Fate of epiphytes on phorophytes with different architectural characteristics along the perturbation gradient of Sabal mexicana forests in Veracruz,Mexico |
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Authors: | A Aguirre R Guevara M García JC López |
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Institution: | 1. Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Apartado Postal 63, Xalapa, Veracruz 91000, México;2. E‐mail: armando.aguirre@inecol.edu.mx;3. E‐mail: roger.guevara@inecol.edu.mx;4. Current address: Department of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;5. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Facultad de Biología, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Michoacán, México;6. E‐mail: pibe38@gmail.com;7. Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana;8. E‐mail: jcarlos1975@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: | Question: Vascular epiphytes and hemiepiphytes (E/HE) in neotropical forests account for a large fraction of plant richness, but little is known of how the interplay between phorophyte architectural characteristics and habitat perturbation affect communities of E/HE. Location: Sabal mexicana forests in a coastal area of Veracruz, Mexico. Methods: We compared communities of E/HE on phorophytes with different architectural characteristics – the palm S. mexicana and non‐palm phorophytes – in three environments: conserved sites, perturbed sites and small regenerated forest fragments. We combined traditional (abundance, species richness, similarity and complementarity indices) and more recent (phylogenetic diversity) metrics to describe the communities of E/HE. Results: Overall, we recorded 924 E/HE individuals (nine families, 16 genera and 21 species). The abundance and species richness of E/HE was higher on palms than on non‐palm phorophytes. Abundance‐based complementarities between phorophytes and sites were high. We detected clear changes in community structure of E/HE with habitat perturbation, but there were no effects on the phylogenetic diversity of the E/HE community. Palm phorophytes hosted a more phylogenetically diverse community of E/HE than did non‐palm phorophytes. Conclusions: Palm phorophytes are key elements supporting the conservation of resilient communities of E/HE in S. mexicana forest. Habitat fragmentation has a strong effect on the structure of the E/HE community in S. mexicana forests. Ferns are the group of epiphytes most severely affected by habitat perturbation, but we detected no significant effect on the phylogenetic diversity of the community. |
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Keywords: | Beta diversity Epiphytic ferns Forest fragmentation Ophioglossum palmatum Phylogenetic diversity |
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