Abstract
Community structure and spatial distribution of epiphytic ferns in swamp forest remnants along the coastal plain of the state of Rio Grande do Sul were analyzed. A total of 440 trees were sampled in fifty-seven 10 x 10 m plots. Each phorophyte was divided into five ecological zones (strata), where all species of epiphytic ferns were recorded. A total of 34 species representing 18 genera in six families were recorded. Polypodiaceae was the most represented family with 17 species, and Microgramma vacciniifolia had the highest epiphytic importance value. Characteristic holoepiphyte was the predominant ecological category, representing 70 % of the species. Ordination analysis showed a gradual change in floristic composition between ecological zones with richness differing significantly between strata. We observed that with increasing latitude there was a decrease in mean temperature and total rainfall, but an increase in frosts. These climatic and phytogeography changes result in a reduction in species richness and a change in the structure of epiphytic fern communities in a north-to-south direction. The importance of swamp forest remnants of the coastal plain to the diversity of epiphytic ferns is discussed.
Highlights
Vascular epiphytes represent 9 % of the world’s vascular flora and comprise approximately 27,600 species (Zotz 2013)
Among the seven works that focused on epiphytism of seedless vascular plants, four were carried out exclusively with tree ferns (Schmitt et al 2005; Fraga et al 2008; Schmitt & Windisch 2010; Schneider & Schmitt 2011) while the other studies included all types of phorophytes (Labiak & Prado 1998; Barros et al 2014; Quevedo et al 2014)
Considering the presence of this latitudinal gradient of diversity of ferns on the coastal plain of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the present study aims to investigate variation in species richness, composition and structure of epiphytic fern communities in swamp forests throughout the study area
Summary
Vascular epiphytes represent 9 % of the world’s vascular flora and comprise approximately 27,600 species (Zotz 2013). Their abundance and species diversity vary according to environmental factors along latitudinal, altitudinal and continental gradients (Gentry & Dodson 1987). Spatial distribution of vascular epiphytes varies in two directions: horizontally, among forest formations and phorophytes, and vertically, throughout each tree (Steege & Cornelissen 1989). Among the seven works that focused on epiphytism of seedless vascular plants (ferns and lycophytes), four were carried out exclusively with tree ferns (Schmitt et al 2005; Fraga et al 2008; Schmitt & Windisch 2010; Schneider & Schmitt 2011) while the other studies included all types of phorophytes (Labiak & Prado 1998; Barros et al 2014; Quevedo et al 2014)
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