Vascular epiphytes on licuri palms (Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc.) in a toposequence: Caatinga conservation indicator species

Abstract

Epiphytism in the Caatinga biome is still poorly studied. In this biome, the licuri palm (Syagrus coronata) is an important phorophyte of several species. In this study, epiphytes were surveyed on licuri palms in order to infer the conservation degree of a Caatinga area. A total of 496 individuals of S. coronata were sampled, in a toposequence in five areas: pasture with licuri (anthropized area), lowland, slope, hilltop and rocky outcrops of an inselberg (conserved areas) and in the community of Jatobá, municipality of Milagres (Bahia, Brazil). Fifty-seven species were identified, encompassing 38 genera and 17 families, growing on licuri palms. The family with the largest number of species was Bromeliaceae (21 species), followed by Orchidaceae, Cactaceae and Polypodiaceae with five species each. In Caatinga vegetation with palm species, the epiphytes on the licuri palm can help the reforestation process, the licuri palm being the key species, where the associated epiphytism demonstrates the dispersion of numerous species. It is a suspended seedlings bank with a nurse plant, where recurring families such as Bromeliaceae, Cactaceae, Orchidaceae, Araceae occur as strategic components in sustainable agroecosystem designs.