TY - JOUR
AU - Nemomissa, Sileshi
AB - Epiphytes colonize canopy trees, provide substantial ecosystem services in production and nutrient cycling, contribute as energy sources, shelter and breeding sites for pollinating birds, bats and ants. Despite this, information on their diversity is patchy. Therefore, this study was investigated vascular epiphytes diversity in Kafa biosphere reserve and nearby coffee agroecosystem. Seventy-two matured trees were systematically selected and assessed for standardized, rapid and representative assessment of vascular epiphytes. 10 × 10 m plots were established at each selected tree understory and each tree was climbed using single rope technique. Characteristics of the phorophytes such as tree height, diameter at breast height, bark rugosity, tree vertical zones and crown architecture were measured. Statistical analyses mainly generalized linear mixed model, canonical analysis and Principal component analysis in R program were used for data analysis. A total of 63 species belonging to 24 genera and 13 families were recorded. Orchidaceae was the dominant family followed by Piperaceae, Polypodiaceae and Lycopodiaceae in terms of species richness and frequency, whereas families such as Adiantaceae, Oleandraceae and Vittariaceae were poorly represented. Species richness and frequency of Vascular epiphytes were significantly lower (P = 0.003) on remnant trees as compared with forest trees. We postulate that changes in microclimate resulting from habitat fragmentation can cause significant reduction in these canopy dwelling and structurally dependent organisms. Conservation of forests with large but slow growing old trees was crucial to maintain habitat specialist vascular epiphytes.
TI - Habitat fragmentation effects on vascular epiphytes diversity in Kafa biosphere reserve and nearby coffee agroecosystem, southwestern Ethiopia
JO - Tropical Ecology
DO - 10.1007/s42965-022-00223-3
DA - 2022-12-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/habitat-fragmentation-effects-on-vascular-epiphytes-diversity-in-kafa-tmAyEwprGw
SP - 561
EP - 571
VL - 63
IS - 4
DP - DeepDyve
ER -