We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Branch mortality influences phorophyte quality for vascular epiphytes.
- Authors
Cortes-Anzures, Beatriz Olivia; Corona-López, Angélica María; Toledo-Hernández, Víctor Hugo; Valencia-Díaz, Susana; Flores-Palacios, Alejandro
- Abstract
Trees generate resources for other guilds (e.g., lianas), including the production of supporting branches for the establishment of epiphytes. In a tropical dry forest of central Mexico, we studied whether branch mortality is associated with phorophyte quality. For a one-year period, we monitored the survival of branches with and without vascular epiphytes in tree species with high epiphyte loads ( Bursera copallifera (Sessé & Moc. Ex DC.) Bullock, Bursera glabrifolia (Kunth.) Engl.) and low ( Bursera fagaroides (Kunth) Engl., Conzattia multiflora (B.L. Rob.) Standl., Ipomoea pauciflora M.Martens & Galeotti, Sapium macrocarpum Müll.Arg.). The lowest ( C. multiflora) and highest ( I. pauciflora) branch mortalities occurred in phorophytes with low epiphyte loads, whereas branch mortality in S. macrocarpum was 60% and in all Bursera species was <25%. In B. copallifera and B. glabrifolia, the highest branch mortality was in branches with epiphytes, suggesting a negative influence of these plants, but mortality was also associated with larger/older branches. At the end of monitoring, 95% of the epiphytes of I. pauciflora were growing on dead branches. We conclude that branch mortality is low in phorophytes with high epiphyte loads; but in phorophytes with low epiphyte loads, branches can be ephemeral or long lasting. Low epiphyte abundances in phorophytes with long-lasting branches can be caused by other traits that remain to be examined (e.g., seed capture).
- Subjects
TREE branches; EPIPHYTES; TROPICAL forests; LIANAS; VEGETATION dynamics
- Publication
Botany, 2017, Vol 95, Issue 7, p709
- ISSN
1916-2790
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/cjb-2017-0023