Epiphytic Research Articles

Influence of Growth Support on the Diversity, Composition, and Functionality of Microbial Communities Associated with Tillandsia recurvata

Tillandsia recurvata is an epiphytic plant commonly found in tropical regions and colonizes tree trunks, fences, and power wires. This plant plays an important role in interacting with trees, sharing microorganisms, and performing specific functions in the process of tree colonization. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the microbiomes of T. recurvata collected from two different locations (trees and fences) and two plant tissues (leaves and roots). The hypothesis of this study was that the microbiome of T. recurvata is composed of microorganisms that would provide nutritional support to compensate for the lack of nutrients in a particular growth support. The results showed significant differences in microbial diversity between trees and fences, with trees exhibiting higher richness and more complex microbial networks. Proteobacteria was the most prevalent bacterial phylum, with Actinobacteria and Sphingomonas also playing key roles in nitrogen fixation and plant growth. Fungal communities were similar across locations, with Ascomycota and Basidiomycota being predominant, but Paraconiothyrium and Nigrospora showed significant differences in abundance between trees and fences. Functional analysis indicated similar metabolic profiles across leaf and root samples, with key functions for T. recurvata including carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, stress control, and biofertilization.

Five new species of Pseudachorutes (Collembola: Neanuridae) from Mexico

As a result of 40 years of work and many projects on soil fauna and especially springtails, a collection of edaphic microarthropods has been established at the Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM, and has the name of “Colección de ácaros y colémbolos del Laboratorio de Ecología y Sistemática de Microartrópodos”. During the revision of material belonging to the subfamily Pseudachorutinae kept in the Collembola collection, we obtained 581 records of 28 species of Pseudachorutes, from 20 states and 62 localities from Mexico. Three are new records: P. ca. algidensis, P. ca.crassus y P. reductus, and 5 new species from soil, litter and epiphytic plants in Mexico are described and illustrated herein: P. tabasquensis sp. nov., P. mexicanus sp. nov., P. chichinautzin sp. nov., P. tillandsiodes sp. nov., and P. veracruzensis sp. nov.

Diversity and Taxonomic Classification of Epiphytes in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Epiphytes exist in the Federal Capital Territory communities but there is little or no information on their diversity and taxonomy. However, Federal Capital Territory is a treasure house of ethnic communities and some valuable plant species. One major gap across the Federal Capital Territory, is lack of formal record on the diversity and taxonomic classification of the epiphytes. The objective of this study is to collect and identify epiphytes present in the Federal capital Territory, determine species composition and abundance, and further identify the various plants used as hosts by the epiphytes. The greatness of epiphytes has enabled them to exploit a wide range of habitats including tropical and temperate woodlands, plantations and mangroves. In tropical canopies, epiphytes are remarkably diverse and show asynchronous phonological patterns at the community level. A reconnaissance survey of the study on diversity and taxonomic classification of epiphytes was carried out from November to December, 2021 in Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Eighteen study points were randomly selected from the administrative town and two settlements from each of the area council. The study sites were selected considering the dry riparian nature of the region, altitudinal ranges, notable presence of epiphytes diversity and recommendation from respondents. Data was collected by administering semi-structured questionnaires to 90 respondents for a single face-face interview. Epiphytic plants collected from the field were identified. Those that could not be identified were taken to the Biological Sciences Department, University of Abuja, for identification and documentation. The epiphytes were classified into eight (8) taxonomic groups namely; Polypodiophyta, Tracheophyta, Basidiomycota, Magnoliophyta, Ascomycota, Bryophyta, Marchantiophyta and Anthophyta while four (4) evolutionary taxonomic groups were identified. Based on their mode of life, some epiphytes were classified as Typical Epiphytes while others were Semi Epiphytes and Occasional Epiphytes. The study shows that different epiphytic plants occur in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria, and they belong to various taxonomic groups. Epiphytes in the Federal Capital Territory, and their Taxonomic Groups, indicated that Nephrolepis bisserata (Sw.) Schott, Platycerium stemaria (P.Beauv.) Desv., Ficus benghalensis L., Ficus vogelii Miq., Elaeis guinensis Jacq., Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L., Ficus leprieurii (Miquel), Ficus lutea Vahl, Ficus thonningi Blume, Ficus exasperate Vahl., Ficus platyphylla Delile, Polyhandra longiflora L., Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler, Lycoperdon spadiceus Pers., Auricularia polytricha (Mont.) Sacc., Viburnum tinus L., Plagiothecium undulatum (Hedw. Schimp., Frullania dilatata (L.) Dumort., and Ficus aurea Nutt. occured in all the area councils of the FCT while Fomitopsis sp P.Karst., Entodon sp MÜll. Hal. and Funaria sp Hedw. were seen in Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali area councils. Nephrolepis undulata (Afzel. Ex Sw.) J.Sm. occurred in Bwari, Kuje and Municipal area councils. Coprinus lagopus P.Karst., Daldinia concentrica (Bolton) Cesati and de Notaris, Entodontopsis nitens (Mitt.) W.R.Buck and Ireland, Syntrichia laevipila (Brid.) K.F.Schultz. occurred in Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Municipal area councils. Having studied the diversity and classification of epiphytes of the Federal Capital Territory, it is recommended that further research analysis be carried on the phytochemical constituents of some of these epiphytes to determine their major classes of compounds.

INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY OF DAMAGE AGENTS ON ESTABLISHED TREES IN URBAN GREEN AREAS

Trees in urban green areas (UGAs) face various stress-inducing factors that, together with the incidence and severity of damage agents, reduce their growth and health condition. The objective of this study was to characterize the incidence and severity of damage to trees located in 21 UGAs in the city of Texcoco, Mexico, as well as the relationship between their health, green area typology, and urban infrastructure. Using tree damage indicators, the incidence of two damage agents per tree was determined, and seven damage groups were identified: biotic agents, parasitic and epiphytic plants, insects, animals, abiotic agents, and anthropogenic factors. A damage severity index (DSI) was estimated at species level and by green area. Chlorophyll fluorescence was used to assess stress as an indirect measure of tree health condition in UGAs, and surrounding urban infrastructure was classified. A total of 1543 trees were assessed, and 23 damage agents were identified, affecting 9.95 % of the foliage, 10.24 % of the branches, 4.47 % of the trunk, and 0.45 % of the root collar and roots. As for incidence, 60.01 % showed no damage at all, 29.49 % showed only one agent, and 10.5 % showed two agents. Most of the trees at the UGAs were found to be under stress (≤ 0.78) and uncorrelated with DSI; however, the index was different by species and UGA (p ≤ 0.05). Insect damage and poor management practices were associated with the presence of buildings, busy roads, and people congregation areas inside UGAs.

Significance of AI-assisted techniques for epiphyte plant monitoring and identification from drone images

Monitoring forest canopies is vital for ecological studies, particularly for assessing epiphytes in rain forest ecosystems. Traditional methods for studying epiphytes, such as climbing trees and building observation structures, are labor, cost intensive and risky. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a valuable tool in this domain, offering botanists a safer and more cost-effective means to collect data. This study leverages AI-assisted techniques to enhance the identification and mapping of epiphytes using UAV imagery. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of AI-assisted methods compared to traditional approaches in segmenting/identifying epiphytes from UAV images collected in a reserve forest in Costa Rica. Specifically, the study investigates whether Deep Learning (DL) models can accurately identify epiphytes during complex backgrounds, even with a limited dataset of varying image quality. Systematically, this study compares three traditional image segmentation methods Auto Cluster, Watershed, and Level Set with two DL-based segmentation networks: the UNet and the Vision Transformer-based TransUNet. Results obtained from this study indicate that traditional methods struggle with the complexity of vegetation backgrounds and variability in target characteristics. Epiphyte identification results were quantitatively evaluated using the Jaccard score. Among traditional methods, Watershed scored 0.10, Auto Cluster 0.13, and Level Set failed to identify the target. In contrast, AI-assisted models performed better, with UNet scoring 0.60 and TransUNet 0.65. These results highlight the potential of DL approaches to improve the accuracy and efficiency of epiphyte identification and mapping, advancing ecological research and conservation.

