Bromeliad habitat regulates the richness of associated terrestrial and aquatic fauna

Abstract

Bromeliads harbour a great diversity of fauna species. The epiphytic habit of bromeliads is subject to higher temperatures and higher incidence of light than is the epigeic habit, so we expected individuals of the Vriesea neoglutinosa species to differ in terms of the composition, richness and abundance of their fauna associated with different bromeliad habits. We carried out a study in a restinga area on Marambaia Island, Brazil. We collected 32 bromeliads, of which 16 were epigeic and 16 were epiphytic, and found a total of 1125 individual animals of 88 morphospecies. Arthropods stood out in the sample, among which 68.2% were insects. Aquatic fauna was richer in epigeic bromeliads, and terrestrial fauna was richer in epiphytic bromeliads. As expected, species composition was different for aquatic and terrestrial fauna. The heterogeneity of the restinga environment and differences in the development stages of the fauna may be factors that influence its composition. Both bromeliad habits sustain fauna with several trophic guilds that compose a complex food web and depend on the bromeliad environment. As different habits lead to different fauna types, both epigeic and epiphytic bromeliads play a role in the maintenance of local biodiversity and are important for macrofauna conservation in restingas.

Understanding the connectivity of ecosystems in the Anthropocene

“…The potential for species to acclimate to higher temperatures needs to be investigated. The necessary contrivances of the experiment may have missed the gamma diversity (in a functional sense) present in tank-bromeliad communities (Laviski et al, 2021).…”

The role of bromeliad structural complexity on the presence, spatial distribution and predator avoidance in Tityus neglectus (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

“…Due to the complexity of their structure, the bromeliads offer all those features found in this type of habitat (see Dias & Brescovit, 2004; Hernández‐Baz et al., 2011; Panizon et al., 2014). Previous studies indicated that bromeliads are biodiversity amplifiers and key elements in the structuring of communities (Gonçalves‐Souza, Brescovit, et al., 2010; Jorge et al., 2021; Laviski et al., 2021). The spiral arrangement of their leaves forms a rosette‐like structure that can store water and organic debris in the form of phytotelm (Cogliatti‐Carvalho et al., 2010; Islair et al., 2015; Kitching, 2001; Rocha, 2002).…”

“…Previous studies indicated that bromeliads are biodiversity amplifiers and key elements in the structuring of communities (Gonçalves-Souza, Brescovit, et al, 2010;Jorge et al, 2021;Laviski et al, 2021).…”