Community ecology of epiphytic Bromeliaceae in a remnant of Atlantic Forest in Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

The present study aimed to document the composition, richness, diversity as well as horizontal and vertical distribution of epiphytic Bromeliaceae in a fragment of submontane seasonal semideciduous forest in Minas Gerais State (-21°38'15''S, -43°10'55''W). Three plots (semicircles with a radius of 25 m) were marked and we found 72 phorophytes that harbor 15 species of epiphytic Bromeliaceae, distributed in nine genera. Nidularium azureum (L.B.Sm.) Leme is local endemic, and considered critically endangered. In general, the richness is higher than other larger areas of seasonal semideciduous or even ombrophilous forests. Some differences concerning composition, diversity and richness among the plots were found and must be due to microhabitat conditions. Trunks supported most occurrences (101 out of 246) and Tillandsia stricta Sol. ex Sims had the highest frequency on the phorophytes. The values of H’ = 2.34 and J = 0.87 must be considered similar or even higher than some ombrophilous forests.

Keywords

• epiphytes
• horizontal distribution
• Pielou equability index
• seasonal semideciduous forest
• Shannon diversity index
• vertical distribution