Evaluación de epifitas en árboles hospederos dentro de bosques andinos en la provincia del Azuay

Abstract

Deforestation causes negative effects on the native flora including epiphytes that are particularly vulnerable to pressures on the structure and diversity of the forests. The diversity of epiphytes in high-Andean forests has been barely evaluated. This study evaluated the richness, diversity and abundance of vascular epiphytes in host trees within high-Andean forests and established associations among vascular epiphytes with the diversity and structure of the hosts. Three forest communities were compared: Forest Community 1 (Pillachiquir and Irquis-secondary forests), Forestry Community 2 (Gañadel and Irquis – secondary forests) and forest Community 3 (Llaviuco – primary forest). We used 22 sampling plots, where the epiphytes were registered on the surface of three vertical strata: 1) the trunk, 2) the first branch and, 3) the canopy. Seventy-six epiphytic species were recorded, covering 61001 individuals present in the three forest communities. The highest species richness was recorded in the third community, corresponding to the forest of Llaviuco. Based on the vertical stratification, the canopy was the richest stratum in all three forest communities. Based on the index value of importance (IVI) Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, Polypodiaceae and Piperacea were the most important families among the three forest communities. The Spearman correlation coefficient showed a decrease in epiphytic richness as host richness increased. It is concluded that the richness, diversity and abundance of vascular epiphytes are irregularly influenced by the diversity and structure of the hosts, in the three forest communities studied.