Epiphytic Dynamics of the Adaptations to the Changes of Habitats in Taï National Park

Anthropogenic pressures in the eastern zone of the Taï National Park have led to the fragmentation of plant formations. The forests in the eastern part of the park have suffered significant degradation of plant cover and a significant loss of biodiversity. Therefore, this study makes it possible to contribute to monitoring the dynamics of reconstitution of the plant cover based on the ecological characteristics and the distribution of epiphytes present in the Djapadji management sector. Floristic inventories were carried out. In the plots, all trees with a DBH ≥ 5 cm were counted and recorded for the study of the structure of plant formations, all species carrying an epiphyte were recorded and the epiphyte was identified. The analysis of the data presents a flora composed of 26 epiphytes distributed in 18 genera and 9 families, mainly present in mountain forests. The diversity of epiphytic plants is highest in mountain forests, followed by hydromorphic, secondary and gallery forests. Strict epiphytes and Hemiepiphytes are more present in the most preserved habitats, while accidental epiphytes are observed in reconstitution biotopes. The distribution of epiphytic plants allows us to affirm that the formerly anthropized forests of the Djapadji sector present a good dynamic of reconstitution.

Taxonomic Implication of Conducting Elements in the Acrocarpous Mosses

Present study deals with the structure and development of conducting elements in the nine orders of acrocarpous mosses. The significance of conducting tissues in mosses in relation to their habitat conditions, growth forms and leaf cell patterns has been discussed. Features of cells in different portions of the stem and the laminal cell patterns and costa are taken into consideration. Although water-conducting cells are unspecialized in mosses, yet the study shows that they seem to play a vital role in the conduction and provide additional criteria for the distinction of taxa. Four categories have been determined as (i) Acrocarpous mosses with a distinct thick-walled conducting strand (6-7 layered) as hydrome which is surrounded by patches of leptoids. Cortex consists of thick walled cells (6-10 layered). Costa has stereidal cells and well developed conducting elements in leaf, example Polytrichum (ii) Acrocarps with thick-walled, narrow, elongated conducting strand (4-5 layered), cells angular in the cortex (6-8 layered). Leaf cells are rectangular, irregular and porous with incrassate walls, example Dicranum (iii) Acrocarps with conducting tissue (2-5 layered) stereidal, thick walled or thin walled varying in the course of development. Leaf cells are mutipapillate, rounded-quadrate, costa is present, examples Hyophila, Philonotis and (iv) Epiphytic pleurocarps with conducting cells rudimentary, thickened, scattered (2-4 layers) and parenchymatous, cortical cells (2-3 layered) thick walled. Leaf cells are small, rounded or linear and papillate, costa may be present or absent, example Leucodon . The study would constitute a formidable task, especially if intraspecific structural variability is considered. It serves a model system in the eco-physiological aspects.

Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol and Methylene Blue with Silver Nanoparticles Decorated with Drymoglossum piloselloides Extract

Drymoglossum piloselloides is one of the epiphytic plants that is commonly found in Southeast Asia region. In this study, the ethanol extract of D. piloselloides plant has been used in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD),Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The UV-Vis spectrum of silver nanoparticles showed a maximum wavelength at 453 nm. The XRD measurement showed the silver nanoparticles peaks at 38.38°, 44.60°, 64.76°, and 77.62°. The FTIR spectra provided evidence of the interaction between silver and chemicals in the plant extract as a weak signal at 682 cm-1. Meanwhile, TEM revealed an average size of 12.63nm. The synthesised silver nanoparticles were utilised for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol with a conversion percentage of up to 100% with a reduction reaction rate constant of 7.104 s-1. In addition, methylene blue was also successfully reduced with the synthesised silver nanoparticles as the catalyst with a reduction reaction rate constant (k) of 21.150 s-1. This study highlights the superior advantage of utilizing ethanolic extract of D. piloselloides to prepare silver nanoparticles with promising catalytic reduction purposes.

Comparison of the microbiome and mycobiome in tissues of the tropical carnivorous epiphytic herb Utricularia jamesoniana Oliv. (Lentibulariaceae)

