Vertical epiphyte distribution and its phylogeny in a mesophilic cloud forest of Tamaulipas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v9i50.231Keywords:
Phylogenetic analysis, cloud forest, phorophytes, El Cielo biosphere reserve, species richness, habitat zoningAbstract
The mesophyllic cloud forest in El Cielo Biosphere Reserve is close to its boreal distribution limit. Epiphyte plants are an important component of the biodiversity of these forests, although they are little studied. Vascular epiphytes were studied in an altitudinal gradient of a cloud forest, determining the preference of epiphytic species for a host or phorophyte. There were differences in the distribution of epiphytes over the phorophytes, as well as in the vertical distribution of each epiphytic species on its host. A total of 33 epiphytic species were recorded, of which 29 showed at least one association with a host species. There were 24 species of trees, with which the epiphytes showed at least one association with 16 of them. The number of epiphytic species was greater at lower altitudes. According to the number of individuals in each of the sections of the phorophyte, epiphytes showed preference to zones III and IV, corresponding to the basal and middle parts of the branches of the host trees. Phylogeny was not related with epiphyte species distribution in host tree zones or in the studied elevations. The total number of species found is small compared to similar studies carried out in more southern latitudes, perhaps because of a general decrease in species richness, associated with the distance from the equator.
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