Effect of isolation on the structure and nutrient content of oak epiphyte communities |
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Authors: | Flores-Palacios Alejandro García-Franco José G |
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Institution: | (1) Depto. de Ecología Vegetal, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Apdo. Postal 63, C.P. 91000 Xalapa, Ver., México;(2) Present address: La Rosa No. 72, Col. Salud, C. P. 91070 Xalapa, Ver., Mexico |
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Abstract: | Because isolated trees in pasture experience greater exposure than forest trees, the epiphytes on them should be more drought and sun-tolerant. In Veracruz, Mexico, we compared the structure and nutrient content of the epiphyte community on five forest oaks (FO) in a fragment of lower montane cloud forest to that of five isolated oaks in pasture (IO). IO supported fewer epiphyte species than FO; 62.8% of the 35 epiphyte species were recorded only in one habitat (51.4% on FO and 11.4% on IO). Polypodium plebeium and Tillandsia spp. seedlings were more abundant on FO, while T. kirchhoffiana and T. punctulata were more abundant on IO. Evenness was lower on IO, which supported higher epiphyte biomass. pH, Ca, Mg, N, K, and Na concentrations were similar for FO and IO, with only Pextractable being lower on IO than FO. We concluded that when an epiphyte community is isolated (IO), the populations of some species expand while those of other diminish or disappear, a phenomenon that changes the structure of the epiphyte community becoming less even. |
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Keywords: | Bromeliaceae Community structure Dominance/diversity relations Fragmentation Lower montane cloud forest Orchidaceae Remnant trees Tillandsia |
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