Epiphytic succession on tree trunks in a mixed oak-cedar forest, Kumaun Himalaya

Tewari, Manjusha; Upreti, Neeraj; Pandey, Prema; Singh, Surendra Pratap

doi:10.1007/bf00044060

Cited by 21 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Differences in epiphyte composition are often a reflection of host-tree characteristics such as tree d.b.h. (Tewari et al, 1985), branch diameter and branch height (Zotz, 1997;Pentecost, 1998;Lyons et al, 2000), aspect (Dickinson et al, 1993), and location within the host tree (Hietz & Briones, 1998;Acebey et al, 2003). In contrast to previous studies, none of these factors, either alone or in combination, explained significant variation in the observed distribution of epiphytes at our sites.…”

Section: Vascular and Non-vascular Plants Respond Differently Across contrasting

confidence: 77%

“…Differences in epiphyte composition are often a reflection of host‐tree characteristics such as tree d.b.h. (Tewari et al. , 1985), branch diameter and branch height (Zotz, 1997; Pentecost, 1998; Lyons et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In rain forest canopies, for example, there is evidence that non‐vascular epiphytes facilitate the colonization and succession of vascular epiphytes by forming a suitable substrate for vascular seedlings to establish in, and by acting as water and nutrient reservoirs (Nadkarni, 1984; Tewari et al. , 1985; Benzing, 1995; Laman, 1995; Hietz et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In rain forest canopies, for example, there is evidence that non-vascular epiphytes facilitate the colonization and succession of vascular epiphytes by forming a suitable substrate for vascular seedlings to establish in, and by acting as water and nutrient reservoirs (Nadkarni, 1984;Tewari et al, 1985;Benzing, 1995;Laman, 1995;Hietz et al, 2002). This close interaction between non-vascular epiphytes and the initial life stages of vascular epiphytes might suggest that there is a positive association in the diversity and distribution of the two epiphyte groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can spatial variation in epiphyte diversity and community structure be predicted from sampling vascular epiphytes alone?

Affeld

Sullivan

Worner

et al. 2008

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Non-vascular epiphytes have been largely ignored in studies examining the biotic and abiotic determinants of spatial variation in epiphyte diversity. Our aim was to test whether the spatial patterning of species richness, biomass and community composition across geographic regions, among trees within regions, and among branches within trees is consistent between the vascular and non-vascular components of the temperate rain forest flora.Location Coastal lowland podocarp-broadleaved forests on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand.Methods We collected single samples (30 · 25 cm) from 96 epiphyte assemblages located on the inner branches of 40 northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) trees. For each sample, branch characteristics such as branch height, branch diameter, branch angle, branch aspect, and minimum and maximum epiphyte mat depth were recorded. The biomass for each individual epiphyte species was determined.Results Northern rata was host to a total of 157 species, comprising 32 vascular and 125 non-vascular species, with liverworts representing 41% of all species. Within epiphyte mats, the average total organic biomass of 3.5 kg m )2 of branch surface area consisted largely of non-living biomass and roots. Vascular and non-vascular epiphytes showed strikingly different spatial patterns in species richness, biomass and composition between sites, among trees within sites, and among branches within trees, which could not be explained by the branch structural characteristics we measured. The two plant groups had no significant association in community composition (r = 0.04, P = 0.08). However, the species richness of vascular plant seedlings was strongly linked to the presence/ absence of lichens.Main conclusions Non-vascular plants contributed substantially to the high species richness and biomass recorded in this study, which was comparable to that of some tropical rain forests. High variability in community composition among epiphyte mats, and very low correlation with any of the environmental factors measured possibly indicate high levels of stochasticity in seed or spore colonization, establishment success or community assembly among branches in these canopy communities. Although we found some evidence that vascular plant seedling establishment was linked to the presence of lichens and the biomass of non-living components in the epiphyte mats, there was no correlation in the spatial patterning or determinants of species richness between non-vascular and vascular plants. Consequently, variation in total epiphyte biodiversity could not be predicted from the measurement of vascular

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Section: Vascular and Non-vascular Plants Respond Differently Across contrasting

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Can spatial variation in epiphyte diversity and community structure be predicted from sampling vascular epiphytes alone?

