Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ISSN: 0001-3765 [email protected] Academia Brasileira de Ciências Brasil DE SOUSA, MARIANA M.; COLPO, KARINE D. Diversity and distribution of epiphytic bromeliads in a Brazilian subtropical mangrove Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, vol. 89, núm. 2, abril-junio, 2017, pp. 1085- 1093 Academia Brasileira de Ciências Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32751197027 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2017) 89(2): 1085-1093 (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) Printed version ISSN 0001-3765 / Online version ISSN 1678-2690 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201720160702 www.scielo.br/aabc Diversity and distribution of epiphytic bromeliads in a Brazilian subtropical mangrove MARIANA M. DE SOUSA1 and KARINE D. COLPO2 1Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”/ UNESP, Instituto de Biociências, Campus do Litoral Paulista, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, Parque Bitaru, Caixa Postal 73601, 11380-972 São Vicente, SP, Brazil 2Instituto de Limnología Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet - ILPLA, CONICET, UNLP, Boulevard 120 & 60. La Plata, Buenos Aires, CP 1900, Argentina Manuscript received on October 17, 2016; accepted for publication on December 19, 2016 ABSTRACT It is not unusual to find epiphytic bromeliads in mangroves, but most studies on mangrove vegetation do not record their presence. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity and distribution of epiphytic bromeliads in a subtropical mangrove. The richness, abundance and life form (atmospheric and tank) of bromeliads were recorded and compared among host tree species and waterline proximity. The effects of diameter and height of host trees on the abundance of bromeliads were also assessed. The mangrove was composed of Avicennia schaueriana, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle. We recorded seven bromeliad species of the genera Tillandsia and Vriesea. The waterline proximity did not affect the abundance or diversity of bromeliads, but atmospheric forms were predominant near the waterline, whereas tank bromeliads were more frequent in the interior of the mangrove. The three mangrove species hosted bromeliads, but L. racemosa was the preferred host. The species composition showed that the distribution of bromeliads is more related to the host species than to the distance from the waterline. Bromeliad abundance increased with tree size. Bromeliads can be biological indicators of ecosystem health; therefore, inventories and host tree preferences are necessary knowledge for an adequate management of sensitive ecosystems as mangroves. Key words: Bromeliaceae, bromeliad-host relationship, species richness, waterline distance. INTRODUCTION used as a conservation index (Nadkarni and Solano 2002, Wolf 2005, Hayasaka et al. 2012). Vascular epiphytes can be found in diverse habitats, The Bromeliaceae is a rich family of vascular on host plants with architectural and phenological features that are favorable for their establishment plants, with about 3160 species, of which more than (Graham and Andrade 2004, Zotz and Schultz 60% are epiphytes (Zotz 2013). The composition and 2008, Cach-Pérez et al. 2013). Since epiphytes distribution of epiphytic bromeliads are influenced are sensitive to human impact and climate change, by the characteristics of hosts. The substrate the structure of epiphytic communities has been offered by each host tree promotes specificity to Correspondence to: Karine Delevati Colpo the epiphyte-host relationship (Zotz and Vollrath E-mail: [email protected] 2003, Zotz and Schultz 2008, Benavides et al. An Acad Bras Cienc (2017) 89 (2) 1086 MARIANA M. DE SOUSA and KARINE D. COLPO 2011). Epiphytic bromeliads can show two life mangroves are very sensitive to human activities, forms: tank bromeliads, whose leaves are arranged and are in decline around the world due to the in a rosette where they accumulate water and exploitation of their areas and natural resources organic debris; and atmospheric bromeliads, whose (Penha-Lopes et al. 2011, Santos et al. 2011). leaves are narrow and do not serve as a reservoir Mangrove degradation causes the decrease and (Benzing 1990, Givnish et al. 2007). Each life form fragmentation of biodiversity (Ebrahimi-Sirizi and shows specific requirements that also influence Riyahi-Bakhtiyari 2012, Bayen 2012). Therefore, their distribution pattern (Benzing 1990). Tank describing and monitoring the biodiversity in bromeliads also play an important ecological mangroves could be a valuable tool for the role, increasing the local