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A preliminary survey of epiphytes in some tree canopies in Z ambia and the D emocratic R epublic of C ongo
Author(s) -
Batke Sven P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2012.01330.x
Subject(s) - epiphyte , species richness , moss , bark (sound) , canopy , arboreal locomotion , botany , ecology , biology , habitat
The vertical distribution of the density and richness of vascular and nonvascular epiphytes on some mature trees was studied in two 1 km 2 plots in M iombo W oodland in Z ambia (n = 20) and the D emocratic R epublic of C ongo ( D . R . C .) (n = 20). The aim was to assess the diversity of arboreal epiphytes and to investigate general distribution patterns of epiphytes along some individual mature phorophytes. Species richness was low on both sampling sites (24 in D . R . C . and nineteen in Z ambia) with O rchidaceae being the richest family. Epiphyte density for both sampling plots was high with 92% of the available surface area being occupied. L ichens showed the highest density of 67.2% followed by moss 18.4%, orchids 7.9% and ferns 6.5%. Species richness and density showed a clear zonation within the canopy. Richness and density peaked in the upper and mid‐canopy and was positively correlated with available surface area, branch aspect and to some extent bark pH , but not with bark texture. This study demonstrated that tree canopies can harbour a diversity of epiphyte species, and the findings constitute baseline information in such environments.