense ◽  
Global Vegetation ◽  
Gamo Gofa ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

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.

scholarly journals A protocol for sampling vascular epiphyte richness and abundance

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan H. D. Wolf ◽  
S. Robbert Gradstein ◽  
Nalini M. Nadkarni
Keyword(s):  
Tree Height ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Mantel Test ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Trunk Diameter ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Epiphyte Communities ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

Abstract:The sampling of epiphytes is fraught with methodological difficulties. We present a protocol to sample and analyse vascular epiphyte richness and abundance in forests of different structure (SVERA). Epiphyte abundance is estimated as biomass by recording the number of plant components in a range of size cohorts. Epiphyte species biomass is estimated on 35 sample-trees, evenly distributed over six trunk diameter-size cohorts (10 trees with dbh > 30 cm). Tree height, dbh and number of forks (diameter > 5 cm) yield a dimensionless estimate of the size of the tree. Epiphyte dry weight and species richness between forests is compared with ANCOVA that controls for tree size. SChao1 is used as an estimate of the total number of species at the sites. The relative dependence of the distribution of the epiphyte communities on environmental and spatial variables may be assessed using multivariate analysis and Mantel test. In a case study, we compared epiphyte vegetation of six Mexican oak forests and one Colombian oak forest at similar elevation. We found a strongly significant positive correlation between tree size and epiphyte richness or biomass at all sites. In forests with a higher diversity of host trees, more trees must be sampled. Epiphyte biomass at the Colombian site was lower than in any of the Mexican sites; without correction for tree size no significant differences in terms of epiphyte biomass could be detected. The occurrence of spatial dependence, at both the landscape level and at the tree level, shows that the inclusion of spatial descriptors in SVERA is justified.

scholarly journals Distribution and composition of the lichenized mycota in a landscape mosaic of southern Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 790-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcia I Käffer ◽  
Marcelo P Marcelli ◽  
Gislene Ganade
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Lichenized Fungi ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Sampling Protocol ◽  
Araucaria Forest ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Lichen Community ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Specific Host

Lichenized fungi are epiphytic components of forest areas where anthropogenic activities may cause changes in species composition and spatial distribution. The aim of this work is to evaluate how the lichen community is distributed on native and planted vegetation, and also to investigate possible preferences of the lichen community for specific host trees related to bark pH values. A total of 120 host-trees distributed in 12 remnants of native and planted vegetation were analyzed: native Araucaria forest and Araucaria, pine and eucalyptus plantations. Additional samples of lichenized fungi were collected in all vegetation types and adjacent trails, using a non-systematic sampling protocol. One hundred thirteen taxa of lichenized fungi were recorded, of which 78 species originated from the survey comparing the four habitats and 35 were added by additional collections. The highest species diversity was recorded in the Araucaria plantation while the greatest occurrence of shade tolerant taxa was found in the native Araucaria forest type. The largest number of lichen taxa was recorded on host-trees with basic bark pH. The wide variety of lichen community composition and distribution registered may be related to the host-tree characteristics found in these areas.

scholarly journals Inconsistency of Global Vegetation Dynamics Driven by Climate Change: Evidences from Spatial Regression

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 3442
Author(s):  
Dou Zhang ◽  
Xiaolei Geng ◽  
Wanxu Chen ◽  
Lei Fang ◽  
Rui Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Spatial Error ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
Annual Peak ◽  
Global Vegetation

Global greening over the past 30 years since 1980s has been confirmed by numerous studies. However, a single-dimensional indicator and non-spatial modelling approaches might exacerbate uncertainties in our understanding of global change. Thus, comprehensive monitoring for vegetation’s various properties and spatially explicit models are required. In this study, we used the newest enhanced vegetation index (EVI) products of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Collection 6 to detect the inconsistency trend of annual peak and average global vegetation growth using the Mann–Kendall test method. We explored the climatic factors that affect vegetation growth change from 2001 to 2018 using the spatial lag model (SLM), spatial error model (SEM) and geographically weighted regression model (GWR). The results showed that EVImax and EVImean in global vegetated areas consistently showed linear increasing trends during 2001–2018, with the global averaged trend of 0.0022 yr−1 (p < 0.05) and 0.0030 yr−1 (p < 0.05). Greening mainly occurred in the croplands and forests of China, India, North America and Europe, while browning was almost in the grasslands of Brazil and Africa (18.16% vs. 3.08% and 40.73% vs. 2.45%). In addition, 32.47% of the global vegetated area experienced inconsistent trends in EVImax and EVImean. Overall, precipitation and mean temperature had positive impacts on vegetation variation, while potential evapotranspiration and vapour pressure had negative impacts. The GWR revealed that the responses of EVI to climate change were inconsistent in an arid or humid area, in cropland or grassland. Climate change could affect vegetation characteristics by changing plant phenology, consequently rendering the inconsistency between peak and mean greening. In addition, anthropogenic activities, including land cover change and land use management, also could lead to the differences between annual peak and mean vegetation variations.

scholarly journals Persistent Effects of Historical Selective Logging on a Vascular Epiphyte Assemblage in the Forest Canopy of the Western Ghats, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Seshadri ◽  
R. Ganesan ◽  
Soubadra M. Devy
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Host Tree ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Host Tree Species ◽  
Logged Forest ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

Forest canopies have been dubbed the last biological frontier and continue to remain underexplored. Vascular epiphytes form a rich assemblage of plants within the forest canopy and apart from sustaining diverse taxa, they also fulfill critical ecological functions. Vascular epiphytes are particularly sensitive to perturbations of microclimate and microhabitat within the canopy, especially from anthropogenic changes such as logging. The forests of the megadiverse Western Ghats in India harbor a rich assemblage of vascular epiphytes, but their ecology has not been examined systematically. We compared the diversity, abundance, and composition of a vascular epiphyte assemblage between an unlogged and a historically selectively logged forest in the southern Western Ghats, India, and identified factors affecting the epiphyte assemblage. Canopies of 100 trees each in selectively logged and unlogged forests were accessed using the single-rope technique. We found 20 species of vascular epiphytes with the assemblage dominated by members of Orchidaceae. The diversity and abundance of epiphytes were significantly greater in the selectively logged forest. One host tree, Cullenia exarillata, supported the greatest number of epiphytes in both forest stands. The niche widths of epiphyte species, computed with host tree species as a resource, were similar between the two stands but a greater number of species pairs overlapped in the selectively logged forest. Overall, epiphyte abundance was negatively associated with unlogged forests. Host tree species, tree height, and presence of moss on branches were positively associated with the abundance of epiphytes. Despite being ecologically important, no study has thus far examined the impact of selective logging on the epiphyte assemblage in the Western Ghats. Our findings contribute to the knowledge of vascular epiphytes from South and Southeast Asia and set the stage for future research and conservation.

scholarly journals CÁTALOGO DE EPÍFITAS VASCULARES DEL SECTOR EL SILENCIO (PARQUE NACIONAL NATURAL PARAMILLO) Y ZONA AMORTIGUADORA, CÓRDOBA, COLOMBIA

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-179
Author(s):  
Rosalba RUIZ VEGA ◽  
Cesar ESQUIVEL BERRIO ◽  
Adolfo SALGADO CRUZ ◽  
Heidy SAAB RAMOS
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forest ◽  
National Park ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

<p>Se presenta el catálogo de la vegetación epifita vascular de un sector del Parque Nacional Natural Paramillo (PNNP) y zona amortiguadora (Córdoba, Colombia). Se realizaron muestreos en un área de 0,1 hectárea, donde se colectaron todas las epífitas vasculares distribuidas en los forófitos que presentaron un DAP ≥2,5 cm en cuatro sectores, El Silencio (interior del PNNP), Tuis Tuis, Tuis Tuis Arriba y Alto de Chibogadó (zona amortiguadora), correspondientes al bosque húmedo tropical (Bh-T) en el municipio de Tierralta. Se encontraron 2504 individuos de epífitas vasculares. El catálogo contiene 73 especies distribuidas en 41 géneros y 18 familias. El sector Tuis Tuis presentó el mayor número de especies (33). Las familias mejor representadas corresponden a las Araceae, Bromeliaceae y Orchidaceae, destacándose por mayor número de especies y géneros la familia Orchidaceae (20/15). Los géneros más diversos fueron <em>Anthurium</em> con ocho especies, <em>Guzmania</em> seis, <em>Tillandsia</em> y <em>Aechmea</em> con cinco cada uno. Los helechos reúnen solo el 6 % de la flora epifita. Se reportan  nuevos registros de especies para el departamento de Córdoba (39), ampliando el rango de distribución de este grupo de plantas en el país.   </p><p><strong>Catalogue of Vascular Epiphytic Sector Silencio (Natural National Park Paramillo) and Buffer Zone, Cordoba, Colombia</strong></p><p>The catalogue of the vascular epiphyte vegetation of Silencio sector (Paramillo National Natural Park) and buffer zone (Córdoba) is showed. Sampling was conducted in an area of 0,1 ha, collecting all vascular epiphytes distributed in phorophytes with a DAP≥2,5 cm, in four sectors. Collections were performed in the Silencio sectors (PNNP), Tuis Tuis, Tuis Tuis Arriba and Alto Chibogadó (buffer zone) of the tropical rain forest (Bh -T) in Tierralta town. 2504 individuals were recorded as vascular epiphytes. The catalog includes 73 species in 41 genera and 18 families. The sector Tuis Tuis showed the greatest representation of species (33). The families with the highest representation corresponds to Araceae, Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae families. The Orchidaceae family had the highest diversity with 20 species and 15 genera. The most diverse genera were <em>Anthurium</em> with eight species, <em>Guzmania </em>with six species and <em>Aechmea</em> and <em>Tillandsia</em> with five species each one. Ferns are presented only in 6 % of the epiphytic plants. 39 new species records for the department of Córdoba - Colombia are reported, extending the range of distribution of this group of plants in the country.</p>

scholarly journals Nest sites selection by sympatric cavity-nesting birds in miombo woodlands