Background: Utricularia jamesoniana, a small epiphytic plant found in wet tropical forests, stands out for its carnivorous habit, intricate trap system, and small but beautiful and complex flowers. This species remains relatively understudied despite its wide geographical distribution and curious adaptations.
 Questions: Our aim is to elucidate the composition of bacterial and fungal communities inhabiting both the bladders and leaves of Utricularia jamesoniana, facilitating the comprehension of the physiology and ecological dynamics of this carnivorous species.
 Methods: In this study, we employed 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing to compare the prokaryotic and fungal communities within leaves and traps of U. jamesoniana.
 Results: The analysis of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) unveiled notable differences in community composition depending on the plant tissue and type of microorganism. Prokaryotic communities predominantly comprised Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota, featuring genera such as Acidocella, Bradyrhizobium, Ferritrophicum, and Ferrovum. Fungal communities were dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, encompassing representatives of Dothideomycetes, Sordariomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and Agaricomycetes, as well as ASVs related to Mycosphaerellaceae, Colletotrichum, Aspergillus, and Thanatephorus. We determined that the prokaryotic diversity was higher in the bladders with respect to the leaves. Fungal communities, in turn, were more diverse in leaves than in bladders.
 Conclusions: This study sheds light on the microbial communities associated with this carnivorous epiphyte and provides valuable insights into the intricate relationships between the plant and its microbial inhabitants across different tissues.

Flora of Sinningia (Gesneriaceae) in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract The genus Sinningia comprises about 80 species and can be recognized, among Gesneriaceae, by its herbaceous or sometimes subshrubby habit and tuberous, perennial structure at the base of the stem. This work is a taxonomic treatment of Sinningia in the state of Paraná. Descriptions, a dichotomous key, illustrations, and information about the distribution and phenological data on flowering and fruiting are provided. Sinningia is the largest genus of Gesneriaceae in the state of Paraná, where there are 18 species that occur mainly in rainforest, grasslands or Cerrado and are rupicolous, terrestrial, or epiphytic plants.

The Velamen Radicum Is Common in the Genus Anthurium, Both in the Epiphytic and Terrestrial Species

The velamen radicum, a rhizodermis that consists of dead cells at maturity, is often described as typical for epiphytic aroids. Such claims are surprising on two grounds: (1) there are hardly any data on this trait for aroids and (2) the link between a velamen and epiphytic growth has recently been challenged in general. We performed an anatomical and histological study with 82 Anthurium species and analyzed the occurrence of a velamen in regard to habit (epiphytic vs. terrestrial) and phylogenetic relatedness. Almost 90% of both epiphytic and terrestrial species had a velamen. The number of cell layers comprising this tissue were also very similar in both groups. The most likely interpretation of the phylogenetic tree suggests that a velamen is not ancestral in Anthurium. It was gained once and has been lost several times during diversification of the genus. Our results are an important contribution to the current discussion on the possible function of the velamen. While there is some experimental evidence for its importance for epiphytic plants, its role in terrestrial plants is completely unresolved.

IOT Implementation Energy consumption for Indoor Orchid Cultivation based on WeMos

Orchids are epiphytic plants with high popularity. Orchid is a plant that can process its own nutrients with the help of other media. Parameters that need to be monitored include air temperature, air humidity, and soil moisture. These parameters greatly affect plant growth. Plants can grow well if humidity, temperature, and light intensity are met properly. Good orchid humidity ranges from 50 – 80%. Humidity should not be too high at night and not too low during the day. In addition to humidity, the temperature where you plant orchids must also be maintained. The ideal temperature for orchids is daytime temperatures between 27-30 degrees Celsius and night temperatures between 21-24 degrees Celsius. Based on these problems, a Design and Development Tool for Monitoring Soil Temperature and Moisture on the Growth of Indoor Orchid Plants is Based on WeMos with Indoor Energy. In this design, the results of sensor readings will be displayed in the form of data which will be accessed via the web server on WeMos. To read the temperature, air humidity, and soil moisture, several sensors are used, namely: DHT 22, soil moisture sensor, and a relay connected to a mini water pump using an indoor cultivation method where the energy source uses UV waves by LED light. From the results of the implementation and testing, the growth period will be obtained more faster than the normal cultivation. hopefully, this research will help people who care for orchid plants to be able to monitor their orchid plants efficiently in indoor conditions so that these orchid plants can always be in the best conditions of temperature, light, and soil moisture.

