Taxonomic and functional description of an assemblage of vascular epiphytes in the Western Colombian Andes
Vascular epiphytes are a relevant taxonomic and functional component in wet ecosystems, which is why the epiphyte diversity is important in Valle del Cauca montane forests, where it is considered that there is subsampling of these plants. To characterize the taxonomic and functional diversity of a vascular epiphytes assemblage in a lower montane wet forest; the species of vascular epiphytes were collected and counted. We estimated the composition, richness, and taxonomic diversity; and the assembly was characterized functionally by using as functional traits the habit of life, clonality, metabolic type, spinescence, nutrient taking, dispersal syndrome; and we estimated functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve), and functional divergence (Fdiv). We recorded 210 species, in 26 families: with Orchidaceae as the richest family. The assembly was characterized by the prevalence of true epiphyte, presence of structure of clonality, presence of traits for nutrient taking, and dominance of C3 metabolism. We recorded an FRic of 0.52, an FEve of 0.57, and a FDiv of 0.74. The results complement the knowledge of the vascular epiphyte species of the Andean ecosystems and allow us to postulate occupation dynamics, which can contribute to the comprehensive understanding of the ecology of these plants in montane humid forests.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá - Facultad de Ciencias - Instituto de Ciencias Naturales
2023
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/cal/article/view/106005 |
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