title: Structure of the epiphyte community in a tropical montane forest in SW China.
abstract: Vascular epiphytes are an understudied and particularly important component of tropical forest ecosystems. However, owing to the difficulties of access, little is known about the properties of epiphyte-host tree communities and the factors structuring them, especially in Asia. We investigated factors structuring the vascular epiphyte-host community and its network properties in a tropical montane forest in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Vascular epiphytes were surveyed in six plots located in mature forests. Six host and four micro-site environmental factors were investigated. Epiphyte diversity was strongly correlated with host size (DBH, diameter at breast height), while within hosts the highest epiphyte diversity was in the middle canopy and epiphyte diversity was significantly higher in sites with canopy soil or a moss mat than on bare bark. DBH, elevation and stem height explained 22% of the total variation in the epiphyte species assemblage among hosts, and DBH was the most important factor which alone explained 6% of the variation. Within hosts, 51% of the variation in epiphyte assemblage composition was explained by canopy position and substrate, and the most important single factor was substrate which accounted for 16% of the variation. Analysis of network properties indicated that the epiphyte host community was highly nested, with a low level of epiphyte specialization, and an almost even interaction strength between epiphytes and host trees. Together, these results indicate that large trees harbor a substantial proportion of the epiphyte community in this forest.
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; World Agroforestry Centre, East Asia Office, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Mingxu
authors: M
authors: Zhao
authors: Laboratory of Tropical Forest Resources and Environments, Division of Forest and Biomaterial Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan; Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
authors: Nalaka
authors: N
authors: Geekiyanage
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; World Agroforestry Centre, East Asia Office, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Jianchu
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Wildlife Conservation Society, Yangon, Myanmar.
authors: Myo Myo
authors: MM
authors: Khin
authors: Cibodas Botanic Garden, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia.
authors: Dian Ridwan
authors: DR
authors: Nurdiana
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; World Agroforestry Centre, East Asia Office, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Ekananda
authors: E
authors: Paudel
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; World Agroforestry Centre, East Asia Office, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors: Rhett Daniel
authors: RD
authors: Harrison
mesh_terms: D031229:Bromeliaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D014197:Trees / Q000502:physiology; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D012987:Soil