Abstract
Detailed distribution maps for the major bromeliad genera native to Costa Rica were prepared bases on the collections in the three largest herbaria of the country and on citations from the literature. Most records are from the montane habitats, probably reflecting the frequent need for moisture by these plants. Vriesea ans Guzmania have been collected mostly in moist lowland habitats. In 1975, Burt-Utley and Utley had hypothesized that the Holdridge Life Zone System should fit the distribution of epiphytic bromeliads because soil (a factor not considered in the System) is not important in their occurrence. However, on average, species were absent in about half of the Life Zones where they were expected to occur according to the Holdridge classification. It is hypothesized that the System failed because epiphytic bromeliad distribution reflects factor interactions rather than humidity, light or temperature individually.
Highlights
Percent of Life Zones wherespecies offive bromeliad genera were expected but were not found
When numbers of records are pooled for genera Vríesea and Guzmania are more frequent in moist highlands (Fig. 33), Tillandsia and Catopsi s peak at varíous altitudes (Fig. 33) and Aechmea most often inhabits moist lowland habitats (Hg. 33)
The percents of Life Zones where each species was expected but has not been recorded had a mean of 50 % (Table 1), that is, there are no records for most species in about half the Life Zones where they should occur according to the Holdridge classification
Summary
Percent of Life Zones wherespecies offive bromeliad genera were expected (according to the Holdridge Life Zone System) but were not found. To assess agreement between the Holdridge Life Zone System and bromeliad occurrence, the percent of zones where each species was expected but has not been collected was calculated. Most records of Costa Rícan epiphytic bromeliads are from the mid-altitudes along the mountainous backbone of the country (Fig.3 4).
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