diversity, since many conservation and management of this ecosystem invertebrates and vertebrates use their reservoir for (Hayasaka et al. 2012). shelter, breeding and feeding (Mestre et al. 2001, Most studies describing the flora of mangroves Lopez et al. 2005, Ngai and Srivastava 2006). assess the diversity and community structure of The spatial distribution of epiphytic trees but do not record the presence of epiphytes bromeliads depends on the relationship between (Ashton and Macintosh 2002, Colpo et al. 2011, their particular requirements (for reproduction, Bhomia et al. 2016, MacKenzie et al. 2016, Chen fixing, germination, growth and survival) and et al. 2016). Although epiphytes are very abundant biotic (availability of host trees, dispersers and in dense mangroves, few studies have assessed pollinators) and abiotic factors (temperature, the richness of epiphytic species or specifically luminous intensity and atmospheric humidity) of bromeliads (Robertson and Platt 2001, Zotz (Nieder et al. 2000, Zotz and Vollrath 2003, and Reuter 2009, Cach-Pérez et al. 2013). To Benavides et al. 2011). Vertically, the composition understand the distribution patterns of epiphytes and abundance of species can vary between the and to preserve them, it is important to know not different heights of the host trees, depending on the only the diversity, but also the bromeliad-host strategy of nutrient acquisition, time of substrate relationships (Magalhães and Lopes 2015). availability and microclimatic conditions (Bonnet Due to the lack of studies and information and Queiroz 2006). Horizontally, the distribution about epiphytic bromeliads in mangrove forests, of epiphytic vegetation along ecosystems varies and considering that the diversity of these sensitive according to the relative humidity, the forest species can be a tool for mangrove conservation, structure and the host species arrangement (Nieder this study aimed to assess the diversity of epiphytic et al. 2000, Zotz and Schultz 2008, Cach-Pérez et bromeliads in a subtropical mangrove, evaluating al. 2013). their distribution and relationship with their host It is not unusual to find epiphytic bromeliads trees. in mangroves, which are important ecosystems in tropical and subtropical coastlines (Vannucci MATERIALS AND METHODS 2001). Mangroves have great functional diversity and high productivity (Ashton and Macintosh 2002, The study area was a mangrove fragment of the Bhomia et al. 2016). They are recognized by being Itapanhaú river (23° 49’ 07’’ S, 46° 09’ 07’’ W), great organic matter transformers and sources of located in Bertioga, central coast of the State of income and services, such as minimizing the São Paulo, Brazil. This area is located in the Serra effects of coastal disturbance and climate change do Mar State Park. The average annual temperature (Alongi 2008, Lima and Colpo 2014). However, is approximately 27ºC, the air relative humidity is An Acad Bras Cienc (2017) 89 (2) BROMELIADS IN A SUBTROPICAL MANGROVE 1087 greater than 80%, and the annual rainfall is 3,200 and orthogonal factor with two levels: edge and mm (Maia et al. 2008). interior) on the abundance of bromeliads were Two transects were established in the study evaluated by a two-way ANOVA. The Cochran test area: one at the mangrove-river interface (edge assessed the homogeneity of variances. Chi-square transect) and the other at 100 m from the mangrove- tests were used to compare the proportion of tank river interface (interior transect) (experimental and atmospheric bromeliads in each transect. The design modified from Ashton and Macintosh 2002, proportion of each bromeliad on each host species and MacKenzie et al. 2016). This distance was was also determined. established because the transition-mangrove zone Variations in the composition of bromeliad starts at about 150 m from the waterline, with the species between transects and host tree species presence of non-mangrove species. In each transect, were evaluated by cluster analysis, which was we randomly demarcated 10 quadrats of 25 m². In carried out based on a Bray Curtis similarity index. each quadrat, all trees with circumference larger We also performed a multiple regression analysis than 5 cm were registered, identified, measured (GLM) to test the effects of DBH and height of (DBH = diameter at breast height, in cm) and host trees (predictor variables) on the abundance of inspected regarding the presence of bromeliads. bromeliads (dependent variable). The height of host trees was also measured with a clinometer. RESULTS The bromeliads in each host tree were The mangrove forest in the study area was identified, counted, photographed and characterized composed