Affeld

Sullivan

Worner

et al. 2008

Journal of Biogeography

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show abstract

“…At least in lowland tropical forests accidentals are rare, whereas their number frequently exceeds the number of obligate epiphyte species in the temperate zones ͑Punetha 1989; Sharp 1957;Tewari et al 1985;Zotz and List 2003͒, even in regions with a rich epiphyte flora such as New Zealand ͑e.g., Hofstede et al 2001͒.…”

Section: Epiphyte Communities -A Comparison Between the Temperate Zonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vascular epiphytes in the temperate zones–a review

Zotz

2005

Plant Ecol

101

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Vascular epiphytes are typically associated with tropical rainforests, whereas their occurrence in temperate forests is little appreciated. This review summarises the available information on epiphytism in the temperate zones ͑ Ͼ 23.5°latitude͒, which has not been reviewed comprehensively for more than a century, and critically analyses the proposed mechanisms behind the observed biogeographical patterns. Although in the temperate zone epiphytic vascular plants are rarely as impressive as in tropical forests, there are noteworthy exceptions. Temperate rain forests of Chile and New Zealand, or montane forests in the Himalayas are comparable to many tropical forests in terms of epiphyte biomass and diversity, but differ in their taxonomic spectrum: temperate epiphyte communities are generally dominated by ferns and fern-allies. Other temperate areas are not, however, necessarily barren of epiphytes, as repeatedly implied. Quite in contrast, local populations of epiphytes in a large number of other non-tropical areas in both the southern and the northern hemisphere can be quite conspicuous. The proposed reasons for the latitudinal gradients in epiphyte abundance and diversity ͑water scarcity or low temperatures͒ are not fully convincing and, moreover, still await experimental verification. Other factors, both historical ͑e.g., Pleistocene extinctions͒ and ecological ͑e.g., prevalence of conifers in the northern hemisphere͒, should also be taken into consideration to obtain a comprehensive explanation of the extant global distribution of vascular epiphytes.

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Accidental epiphytes: Ecological insights and evolutionary implications

Hoeber

Zotz

2022

Ecological Monographs

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Vascular epiphytes are an important component of many ecosystems and constitute a substantial part of global plant diversity. In this context, accidental epiphytism, that is, the opportunistic epiphytic growth of typically terrestrial species, deserves special attention because it provides crucial insights into the global distribution of vascular epiphytes and the initial evolution of epiphytic lineages. Even though accidental epiphytes have been mentioned in the literature for more than a century, they have been neglected in most epiphyte studies. Only recently has accidental epiphytism been investigated more thoroughly. Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the ecological basis and evolutionary relevance of this common but largely neglected phenomenon and to highlight open questions and promising research directions. Our central statement—that any species has the potential to grow epiphytically given the availability of suitable microhabitats and successful dispersal—is backed up by a compilation of observations of accidental epiphytes from numerous ecosystems with diverse climates, even including semiarid Mediterranean ones. A variety of arboreal microhabitats and environmental conditions conform to the ecological niche of typical terrestrial species, with the availability of such microhabitats depending on the interaction of local climate conditions, host tree age, and host species identity. Whenever suitable microhabitats are available in tree crowns, accidental epiphytism is limited primarily by dispersal. In an evolutionary context, the conquest of forest canopy represents an ecological opportunity where accidental epiphytes act as links between terrestrial and epiphytic life forms. We discuss two fundamental scenarios with sympatric speciation, selective pressure, autopolyploidy, and allopatric speciation as underlying mechanisms in the transition from terrestrial to epiphytic growth. In conclusion, we argue that accidental epiphytism is a substrate and dispersal‐dependent phenomenon and that, both from an individual perspective and an evolutionary perspective, epiphytism reflects the occupation of suitable but previously unexploited arboreal microhabitats. Acknowledging the fundamental principles that plant growth is opportunistic and that dispersal is a stochastic process can decisively improve our understanding of species distributions and other ecological patterns, as in the case of accidental epiphytism.

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Epiphytic succession on tree trunks in a mixed oak-cedar forest, Kumaun Himalaya

Cited by 21 publications

References 11 publications

Can spatial variation in epiphyte diversity and community structure be predicted from sampling vascular epiphytes alone?

Can spatial variation in epiphyte diversity and community structure be predicted from sampling vascular epiphytes alone?

Vascular epiphytes in the temperate zones–a review

Accidental epiphytes: Ecological insights and evolutionary implications

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