Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana Interactions
Although epiphytes and lianas share the same habitat, most research has treated these two groups independently. This study aimed to evaluate the co-occurrence of vascular epiphytes and lianas in the subtropical montane forests of northwestern Argentina. We recorded epiphyte cover and liana basal are...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Sergio J. Ceballos Ezequiel Aráoz Tobías Nicolás Rojas |
| author_facet | Sergio J. Ceballos Ezequiel Aráoz Tobías Nicolás Rojas |
| author_sort | Sergio J. Ceballos |
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| description | Although epiphytes and lianas share the same habitat, most research has treated these two groups independently. This study aimed to evaluate the co-occurrence of vascular epiphytes and lianas in the subtropical montane forests of northwestern Argentina. We recorded epiphyte cover and liana basal area on trees ≥ 10-cm-dbh in 120 20 × 20 m plots in the Sierra de San Javier (Tucumán, Argentina). Of the 2111 trees sampled, 727 (34%) hosted lianas, and 1095 (52%) hosted epiphytes. Both plant groups were found together on 20% of the sampled trees. The species richness of lianas and epiphytes, along with liana basal area and epiphyte cover, increased with tree diameter and reached higher values in mature forests compared to successional forests. Both groups colonized the same canopy tree species with larger diameters, whereas smaller trees were typically colonized by either lianas or epiphytes, but not both. Epiphyte species were more likely to co-occur with liana species with specialized climbing mechanisms. Tree size and forest type (mature vs. successional) emerged as key factors influencing the co-occurrence of lianas and epiphytes in these forests. This study establishes a basis for future research into the interactions between lianas and epiphytes, seeking to determine whether they co-occur in the same habitats. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-504bdf588e914af6aeb7b7f3f3ca3440 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-504bdf588e914af6aeb7b7f3f3ca34402025-01-10T13:19:53ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114114010.3390/plants14010140Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana InteractionsSergio J. Ceballos0Ezequiel Aráoz1Tobías Nicolás Rojas2Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Yerba Buena 4107, Tucumán, ArgentinaInstituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Yerba Buena 4107, Tucumán, ArgentinaInstituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Yerba Buena 4107, Tucumán, ArgentinaAlthough epiphytes and lianas share the same habitat, most research has treated these two groups independently. This study aimed to evaluate the co-occurrence of vascular epiphytes and lianas in the subtropical montane forests of northwestern Argentina. We recorded epiphyte cover and liana basal area on trees ≥ 10-cm-dbh in 120 20 × 20 m plots in the Sierra de San Javier (Tucumán, Argentina). Of the 2111 trees sampled, 727 (34%) hosted lianas, and 1095 (52%) hosted epiphytes. Both plant groups were found together on 20% of the sampled trees. The species richness of lianas and epiphytes, along with liana basal area and epiphyte cover, increased with tree diameter and reached higher values in mature forests compared to successional forests. Both groups colonized the same canopy tree species with larger diameters, whereas smaller trees were typically colonized by either lianas or epiphytes, but not both. Epiphyte species were more likely to co-occur with liana species with specialized climbing mechanisms. Tree size and forest type (mature vs. successional) emerged as key factors influencing the co-occurrence of lianas and epiphytes in these forests. This study establishes a basis for future research into the interactions between lianas and epiphytes, seeking to determine whether they co-occur in the same habitats.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/140canopy ecologycompetitionspecies interactionstreesYungas |
| spellingShingle | Sergio J. Ceballos Ezequiel Aráoz Tobías Nicolás Rojas Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana Interactions Plants canopy ecology competition species interactions trees Yungas |
| title | Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana Interactions |
| title_full | Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana Interactions |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana Interactions |
| title_short | Exploring Co-Occurrence Patterns to Understand Epiphyte–Liana Interactions |
| title_sort | exploring co occurrence patterns to understand epiphyte liana interactions |
| topic | canopy ecology competition species interactions trees Yungas |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/140 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sergiojceballos exploringcooccurrencepatternstounderstandepiphytelianainteractions AT ezequielaraoz exploringcooccurrencepatternstounderstandepiphytelianainteractions AT tobiasnicolasrojas exploringcooccurrencepatternstounderstandepiphytelianainteractions |