Vascular Epiphytes as Regeneration Indicators of Disturbed Forests of theColombian Amazon Region

Abstract

In order to compare how the distribution and composition of vascular epiphytes varies, in three disturbed forests with different recovery times, and to verify whether these factors can indicate the regeneration state, three stubbles that had been abandoned during 12, 18 and 22 years were selected in the neighborhood of Leticia city (Amazons, Colombia). In each stubble 7 Cecropia sciadophylla (Cecropiaceae) individuals were selected, and a sampling of epiphytes was made in the first 3 m of each tree. The number of species, their abundance and covering were used as criteria to compare the three stubbles, because the sensitivity of epiphytes to environmental changes. The results show that the evaluated factors are useful for the characterization of the forestre generation process. In spite of the fact that the number of species in the there stubbles was similar, the composition varied in such a way that about half the species of each stubble were exclusive. The dominance of Monstera obliqua (Araceae) was evident, constituting more than 80% of the epiphytic covering of the total sample. The youngest stubble presented a denser covering and a high diversity index, whereas in the oldest stubbles these values diminish drastically.

Keywords

• Epífitas Vasculares
• Distribución
• Diversidad
• Cobertura
• Regeneración
• Rastrojos de Chagra
• Amazonía