Habitat isolation changes the beta diversity of the vascular epiphyte community in lower montane forest, Veracruz, Mexico

• Published in: Biodiversity and conservation Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 191 - 207
• Main Authors: Flores-Palacios, Alejandro, García-Franco, José G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alpha diversity; Beta diversity; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Conservation Biology/Ecology; Deforestation; Ecology; Flowers & plants; Forests; Freshwater; Gamma diversity; Habitats; Life Sciences; Mountain forests; Original Paper; Riparian forests; Species accumulation functions; Species richness; Studies; Trees; Mexico; Mexico, Veracruz; Alpha diversity; Beta diversity; Gamma diversity; Species accumulation functions
• ISSN: 0960-3115; 1572-9710
• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-007-9239-6

Habitat isolation is one of the most important factors endangering the biodiversity, but little research has been done with vascular epiphytes. In order to understand the effect of isolation on the epiphyte community, we studied epiphyte diversity on three plots in a forest fragment, two riparian forest fragments, and in isolated pastureland trees. We found 118 vascular epiphyte species. On forest plots, both epiphyte richness per tree (Stree) and species turnover rate within trees (βtree) registered the highest values, although the lowest Stree diversity was also found there; additionally inside the forest were host species with clearly different epiphyte community. Stree and βtree diversities of riparian fragments behaved similarly to those of the forest. Isolated trees had the second highest Stree diversity, although their βtree diversity was the lowest. In the forest plots were both, the highest and lowest expected accumulated richness (α diversity); on riparian fragments it was intermediate, and the second lowest α diversity was registered for isolated trees. Species turnover rate among plots (β) was high and was associated with both, isolation and a distance gradient from permanent water sources. The epiphyte community on isolated trees was clearly different to the other habitats. Results suggest that deforestation eliminated dry areas and specific hosts that were important for the maintenance of epiphyte species richness. In pastureland trees the epiphyte βtree diversity diminished, suggesting a simplification of the environment for epiphytes and causing a low α diversity.