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How long does it take epiphyte populations to recover?

26/9/2013

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If a virgin, old-growth forest is disturbed or destroyed (like so many in NZ and around the world) and then grows back over time (forming a "secondary forest"), how long does it take for the local epiphyte population to return?

This question is important because old-growth tropical and (some) temperate forests have diverse and abundant epiphyte populations which are integral for the sustainable function of the forest.

The answer is... we don't know. However, some (lucky!) researchers in the tropics are working on this. A paper recently published by Woods & DeWalt (available on this page) studied the epiphyte populations of four secondary forests in Panama that had been left to recover after disturbance for 35, 55, 85 and 115 years.
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Carrie Woods undertaking epiphyte research in a tropical forest canopy. Photo from: https://sites.google.com/a/g.clemson.edu/carrie-l-woods/home
They found that after 115 years some characteristics of old-growth epiphyte populations had returned:

  • Species richness (number of different species) reached 74 % of that of old-growth forests.
  • Community composition (the combination of species) reached 75 % of old-growth forests after 115 years.

So it appears that, given enough time, epiphyte richness and composition will recover. However, not everything recovered:

  • The density of epiphytes (plants per tree) reached only 49 % of old-growth forests.

The authors speculate that this slow recovery of epiphyte density "may be due to a low probability of colonisation of young host trees caused by epiphyte dispersal limitation".

They also say:

"Given another 100 years, epiphyte densities in secondary forests in central Panama might approach old-growth levels, but we conclude that, in the short-term, secondary moist forests are unlikely to compensate biologically for the loss of biological diversity and ecosystem functioning that high epiphyte densities provide. In tropical moist forests, oldgrowth forests are invaluable for the conservation of epiphytes, and secondary forests need more than 115 yr to recover all aspects of old-growth forest community structure."
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Epiphyte research! Photo: C. Woods.
I believe that New Zealand's canopy environment would also take a very long time to accumulate the epiphyte diversity, composition and density of old-growth forests. Does anyone out there know how long New Zealand's epiphytes take to grow? It would be particularly interesting to know how old the big nest epiphytes of some forests are!
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Aussie epiphytes

19/9/2013

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My colleague Rebecca recently took a holiday to Eastern Australia where she visited the Lamington National Park in Queensland and saw a plethora of epiphytes!

The common species of this area were nicely summarised by Winter et al. (1983) who studied the method of photosynthesis in common Australian epiphyte and vine species. Some of their results are presented in the following figure:
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Summary of epiphyte distribution on a 40 m emergent Ficus watkinisiana tree in a subtropical rainforest in Dorrigo National Park, New South Wales. The symbols refer to photosynthetic mode for each species: ‘+’ = pronounced CAM photosynthesis (Crassulacean acid metabolism is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions), ‘±’ = weak CAM, and ‘-’ = C3 photosynthesis (considered to be present in species less adapted to arid conditions). Signs in brackets mean that the suggested mode has been inferred from leaf succulence (Winter et al. 1983).
We share species numbered 2 and 12 and the genera represented by 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 21 in our epiphyte/vine flora. Here are some photos of these plants and their relations, please submit a comment if you would like to name the nameless! Thanks to Jennifer Sanger for help with these.
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Peperomia tetraphylla. Photo: R. Bylsma.
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The roots of a hemiepiphytic fig wrapping around its host tree. Photo: R. Bylsma.
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Dendrobium orchids on a large gum tree. Photo: R. Bylsma.
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Peperomia, Dendrobium pugioniforme and other epiphytes. Photo: R. Bylsma.
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Arthropteris tenella over the ditch. Photo: R. Bylsma.
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Dendrobium speciosum and bird-nest ferns. Photo: R. Bylsma.
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"tetra" means four

12/9/2013

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While scanning a list of NZ's epiphytes, vines and mistletoes to find inspiration for this week's blog, I noticed that three species - one epiphyte, one vine, and one mistletoe have similar specific epithets (the second part of their scientific name):

Passiflora tetrandra - kohia, NZ passionfruit (vine)
Peperomia tetraphylla - peperomia (epiphyte)
Peraxilla tetrapetala - pikirangi, red mistletoe (mistletoe)

"tetra" means "four" when used in the formation of compound words. The people who named these species were giving us clues by describing their features. So what does each mean?

