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63 - Impact of deforestation and forest regrowth on vascular epiphyte diversity in the Andes of Bolivia

from Part VII - Cloud forest conservation, restoration, and management issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

By
T. Krömer  and
S. R. Gradstein
Edited by
L. A. Bruijnzeel ,
F. N. Scatena  and
L. S. Hamilton
T. Krömer
Affiliation:
Universidad Veracruzana, México
S. R. Gradstein
Affiliation:
University of Göttingen, Germany
L. A. Bruijnzeel
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
F. N. Scatena
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
L. S. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

ABSTRACT

Species richness of vascular epiphytes in mature sub-montane and montane forests is compared that in adjacent 15-year old fallow forests at two sites in the Andes of Bolivia. These forests rank among the richest worldwide in terms of epiphyte diversity. Approximately 500 species (25 families, 110 genera) were recorded in total, whereas 0.33 ha of moist montane forest had up to 175 species. Fallows had 60–70% fewer epiphyte species than did mature forest, but species reductions varied considerably among different groups of epiphytes. Species richness of orchids, bromeliads, and grammitid and filmy ferns was much lower in fallows than in mature forest but was not reduced for hemi-epiphytic aroids, nor for polypodioid and asplenioid ferns. The reduced epiphyte diversity in fallows is explained by structural characteristics of the fallow trees, including the lack of dense epiphytic moss mats, and by the drier micro-climate in the fallows.

INTRODUCTION

Vascular epiphytes, including orchids, aroids, bromeliads, and ferns, are important components of moist tropical montane forests, both in terms of species richness (Gentry and Dodson, 1987; Benzing, 1990; Nieder et al., 1999; Krömer et al., 2005; Liede-Schumann and Breckle, 2008; Catchpole and Kirkpatrick, this volume), and their role in rainfall and cloud water interception and release (Hölscher et al., 2004; Köhler et al., 2007; Köhler et al., this volume; Tobón et al., this volume #26) and nutrient cycling (Nadkarni, 1984; Coxson and Nadkarni, 1995; cf. Chang et al., this volume; Oesker et al., this volume).

Type
Chapter
Information
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Science for Conservation and Management
 , pp. 605 - 609
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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