Koedoe ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent R. Nyirenda ◽  
Felistus C. Chewe ◽  
Exildah Chisha-Kasumu ◽  
Peter A. Lindsey
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Miombo Woodlands ◽  
Forest Policies ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Parinari Curatellifolia

Deforestation and habitat fragmentation have long been known as drivers of wildlife depletion but information on their specific impacts on cavity-nesting birds in the miombo woodlands has been lacking. A comparative study of disturbed and undisturbed sites was conducted in miombo woodlands of Zambia to assess impacts of environmental stressors on birds. Foot patrols were employed to locate, identify and count host trees and cavities for cavity-nesting birds on twenty 200 m × 200 m sample plots. Undisturbed forests had three times more cavities (the nesting sites for birds), while there were 24.6% fewer abandoned cavities in undisturbed forests than in disturbed forests. The rate of cavity abandonment was about twice as high in human-dominated forests compared to undisturbed forests (61.3% c.f. 31.9%). Cavity-nesting birds preferred larger (> 36.0 cm diameter at breast height) and taller (> 5.0 m) trees for nest placement, especially in human-dominated forests. A number of cavity-nesting birds preferred Brachystegia spiciformis (zebrawood), Julbernadia paniculata (munsa), Parinari curatellifolia (mobola-plum) and Uapaca kirkiana (mahobohobo) as host trees to 14 other miombo tree species. Arnot’s Chat (Myrmecocichla arnoti) had a wider selection of host trees for cavity-nesting than the other 40 cavity-nesting birds in the study areas. Anthropogenic activities such as uncontrolled firewood collection, wild fires, logging, and land clearing for agriculture negatively influenced wood abundance and diversity, with potential implications for persistence of cavity-nesting birds. The negative impacts of anthropogenic activities could be counteracted by conservation strategies such as implementation of sound forest policies, integrative land use practices, sustainable livelihood security and stakeholders’ awareness of the need to safeguard forest-dependent avifauna.Conservation implications: This comparative study unravels specific anthropogenic impacts on the cavity-nesting birds in the miombo woodlands, which would be relevant for designing and implementing targeted biodiversity conservation interventions against negative local environmental values and attitudes that support rural development on the expense of conservation of biodiversity such as birds.

Vascular epiphyte diversity in two forest types of the “El Cielo” Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Botany ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 599-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edilia de la Rosa-Manzano ◽  
Antonio Guerra-Pérez ◽  
Glenda Mendieta-Leiva ◽  
Arturo Mora-Olivo ◽  
José Guadalupe Martínez-Ávalos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Variation Explained ◽  
El Cielo Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

We assessed the diversity, vertical distribution, and the effect of structural and geographical factors on the diversity of vascular epiphyte assemblages (VEAs) in two forest types in the “El Cielo” Biosphere Reserve. We found 2839 epiphyte individuals from 15 species on 240 host trees (27 species) in the semideciduous forest and 5085 individuals from 8 species on 215 host trees (12 species) in the pine–oak forest. Epiphytes showed a preference for the middle zone of the host trees. The diversity of VEAs was uneven in both forest types, although the VEA in the semideciduous forest was the most diverse. VEAs across forests were slightly similar in their composition (30% mean overlap), but very different in their structure (i.e., they did not share very abundant species). The variation in species richness among VEAs was influenced by forest structure, independently of forest type. Compositional differences of VEAs among forest types were explained by geographic distance and host-tree identity (31% and 28% variation explained, respectively). By characterizing the diversity of VEAs we provide a basic understanding of the factors influencing epiphyte diversity in these understudied ecosystems.

Spatial structure of ant-gardens: vertical distribution on host trees and succession/segregation of associated vascular epiphytes

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1036-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Morales-Linares ◽  
José G. García-Franco ◽  
Alejandro Flores-Palacios ◽  
Jorge E. Valenzuela-González ◽  
Martín Mata-Rosas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Ant Gardens

scholarly journals Arboreal Epiphytes in the Soil-Atmosphere Interface: How Often Are the Biggest “Buckets” in the Canopy Empty?

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailey Hargis ◽  
Sybil G. Gotsch ◽  
Philipp Porada ◽  
Georgianne W. Moore ◽  
Briana Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Global Evaluation ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Forest Biogeochemistry ◽  
Epiphyte Communities ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

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.

Post-stripping recolonization of vascular epiphytes in cloud-forest fragments in Mexico

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 499-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margoth Acuña-Tarazona ◽  
Tarin Toledo-Aceves ◽  
Alejandro Flores-Palacios ◽  
Vinicio J. Sosa ◽  
M. Luisa Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Vascular Epiphytes ◽  
Recovery Capacity ◽  
Epiphyte Communities ◽  
Accumulation Curves ◽  
Vascular Epiphyte

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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