Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:21:17.674Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Distribution and ecology of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in dry evergreen forest of Guyana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. H. C. Cornelissen  and
H. Ter Steege
J. H. C. Cornelissen
Affiliation:
Institute of Systematic Botany, Heidelberglaan 2, 3508 TC Utrecht, the Netherlands and Department of Plant Ecology, Lange Nieuwstraat 106, 3512 PN Utrecht, the Netherlands
H. Ter Steege
Affiliation:
Institute of Systematic Botany, Heidelberglaan 2, 3508 TC Utrecht, the Netherlands and Department of Plant Ecology, Lange Nieuwstraat 106, 3512 PN Utrecht, the Netherlands
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A floristic and ecological study of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens on standing mature Eperua trees was carried out in dry evergreen (walaba) forest in Guyana, South America. The trees were sampled from their base up to the highest canopy twigs, using mountaineering techniques. Clear vertical distribution patterns of epiphytic species and life-forms were found. Many species, particularly foliose lichens, appear to be preferential or exclusive to either Eperua grandiflora or E. falcata (Leguminosae), which are the dominant trees in the walaba forest. Special attention is given to the species-rich epiphyte vegetation on the upper canopy twigs, which include two categories of species: the sun epiphytes and the pioneers (facultative epiphylls).

Keywords

community compositioncryptogamic epiphytesGuyanahost preferencelife strategyrain forestvertical zonation
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , May 1989 , pp. 131 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Barkman, J. J. 1958. Phytosociology and ecology of cryptogamic epiphytes, van Gorcum, Assen. 628 pp.Google Scholar
Beever, J. E. 1984. Moss epiphytes of tree-ferns in a warm-temperate forest, New Zealand. Journal Hattori Botanical Laboratory 56:89–95.Google Scholar
Blake, S. & Jones, G. 1963. Extractives from Eperua falcata. The petrol-soluble constituents. Journal Chemical Society 85:430–433.Google Scholar
Braun-Blanquet, J. 1964. Pflanzensoziologie. 3rd ed. Wien. 865 pp.Google Scholar
Cornelissen, J. H. C. & ter Steege, H. in prep. A comparison of epiphytic cryptogamic vegetation on standing trees in two forest types in Guyana.Google Scholar
Degelius, G. 1964. Epiphytic vegetation on twigs of Fraxinus. Acta Horti Gotoburgerons 27:12–55.Google Scholar
During, H. J. 1979. Life strategies of Bryophytes: a preliminary review. Lindbergia 5:2–18.Google Scholar
During, H. J. 1980. Life forms and life strategies in Nanocyperion communities from the Netherlands Frisian islands. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 29:438–496.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FlorschÜtz-de Waard, J. & Bekker, J. M. 1987. A comparative study of the bryophyte flora of different forest types in West Surinam. Cryptogamie, Bryologie Lichénologie 8:31–45.Google Scholar
Forman, R. T. T. 1975. Canopy lichens with blue-green algae: a nitrogen source in a Colombian rain forest. Ecology 56:1176–1184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gournelis, D., Vidal-Tessier, A. M. & Delaveau, P. 1985. Sur la résine d'Eperua grandiflora Benth. Annates pharmaceutiques francaises 43:565–572.Google Scholar
Gradstein, S. R. et al. in prep. A catalogue of the bryophytes of the Guianas.Google Scholar
Gradstein, S. R. & van Beek, J. 1985. Studies on Lejeuneaceae. Pthychanthoideae XV. A revision of the genus Symbiezidium Trevis. Beiheft zue Nova Hedwigia 80:221–248.Google Scholar
Hosokawa, T., Odani, N. & Tagawa, H. 1964. Causality of the distribution of corticulous species in forests with special reference to the physioecological approach. Bryologist 67:396–411.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iwatsuki, Z. 1960. The epiphytic bryophyte communities in Japan. Journal Hattori Botanical Laboratory 22:159–348.Google Scholar
Johansson, D. 1974. Ecology of vascular epiphytes in West African rain forest. Acta phytogeographica suecica 59:1–136.Google Scholar
Krinsky, N. I. 1968. The protective function of carotenoid pigments. Photophysiology: current topics 3:123–195.Google Scholar
LisbÔa, R. C. L. 1976. Estudos sobre a vegetacâo das campinas amazonica. V. Brioecologia de uma campina amazonica. Acta Amazonica 6:171–191Google Scholar
Longman, K. A. & Jenik, J. 1987. Tropical forest and its environment. 2nd ed. Longman, Harlow, Essex. 347 pp.Google Scholar
MÄgdefrau, K. 1982. Life-forms of bryophytes. Pp. 45–58 in Smith, A. J. E. (ed.). Bryophyte ecology.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Omura, M. 1950. Life-forms of epiphytic lichens. Botanical Magazine Tokyo 63:165–170.Google Scholar
Pike, L. H., Denison, W. C., Tracy, D. M., Sherwood, M. A. & Rhoades, F. M. 1975. Floristic survey of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes growing on old-growth conifers in Western Oregon. Bryologist 78:389–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
PÓcs, T. 1982. Tropical forest bryophytes. Pp. 59–104 in Smith, A. J. E. (ed.). Bryophyte ecology.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
PÓcs, T. 1985. Competition and survival strategies in foliicolous communities. Abstracta Botanica 9 (suppl. 1): 32.Google Scholar
PÓcs, T. in prep. Foliicolous communities.Google Scholar
Richards, P. W. 1954. Notes on the bryophyte communities of lowland tropical rain forest, with special reference to Moraballi creek, British Guyana. Vegetatio 5–6:319–328.Google Scholar
Richards, P. W. 1984. The ecology of tropical forest bryophytes. In: Schuster, R. M. (ed.). New manual of bryology 2:1233–1270.Google Scholar
Sipman, H. J. & Hekking, W. H. A. 1988. The lichens reported from the Guianas before 1987. Will-denovia 17:193–228.Google Scholar
Slack, N. G. 1976. Host specificity of bryophytic epiphytes in Eastern North America. Journal Hattori Botanical Laboratory 41:107–132.Google Scholar
Smith, A. J. E. 1982. Epiphytes and epiliths. Pp. 191–227 in Smith, A. J. E. (ed.). Bryophyte ecology.Google Scholar
Spoon, W. 1947. Toepassingen van walaba of bijlhout. De West-Indische Gids 28:289–300.Google Scholar
Steege, H. ter & Cornelissen, J. H. C. 1988. Collecting and studying bryophytes in the canopy of standing rainforest trees. In: Glime, J. M. (ed.). Methods in bryology. Proc. Bryol. Meth. Workshop, Mainz. Publ. Hattori Bot. Lab., Nichinan.Google Scholar
Steege, H. ter & Cornelissen, J. H. C. in prep. Distribution and ecology of vascular epiphytes in lowland rainforest of Guyana.Google Scholar
Studlar, S. M. 1982a. Succession of epiphytic bryophytes near Mountain Lake, Virginia. Bryologist 85:51–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Studlar, S. M. 1982b. Host specificity of epiphytic bryophytes near Mountain Lake, Virginia. Bryologist 85:37–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tansley, A. G. & Chipp, T. S. 1926. Aims and methods in the study of vegetation. London.Google Scholar
Yarranton, G. A. 1967. An instrument for measuring the microrelief of bark. Canadian Journal Botany 45:1173–1178.Google Scholar