ADVANCES IN ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON EPIPHYTES IN FOREST CANOPIES

Abstract

Canopy-dwelling epiphytes and their associated dead organic matter are important floristic, structural and functional components in montane moist forests. Because of the difficulties related to access, the bio-diversity and ecosystem-level functional attributes of epiphytes have received little attention in forests. With an increase in our understanding of epiphytic biodiversity and their roles in ecosystem-level interactions, combined with improved access to the forest canopy, studies on epiphytic organisms in forest canopies have progressed from the individual level to the ecosystem level. Biodiversity and biomass of epiphytes and their functional roles at the ecosystem-level are becoming a hot topic of recent study. Recent work in tree canopies in a variety of forest types, however, has pointed out that the role of epiphytes in ecosystem-level interactions are more important than previously thought due to their anatomical, morphological, and physiological characteristics. Considerable research conducted worldwide has shown that the forest canopy is a favorable habitat supporting a much richer epiphytic flora than previously thought. It was estimated that there are 29 500 epiphytic species, including 24 000 vascular epiphytes that account for 10% of the total vascular species in the world. There are large differences in the epiphytic biomass of forests worldwide ranging from 105 - 44 000 kg (.) hm(-2). The biomass of