Vascular epiphytes at the edge and interior of a Semideciduous Forest in Southeastern Brazil

Author(s)

Fernando Antonio Bataghin ^[1] ; José Salatiel Rodrigues Pires ^[2] ; Fábio de Barros ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Hidrobiologia - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Hidrobiologia - Brasil

^[3] Instituto de Botânica. Núcleo de Pesquisa Orquidário do Estado - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Hoehnea; v. 39, n. 2, p. 235-245, 2012-06-00.

Abstract

Epiphytes have a key role as environmental indicators and may reflect the degree of local preservation. This research was performed at the Ipanema National Forest, São Paulo State, Brazil, and aimed to characterize the vascular epiphytic community, taking into consideration its abundance and distribution at forest-interior and edge site. In the survey, 16 species belonging to 12 genera in six families were found. Characteristic holoepiphytes were the dominant type of epiphytes. At the forest edge, seven epiphytic species were found, with H' = 1.282 and J = 0.658. At the inner forest site, 13 species were sampled, with H' = 1.587 and J = 0.619. The results indicated that the low diversity of the area may be related to forest disturbance and vegetation types studied, and an edge effect was noted in the vascular epiphytes, both at forest edge and forest-interior sites, leading to changes in species composition and vertical distribution of the community. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/08204-9 - Vascular epiphytism in the watershed of Sorocaba/Médio Tietê, São Paulo state, Brazil.
• Grantee: Fernando Antonio Bataghin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate