Composición y estructura de epífitas vasculares en una parcela permanente en bosque andino en el Parque Universitario “Francisco Vivar Castro”, Loja, Ecuador

Andean forests are ecosystems of very particular composition and floristic structure, most of their trees have twisted, thin shafts and are covered by abundant epiphytes: ferns, orchids, and bromeliads, which should be studied. The objective of the research was to determine the floristic composition, structure, and habitat preference of vascular epiphytes towards forest species (phorophytes) in a permanent plot in the Andean Forest of the University Park "Francisco Vivar Castro", canton Loja, Ecuador. Three (3) trees were selected in each subplot of 20 x 20 m, which are within a permanent plot of 100 x 100 m, for the selection of the trees four aspects were considered: DBH greater than 20 cm, crown leafiness and visibility (crown height and crown diameter) and branching. The evaluation of epiphyte assemblages present in each sampled phorophyte was carried out by direct observation with binoculars. A climbing equipment was used and the selected phorophytes were climbed to record the existing vascular epiphytes, through a vertical distribution sampling, which considers three sections in each tree; the botanical samples of the collected epiphytes were identified in the "Reinaldo Espinosa" Herbarium. Structural parameters and diversity index were calculated. The habitat preference of the epiphytes was calculated as a percentage of the number of individuals per species in each section and per host. A total of 7 610 individuals belonging to twelve species within eight genera in four families were recorded. The ecologically most important species in section I are: Anthurium oxybelium and Peperomia galioides, in section II are Tillandsia tovarensis, Cyrtochilum aureum and Pleurothallis maxima and, in section III are Tillandsia tovarensis, Pleurothallis maxima and Tillandsia biflora. The phorophyte species have a low and medium diversity in the three sections, ranging from 0 to 3.5. In Alnus acuminata most of the epiphyte species are found with the highest percentage of preference. Cedrela montana, despite its low density with four individuals have a high value as a preferred species. And in relation to the sections of the phorophyte, there is a marked preference for section III with a total of 6,217 individuals. The Andean Forest of the PUFVC despite being a forest with previous disturbances, there is a considerable diversity of epiphytes that should be conserved. Key words: Andean Forest, vertical distribution, vascular epiphyte diversity, phorophyte and habitat preference.

• Autore principale: Bustamante Jumbo, Jorge Luis (author)
• Natura: bachelorThesis
• Lingua: spa
• Pubblicazione: 2023
• Soggetti: BOSQUE; ESTRUCTURA; COMPOSICION
• Accesso online: https://dspace.unl.edu.ec/jspui/handle/123456789/27325