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Superoxide Anion Radical Inhibitors from Myrmecodia pendans: An In silico Study

Background: Background: Ant-nest (Myrmecodia pendans) is an epiphytic plant that can prevent several diseases, including bacterial infections. Diarrhea is caused by Escherichia coli bacteria, while infections in the oral cavity can be caused by Enterococcus faecalis bacteria. Antibacterial activity is also influenced by conditions of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Antioxidants are needed to inhibit the formation of excess ROS in the body. Superoxide anion radicals are included in the generation of ROS, which is produced by several enzymes, such as nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase or commonly known as Nox and xanthine oxidase (XO). Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential of M. pendans as an antibacterial in vitro and in silico correlation in the formation of superoxide anion radicals. Methods: The compounds were obtained by column chromatography method, followed by a spectroscopic examination. In vitro test using the disc diffusion method and in silico test using AutoDock 4.2 program were conducted with positive control fosfomycin and allopurinol, tethered to MurA, Nox, and XO enzymes, and visualized using the Discovery Studio 2020. Results: Compound 1 (oleanolic acid) and compound 2 (pomolic acid) demonstrated antibacterial activity against E. coli but no activity against E. faecalis. Compound 3 (3-hydroxy-eupan-20,24-dien-26-oic acid) demonstrated no activity against these two bacteria. Based on the in silico results, compound 3 had the best binding energy affinity for all MurA, Nox, and XO enzymes of -6.89, -9.35, and -9.75 Kcal/mol, respectively. Similarly, compounds 1 and 2 had good binding energies for Nox protein of -9.29 Kcal/mol and -6.54 Kcal/mol and XO of -7.66 and -4.7 Kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusion: In vitro results against E. coli and E. faecalis bacteria showed inhibition by compounds 1 and 2 but not by compound 3. Meanwhile, in in silico analysis, all the compounds showed potential as an inhibitor of superoxide anion radicals generated by enzymes Nox and XO.

Sustainable Water Management: Developing a Hydroponic-Watering System to Support Epiphytic Plant Growth

This study introduces an innovative hydroponic–epiphytic water system designed to address water conservation challenges in urban agriculture. The system involves repurposing water from a hydroponic setup to irrigate epiphytic plants, promoting sustainability and efficient water management. Expert opinions on the system's development and innovations were gathered using a structured evaluation based on key indicators. Notably, the mean scores were analyzed using an Inter-rater reliability assessment in order to determine the expert's opinion on the development and innovations of the hydroponic-epiphytic water system, and indicate strong acceptance in various aspects, including economic profitability, low initial cost, and compatibility with social values. However, identified areas for modification, such as time and effort savings and immediate benefits, offer valuable insights for refinement. The hydroponic–epiphytic system's components, meticulously detailed in the study, contribute to its structural integrity and water circulation efficiency. The chemical composition of the hydroponic solution, emphasizing nitrogen-rich urea, ensures precise nutrient delivery. The hydroponic growing medium, a blend of carbonized rice hull and coconut coir, provides an optimal environment for plant growth. The closed-loop water flow system minimizes wastage by recycling hydroponic water for epiphytic plants, aligning with sustainable gardening practices. In conclusion, the hydroponic–epiphytic water system proves effective in meeting its objectives of innovation and water conservation. Expert evaluations enhance its credibility, and the identified areas for improvement offer a roadmap for optimization. Recommendations include exploring alternative energy sources, conducting extended studies for long-term observations, and a more comprehensive expert opinion study. This study contributes to the advancement of urban-friendly, sustainable water management practices in agriculture.

Pengujian Toksisitas dan Antioksidan Ekstrak Etilasetat dan n-Butanol Hipokotil Sarang Semut, Myrmecodia pendens Merr. & Perry

Sarang semut, Myrmecodia pendens Merr. & Perry (Rubiaceae) is an epiphytic plant from Papua which is used to cure various diseases. The purpose of this study is to see the chromatogram profile [Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)] analysis, and biological test of ethyl acetate and n-butanol of Sarang semut’s hypocotyl extracts from methanol extracts. Meanwhile, the biological tests carried out were toxicity tests on Artemia salina L shrimp larvae and antioxidant assay with free radical scavenging methods (DPPH). The results of the antioxidant activity test showed that the antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate extract was higher (IC50=18.23μg/ml) than the n-butanol extract (IC50=29.58μg/ml). The results of the toxicity test on the ethyl acetate extract were higher (LC50=101.84 g/ml) than the n-butanol extract (LC50=154.59 g/ml). TLC analysis results showed that the mobile phase for the best separation of chemical compounds in ethyl acetate extract was chloroform-methanol (10:1) and n-butanol extract was the mobile phase chloroform-methanol-water (5:5:1), while HPLC analysis showed that the mobile phase for the separation of chemical compounds in the ethyl acetate extract was n-hexane-ethyl acetate (10:1) and the n-butanol extract was methanol-water (10:1).