Passiflora tetrandra = four stamens

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Flowers of Passiflora tetrandra. Photo: Dr. Les King.
The yellowish-green flowers of our native passionfruit have four stamens. This species is the only tendril climber in New Zealand and is known for its small, bright orange, spherical fruit.

Peperomia tetraphylla = four-leaved

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The sets of four leaves on Peperomia tetraphylla stems. Photo: C. Kirby.
The leaves of this succulent epiphyte are arranged in fours. This species has minute flowers on spikes that occur on the end of stems. It only grows in the northern North Island.

Peraxilla tetrapetala = four-winged

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The four petals of Peraxilla tetrapetala. Photo: Wildlife travel.
This must refer to the four flower petals that burst apart when their fused tip is broken by a nectar-hungry bird. This species mainly grows on beech trees in the North and South Islands and is classified as "declining".

So what about the meaning of the genus names? Well according to the NZ Plant Conservation Network:

Peperomia is from the Greek peperi (pepper) and homoios (resembling), referring to its resemblance to a true pepper (to which it is closely related)

Passiflora simply means "passion flower"

But I haven't yet found information for the meaning of Peraxilla - does anyone out there have information??


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Epiphyte Island!

5/9/2013

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On the 31st of August, a large team of Waikato explorers set off on an adventure to Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve, in the Hauraki Gulf of the Auckland region. 

The weather was absolutely stunning and we were rewarded for our early start with a wonderful 8 hours wandering around the lava flows of this 600 year old volcano.

The scoria of this island is very well drained and extremely exposed to sun and wind... doesn't this sound familiar? The volcanic environment is very similar to the canopy habitat of epiphytes, they both have very little water storing capacity and a vulnerability to high light and winds. As a result... Rangitoto Island is inhabited by many epiphytic species, by the end of the day we were calling it Epiphyte Island!
Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve OR Epiphyte Island! Photo: C. Kirby.
Here is a list of species growing on the scoria of Rangitoto that commonly occur as epiphytes:
  • Puka Griselinia lucida
  • Kōwaowao Microsorum pustulatum subsp. pustulatum
  • Peka-a-waka Earina mucronata
  • Winika Winika cunninghamii
  • Kahakaha Collospermum hastatum
  • Kōwharawhara Astelia solandri
  • Raurenga Cardiomanes reniforme
  • Kohurangi Brachyglottis kirkii var. kirkii
  • Filmy ferns Hymenophyllum species
  • Whiri o Raukatauri Phlegmariurus varius
  • Mawake Asplenium flaccidum
  • Petako Asplenium polyodon
  • Pānako Blechnum filiforme
  • Piripiri Ichthyostomum pygmaeum
  • Mokimoki Microsorum scandens
  • Whisk fern Psilotum nudum
  • Ngārara wehi Pyrrosia eleagnifolia
  • Fork fern Tmesipteris elongata
Puka (Griselinia lucida)
Puka (Griselinia lucida). Photo: C. Kirby.
Raurenga (Cardiomanes reniforme) and Kōwaowao (Microsorum pustulatum subsp. pustulatum)
Raurenga (Cardiomanes reniforme) and Kōwaowao (Microsorum pustulatum subsp. pustulatum). Photo: C. Kirby.
These Rangitoto plants are growing saxicolously (on rock) which is not uncommon for epiphytic species. 
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We all highly recommend spending some time on this beautiful island - it is a completely different world - full of interesting species!
kahakaha (Collospermum hastatum) and puka (Griselinia lucida)
A clump of kahakaha (Collospermum hastatum) and puka (Griselinia lucida). Photo: C. Kirby.
Rangitoto Island
Everywhere you look are species that usually occur as epiphytes. Photo: C. Kirby.
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    Catherine Kirby

    I work with NZ's native vascular epiphytes at the University of Waikato. I completed an MSc on epiphyte ecology and the shrub epiphyte Griselinia lucida and have recently published the Field Guide to NZ's Epiphytes, Vines & Mistletoes. 


    For me, the highlights of epiphyte research are the many unknowns, the amazing way that these plants survive in the canopy, and of course tree climbing!

    Subscribe to receive the weekly posts and join our facebook page to get interesting updates :)


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