Fischer & Araújo 1995 (Article) Brazil, Epiphyte

Spatial organization of a bromeliad community in the Atlantic rainforest, south-eastern Brazil

Author(s):—A. Fischer & A. Araújo

Publication:—J. Trop. Ecol. 11 : 559-567. (1995) — DOI

Abstract:—The habit, shade-tolerance and dispersal agent of 19 bromeliad species were studied in a rainforest community in order to relate specific traits to the spatial occurrence of the species. Highest density was found in riparian forest (RF), followed by restinga scrub (RE), rocky shore (RS) and dense canopy forest (DF). Terrestrial bromeliads occurred in open sites (RE and RS), epiphytes were absent in RS and facultative species occupied all four habitats. Bird-dispersed bromeliads occurred in the upper canopy, whereas those dispersed by mammals were low in the forest profile. Bromeliads which are dispersed by similar fauna fruit sequentially through the year. Differences in traits may allow the sharing of habitats and strata among species

Keywords:—Bromeliaceae, community, dispersal agent, epiphytes, fruiting season, habit, rainforest, resource partitioning, spatial distribution