Abstract

MERCADO-GOMEZ, Jorge D.; ARROYO-MARTINEZ, Jesús David  and  ALVAREZ-PEREZ, Pedro José. Diversity and Vertical Distribution of Vascular Epiphytes in Tropical Dry Forest Fragments of the Colombian Caribbean. Colomb. for. [online]. 2023, vol.26, n.1, pp.5-21.  Epub Apr 12, 2023. ISSN 0120-0739.  https://doi.org/10.14483/2256201x.19375.

This study analyzed the community structure of vascular epiphytes in two localities of Montes de María (Chalán and Morroa). Rank-abundance, rarefaction, and interpolation-extrapolation curves were calculated, as well as the alpha diversity of the two localities. Alpha and beta diversity were estimated in five vertical phorophyte strata. The beta diversity was calculated using the effective number of communities and the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index. A total of three families, 10 genera, and 13 species was identified. Orchidaceae was the family with the most species, and Encyclia sp. and Tillandsia were the most abundant genera. Chalán is the most diverse locality, and Anacardium excelsum is the most inhabited phorophyte. At least two species assemblages related to the middle and upper canopy were found, which are the result of species turnover. These results contribute to the knowledge of epiphytes in the Colombian tropical dry forest.

Keywords : abundance; structure; phorophytes; turnover; richness..

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