Toledo- et al. 2017 (Article) Mexico, Epiphyte, Host

Do cloud forest tree species differ in their suitability as a substrate for epiphytic bromeliads?

Author(s):—T. Toledo-Aceves, J.G. García-Franco & A. Flores-Palacios

Publication:—Plant Ecology 218(5): 541-546. (2017) — DOI

Abstract:—There is evidence for the existence of varying degrees of host preference in vascular epiphytes; certain tree species can be positively, neutrally, or negatively associated with epiphytes. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether tree species of the cloud forest differ in their suitability as a substrate for epiphytic bromeliads. To evaluate the association between epiphytic bromeliad cover and host tree species, we sampled 62 plots (each of 200?m2) in four cloud forest fragments in Veracruz, Mexico. For all trees ≥10?cm in diameter at breast height (DBH), we recorded species name, DBH, and percentage cover of bromeliads in categories of tree coverage. In total, 587 trees belonging to 52 species were recorded. All of the 10 tree species used to assess differences in epiphyte cover (each with a minimum of nine individuals) supported bromeliads, but mean bromeliad cover differed significantly among the tree species. The tree species that concentrated the highest bromeliad cover were Quercus sartorii (29.86%) and Liquidambar styraciflua (21.72%). Our results indicate that, while none of the tree species analyzed was a limiting host for epiphytic bromeliads in general, varying levels of bromeliad cover occur depending on the host species in tropical montane cloud forest fragments suggesting that certain tree species are better hosts than others. The implications for conservation efforts of differential tree species suitability as epiphyte hosts are discussed.

Keywords:—Host preference; Mexico; Tree species; Tropical forests; Vascular epiphytes