Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar

This study presents a comprehensive checklist of vascular epiphytes in a forest of Madagascar and documents their forest stand scale distribution for the first time. Fourteen species belonging to 11 genera in four families were recorded from 30.6 ha of seasonally dry tropical forest in the Ankarafan...

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Main Authors: Natsuki Komada, Wataru Noyori, Shuichiro Tagane, Harison Rabarison
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-08-01
Series:Check List
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Online Access:https://checklist.pensoft.net/article/150931/download/pdf/
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author Natsuki Komada
Wataru Noyori
Shuichiro Tagane
Harison Rabarison
author_facet Natsuki Komada
Wataru Noyori
Shuichiro Tagane
Harison Rabarison
author_sort Natsuki Komada
collection DOAJ
description This study presents a comprehensive checklist of vascular epiphytes in a forest of Madagascar and documents their forest stand scale distribution for the first time. Fourteen species belonging to 11 genera in four families were recorded from 30.6 ha of seasonally dry tropical forest in the Ankarafantsika National Park in northwestern Madagascar. Most epiphytes were found in the lower to middle strata of the forest. Epiphytes were recorded on 26 host plant species (phorophytes) belonging to 20 families of trees, shrubs, or lianas. Among the epiphytes, Orchidaceae had the highest species richness (79% of the total recorded species), whereas the other three families, Acanthaceae, Basellaceae, and Moraceae, have one species each (7%). Obligate epiphytes, accidental epiphytes, and hemiepiphytes were identified, constituting 57% (Orchi‑ daceae), 28% (Orchidaceae, Acanthaceae, and Basellaceae), and 7% (Moraceae), respectively. Two species, Microcoelia physophora (Rchb.f.) Summerh. (Orchidaceae) and Basella madagascariensis Boivin ex H.Perrier (Basellaceae), are newly recorded in the park and in the Boeny region, respectively
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spelling doaj-art-48b924fec0ea4bc488033cd60e2735582025-08-20T03:02:46ZengPensoft PublishersCheck List1809-127X2025-08-0121471273310.15560/21.4.712150931Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern MadagascarNatsuki Komada0Wataru Noyori1Shuichiro Tagane2Harison Rabarison3Hiroshima UniversityKyoto UniversityKagoshima UniversityUniversité d’AntananarivoThis study presents a comprehensive checklist of vascular epiphytes in a forest of Madagascar and documents their forest stand scale distribution for the first time. Fourteen species belonging to 11 genera in four families were recorded from 30.6 ha of seasonally dry tropical forest in the Ankarafantsika National Park in northwestern Madagascar. Most epiphytes were found in the lower to middle strata of the forest. Epiphytes were recorded on 26 host plant species (phorophytes) belonging to 20 families of trees, shrubs, or lianas. Among the epiphytes, Orchidaceae had the highest species richness (79% of the total recorded species), whereas the other three families, Acanthaceae, Basellaceae, and Moraceae, have one species each (7%). Obligate epiphytes, accidental epiphytes, and hemiepiphytes were identified, constituting 57% (Orchi‑ daceae), 28% (Orchidaceae, Acanthaceae, and Basellaceae), and 7% (Moraceae), respectively. Two species, Microcoelia physophora (Rchb.f.) Summerh. (Orchidaceae) and Basella madagascariensis Boivin ex H.Perrier (Basellaceae), are newly recorded in the park and in the Boeny region, respectivelyhttps://checklist.pensoft.net/article/150931/download/pdf/Accidental epiphytesAfrican floraforest canopy
spellingShingle Natsuki Komada
Wataru Noyori
Shuichiro Tagane
Harison Rabarison
Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar
Check List
Accidental epiphytes
African flora
forest canopy
title Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar
title_full Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar
title_fullStr Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar
title_full_unstemmed Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar
title_short Diversity and above-ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar
title_sort diversity and above ground height of vascular epiphytes in a seasonally dry tropical forest on a white sand hill in ankarafantsika national park northwestern madagascar
topic Accidental epiphytes
African flora
forest canopy
url https://checklist.pensoft.net/article/150931/download/pdf/
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