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Canopy Science |
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Patterns in epiphytic distribution and abundance
Scientist: Sven & Steven Batke & Duerden
Contact Email: sven.batke@students.plymouth.ac.uk
Institution: University of Plymouth
Project Description:
It has been pointed out that ca. 10% of all known vascular plants are epiphytes (Kress, 1986) and a single tree may hold up to 77 epiphytic species alone (Nieder et al., 1999; 2001). In any 0.1ha plot of tropical forest vascular epiphytes may account for up to 35% of all plants found there (Gentry, 1987), with this percentage rising dramatically if it were to include non-vascular epiphytes as well (Jan, 2003).
Epiphytes have been shown to exhibit a clear vertical zonation within the host tree with few species shared between the crown and the trunk base (Jarman & Kantvilas, 1995; Nieder et al., 2000) this clearly a major factor. Altitude of the forest itself along with other factors such as levels of rainfall affects the presence and distribution of epiphytes (Jan, 2003). The microclimates found along horizontal gradients differ considerably from place to place, this is mainly due to the unevenness of tree storeys and densities of trees themselves, and these have been shown to heavily influence epiphytic abundance and richness (Went, 1940; Johansson, 1974; Wiesener, 1907). Physical characteristics such as branch diameter have been shown to have a correlation with abundance and diversity of epiphytes (Ibisch, 1996).
Knowledge on African epiphytes’ abundance and richness in general is limited to a few studies (Johansson, 1974; Hall, 1976; Biedinger & Fischer, 1996). However, it has been shown that Africa lacks the abundance and diversity of epiphytic life that is shown in South America and South East Asia, nevertheless epiphytes still account for a high percentage of total plant species found in the region (Nieder, 2001).
Participants:
Sven Batke & Steven Duerden
Project Location: Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia
Added Date: 28-Oct-2009
Publications:
Project is still in progress...
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