Correlating habitat dynamism with foliar anatomical modulations: A study with <i>Phymatosorus scolopendria </i>(Burm. F.) ching

There is a dearth in ecological details on Cryptogamia when compared to available literature on higher plants. Hence, we investigated the extent of variation in altitude, light intensity and sunlight duration existing in four contrasting habitats dominated by Phymatosorus scolopendria in relation to fern foliar anatomical dynamics using standard anatomical procedures and ecological protocol. The species consistently possessed diacytic and anisocytic stomata across the habitats whereas anomocytic stomata were also found in the shrub epiphytes. Similarly, unicellular trichomes were consistently present in epiphytic plant forms while oil droplets were consistent throughout except in the tree epiphytes. Also, the stomatal index and number of stomata differed significantly (P<0.05) and were highest in the epiphytes growing on the tree barks (17.337±3.00; 14.33±1.154) but least in the erect forms (12.875±1.10; 8.67±0.577) respectively. The lithophytes recorded highest number of epidermal cells (76.67±15.280) whereas the erect forms recorded the least (46.33±4.041). Altitude varied between 8.23 to 10.36 m; light intensity ranged between 1045 to 13088 lux while sunlight duration ranged from 2 to 8 hours/day. Correlation analysis revealed significant (P<0.05 and P<0.01) coefficients. Specifically, altitude indicated strong positive association with light intensity (r= 0.987* ) and sunlight duration (r= 0.990**) while light intensity correlated strongly with sunlight duration (r= 0.958). The stomatal types were strongly associated with altitude (r=0.679), light intensity (r= 0.769) and sunlight duration (0.570) while stomatal index correlated inversely with altitude (r= - 0.505) and sunlight duration (r= - 0.553). Implicitly, shady habitats with short durations of low light intensity induced higher stomatal development and density while prolonged sunlight duration and increasing light intensity retained low stomatal density in this plant. This pattern indicates a close association between species anatomical progression in relation to prevailing environmental conditions. This information reveals aspects of plant survival mechanism in different environmental scenarios and may aid future conservation efforts.

Subacute Toxicity of Microgranulated Myrmecodia platytyrea Aqueous Tuber Extract (gMPAE)

Introduction: Myrmecodia platytyrea, locally known as ‘Sarang Semut’, is an epiphytic plant native to Asia and the Asia Pacific. The tubers were traditionally used to manage cancer, hyperuricemia, and coronary heart diseases. Scientifically, the aqueous tuber extract has potential pharmacological benefits, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Since the extract had no acute or subacute toxic effects, it might be used as a supplement to reduce inflammation and improve physiological functioning with better bioavailability than conventional preparations. This study aims to investigate the subacute toxicity of the microgranulated aqueous extract of M. platytyrea tuber (gMPAE). Methods: The formulation of the microgranules was established and analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The subacute oral toxicity study was carried out. The female nulliparous and non-pregnant ICR mice were divided into three groups (n=5), a group treated with normal saline (control group), a group treated with a placebo (blank microgranules), and a group treated with gMPAE, orally once daily for 28 days. Results: The gMPAE was produced using a spray-dry method and displayed microparticles with irregular shapes typical for spray-dried formulations. The sub-acute toxicity study showed no physical or behavioural changes in both placebo or gMPAE-treated mice compared to the control mice, with no mortality observed after 28 days of treatment and no signs of delayed occurrence of toxic effects 14 days post-treatment. Conclusion: Standardised spray-dried microgranules of M. platytyrea tuber aqueous extract were successfully developed to enhance the extract’s efficacy and are safe to be used as health supplements.

Responses of a common tropical epiphyte, Asplenium nidus, to changes in water and nutrient availability.

