Lichen diversity in tropical dry forest is influenced by host preference more that disturbance

Abstract:

Tropical dry forests have been recognized as one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world resulting from deforestation. Epiphytes species might have high levels of endemism and play a major role in the functioning of these ecosystems. Lichens constitute an important fraction of the epiphytes. These poikilohydric organisms respond drastically to increasing disturbance that is strongly linked to humidity and light availability. We hypothesized that differences in richness and composition would be related to differences in forest structure (eg canopy openness), however epiphytic communities are limited by host preference, due to the fact that dry forests generally have poor microclimatic stratification and low diversity in tree species. In this study, we assessed the richness and composition of epiphytes (lichens and bryophytes) on the trunks of 513 trees in nondisturbed and disturbed forests of southern Ecuador. We found that total richness tended to decrease in disturbed forests. The impoverishment was particularly drastic due to changes in forest structure in disturbed forest and the removal of potential host trees (Eriotheca ruizii and Cochlospermum vitifolium). Although, epiphytic composition also differed significantly among the two types of forests, more variability was explicated by species of host trees. We concluded that epiphytic communities (lichens and bryophytes) in seasonally dry tropical forests of Ecuador are limited by host traits, particularly species of host trees and bark texture.

Año de publicación:

2016

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Fuente:

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