A new study has been published on NZ nest epiphytes, how exciting! Sarah Killick, Dan Blanchon & Mark Large from Unitec, Auckland have written an article about life in the phytotelmata of kahakaha (Warning: name change!! kahakaha was Collospermum hastatum but is now called Astelia hastata). This work adds to Olivia's 2014 study of epiphyte fauna.
Phytotelmata are the pockets of water that are stored at the base of kahakaha leaves. The authors describe these as "miniature temporary aquatic ecosystems". The "miniature" means that they are almost always "temporary" because they can dry up quite quickly.
Phytotelmata are the pockets of water that are stored at the base of kahakaha leaves. The authors describe these as "miniature temporary aquatic ecosystems". The "miniature" means that they are almost always "temporary" because they can dry up quite quickly.
Phytotelmata (water pockets) of kahakaha (Astelia hastata - previously Collospermum hastatum) in Waiatarua, Auckland, New Zealand. Photo: Killick, Blanchon & Large.
In this study, the researchers investigated the fungal life within the phytotelmata of kahakaha (Astelia hastata) in comparison to introduced garden bromeliad species. They had intended to also study phytotelmata of kiekie (Freycinetia banksii) and kowharawhara (Astelia solandri) but found insufficient water volumes in these species. Water samples were taken from nest epiphytes and bromeliads in the forests of Waitakere, Great Barrier Island, Clevedon and Maitaia. Samples from bromeliads in urban Auckland were also examined for comparison to the forest-dwelling plants.
Phytotelmata (water pockets) a bromeliad in Waiatarua, Auckland, New Zealand. Photo: Killick, Blanchon & Large.
So what did they find in these little pools?
Well, there is life in the phytotelmata of forest plants but not much. They authors found cyanobacteria, pollen grains and spores from fungi and ferns in the water pockets of kahakaha (Astelia hastata) and forest bromeliads but none of the algae that they were looking for. In contrast, urban bromeliads had a wide range of organisms in their phytotelmata, including four genera of diatoms (major group of algae).
Well, there is life in the phytotelmata of forest plants but not much. They authors found cyanobacteria, pollen grains and spores from fungi and ferns in the water pockets of kahakaha (Astelia hastata) and forest bromeliads but none of the algae that they were looking for. In contrast, urban bromeliads had a wide range of organisms in their phytotelmata, including four genera of diatoms (major group of algae).
Images: Killick, Blanchon & Large.
The authors speculated that the lack of algae in nest epiphytes could be due to 3 factors:
Like all good research, this has got me thinking and wondering: would epiphytes growing nearer the tree tops have more phytotelmic life than those in the lower limbs? how would phytotelmata life compare in kahakaha of urban settings? and where will we find a student to comprehensively study these little ecosystems!!??
- the tight leaf arrangement of kahakaha (Astelia hastata) and the black leaf bases may be limiting the light that algae need to thrive
- the pH of kahakaha phytotelmata (mean: 5) may be unsuitable for algal survival and growth (bromeliad mean pH: 5.7).
- algae may not be able to disperse to forest habitats from sources such as lakes, stream and sediments
Like all good research, this has got me thinking and wondering: would epiphytes growing nearer the tree tops have more phytotelmic life than those in the lower limbs? how would phytotelmata life compare in kahakaha of urban settings? and where will we find a student to comprehensively study these little ecosystems!!??
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