Abstract

SAN MARTIN, José et al. Composition and structure of vascular epiphytes in an old-growth forest of Olivillo (Aextoxicon punctatum R. et P.) in southern Chile. Ecol. austral [online]. 2008, vol.18, n.1, pp.1-11. ISSN 1667-782X.

Vascular epiphytes represent 10% of the total vascular plants of the world. Nevertheless, because it is hard to reach them in the forest upper-canopy where they usually live, there are few studies (especially in Chile) about them. With the objective of identifying the vascular epiphytes growing on tree stems (under 1.5 m height), we sampled three transects in an Olivillo old-growth stand, in the Rucamanque forest, in the central valley of south-central Chile, near the city of Temuco. Several variables were measured for both the vascular epiphytes and their host-trees. We studied the floristic composition of the vascular epiphytes community, and their relationship with their host-trees, as well as their sociability, cover, and frequency. Eight vascular epiphytes species were identified, corresponding to four genus distributed in three families: Hymenophyllum and Hymenoglossum (Hymenophyllaceae), Asplenium (Aspleniaceae) and Sarmienta (Gesneriaceae). We found only a non-statistically significant linear correlation between vascular epiphytes and their host-trees. We determined that Hymenophyllum cuneatum was the most important vascular epiphytes species.

Keywords : Phorophytes; Host; Hymenophyllaceae; Commensalism.

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