Epiphytes are highly dependent on atmospheric inputs of water and nutrients. Reductions in water availability associated with warming and climate change and continual atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can affect plant growth but few studies have evaluated the effects of changes in both water and nutrient availabilities on epiphytes. We experimentally tested whether epiphyte growth is more water- or nutrient-limited, if nutrient limitation was stronger for nitrogen or phosphorus, and whether nutrient limitation interacts with water availability. We applied watering (high and low) and nutrient addition (control, +N, +P, +N+P) treatments to greenhouse-grown Asplenium nidus, a common epiphytic fern found in many tropical and subtropical wet forests. We measured leaf area production and leaf elemental concentrations to assess how A. nidus growth and physiology respond to changes in water and nutrient availabilities. We found that leaf growth of A. nidus was more affected by water availability than nutrient addition and the effect of adding nutrients was not fully realized under low-water availability. Among the different nutrient treatments, +N+P had the greatest effects on A. nidus growth and physiology in both watering treatments. Watering treatment changed leaf elemental concentrations but not their ratios (i.e. C:N and N:P). Nutrient addition altered C:N and N:P ratios and increased the concentration of the added elements in leaves, with more pronounced increases in the high-watering treatment. We conclude that the growth of A. nidus is more water- than nutrient-limited. When nutrient limitation occurs (i.e. under high-water availability), nutrient co-limitation is stronger than limitation by N or P alone. This result taken together with studies of other epiphytes suggests greater water than nutrient limitation is likely widespread among epiphytic plants. The limited effects of nutrient addition in the low-water treatment suggest that the effect of atmospheric N deposition on epiphyte growth will be limited when water availability is low.

Dietary and habitat specialization, eye size, clutch size, and aerial lifestyle predict avian fragmentation sensitivity in an Andean biodiversity hotpot

The fragmentation of tropical forests remains a major driver of avian biodiversity loss, particularly for insectivores, yet the mechanisms underlying area sensitivity remain poorly understood. Studies in lowland systems suggest that loss of food resources, changes to light microenvironments, increased nest predation, and dispersal limitation are possible mechanisms, but these are untested for montane tropical bird communities. In this study, we related avian functional traits to area sensitivity (quantified using beta estimates from a multi-species occupancy model) to test the above four hypotheses for a cloud forest bird community (both resident species and just resident insectivores) in the Colombian Western Andes. We found that species with more specialized diets and those that use the canopy and subcanopy (loss of food hypothesis), larger relative eye sizes (light microhabitat hypothesis), and larger clutch sizes (nest predation hypothesis) were significantly more area sensitive. By contrast, there was no support for the dispersal limitation hypothesis; instead, we found that insectivores with more pointed wing shapes, and more aerial lifestyles, were significantly more fragmentation sensitive. These results suggest that reduced vegetation structure, loss of late-successional plant species, and loss of epiphytic plants may reduce food availability in fragments. Similarly, the ability to tolerate higher light intensity near fragment edges, or when traversing matrix habitat, may be important for persistence in fragments and suggests that habitat configuration may be of special importance in fragmented Andean landscapes. Overall, a lack of information on foraging, movement, and breeding ecology complicates avian conservation in the Andes.

The application report of carbonate and vinegar treatments for the control of Tillansia recurvata

The Motita hay (Tillandsiarecurvata) is an epiphytic plant which it is considered today as a pest, that even, it is not a parasiticplant that avoids taking nutrients from the host, but generates a competence for getting light and oxygen from the environmentwhen making photosynthesis and this process becomes more difficult due to the respiration and transpiration of the tree having as aresult a weakening of the branches of the host causing the death of different forest species (Sánchez et al., 2007). Then, the mainobjective is to evaluate the efficacy of the appliance of sodium bicarbonate and vinegar in different doses through a designedexperiment in order to determine what type of dose provides the best result as an alternative and as a complement to the mechanictesting control. Then, 5 treatments are applied in 5 plots of 100 m² with 4 evaluations, and the doses are 86 g of sodium bicarbonateper 1 L of water, 100 g of sodium bicarbonate per 1 L of water, 86 g of sodium bicarbonate with 66 ml of vinegar per 1 L of water,100 g of sodium bicarbonate with 66 ml of vinegar per 1 L of water and then, a pruning of a plot. Finally, the obtained results showthat the use of sodium bicarbonate showed just a little relevance in the results of the control of Tillandsiarecurvata, and the dose of100 g of sodium bicarbonate to 1 L of water shows a very positive result since the hay has dried more quickly, while the use ofvinegar has been inefficient in controlling the pest.