Host tree selection by vascular epiphytes in tropical cloud forest of Hainan Island, China

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2021.0374

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Epiphytic vascular plants are characteristically important components of tropical forests. Studying the selectivity of epiphytic vascular plants for host trees is key to understanding the underlying mechanisms of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning.

Methods All trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (DBH) >1 cm were recorded for the number, species identity, DBH, plant height and possession of substrate types in 21 fixed 20 m × 20 m plots, and the epiphytic vascular plants growing on them were measured for their number and types, in the Bawangling range of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. The relationships of epiphyte distribution with host species identity, DBH, plant height, and substrate types (bare bark, bryophytes, litter and soil) were analyzed with the methods of mixed linear model, one-way analysis of variance and selectivity index.

Important findings In all the sample plots with a total area of 8 400 m², a total number of 2 650 epiphytic vascular plants were recorded, belonging to 51 species. Epiphytic orchids and epiphytic ferns were found to be the dominant taxa, occurring on 10.6% of individual trees. Pyrrosia eberhardtii, Coelogyne fimbriata, Davallia repens, and Psychotria serpens showed some selectivity for host trees, with significant preferences for host trees from one to four species. The epiphytic vascular plants also showed a significant habitat preference for light substrate types (bryophytes), with more than 70% of the epiphytes occurring on mossy substrate.

Key words: epiphytic vasculars, host-tree selection, tropical cloud forest, bryophyte, host-tree characteristics

WANG Yi-Chen, DENG Zhi-Yan, ZHANG Shou-Xin, XIAO Chu-Chu, FENG Guang, LONG Wen-Xing, LIU Ji-Shi. Host tree selection by vascular epiphytes in tropical cloud forest of Hainan Island, China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(4): 405-415.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2021.0374

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2022/V46/I4/405

Figures/Tables 4

Fig. 1 Frequency of occurrence of epiphytic vascular species on host trees. A, Relationship between the number of epiphytic vascular species per tree (richness) and the number of epiphytic vascular individuals per tree (abundance). B, Frequency distribution of the number of epiphytic vascular individuals per tree. C, Frequency distribution of the number of epiphytic vascular species per tree. Darker circles indicate higher number of observations.

Fig. 2 Explainable proportion of each random factor to epiphytic vascular species abundance and richness in mixed linear model.

Fig. 3 Variations of the abundance (A) and richness (B) of epiphytic vascular species with substrate types. Vertical line of the boxplots indicate the distribution range of the normal value of data. Different lowercase letters indicate significant difference (p < 0.01).

Fig. 4 Selectivity of epiphytic vascular species for substrate types. A, Pyrrosia eberhardtii. B, Davallia repens. C, Liparis bootanensis. D, Psychotria serpens. E, Coelogyne fimbriata. Vertical line on boxplots indicate the distribution range of the normal value of data. Different lowercase letters indicate significant difference (p < 0.01).

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