Epiphytes are hyper‐diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non‐vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer‐reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non‐vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non‐vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events.
Vascular epiphytes are frequent in mesic habitats and mid-elevation regions. The present study investigated the diversity and species composition of epiphytic bromeliads in the Natural Reserve of Serra do Teimoso (RNST) located in a transitional area between ombrophilous and semideciduous forests. Adapted from the "Rapid and Representative Sampling of Vascular and Non-vascular epiphyte Diversity of Tropical Rain Forests" protocol, our survey method used eight phorophytes of Cariniana legalis (Martius) Kuntze found between 284 and 573 m a.s.l.. We registered 19 morphospecies and 526 bromeliad groups. Almost one third of the species were classified as widely distributed and 27.3% are endemic to southern Bahia. Shannon index was 2.2 nats.ind -1 and the estimated number of species in this area was 25 (SD = ± 3.5). Most C. legalis harbored a similar abundance and species composition of epiphytes, which was dominated by Hohenbergia and Aechmea species. This study registered the occurrence of three species that are new to the state of Bahia, and one genus was collected for the first time in the RNST. Results are in accordance with the known pattern of lower epiphytic diversity in drier locations. Since all new records are exclusive to the crowns of large trees, the sampling of these new records was only possible because climbing techniques were used. Compared to other methodologies for floristic surveys, the one employed here demanded lower sample effort and yielded similar results. Large trees play an important role for epiphytes due to the concentration of species and individuals on them. Thus, the utilization of canopy methodologies in other field surveys would be desirable to sample appropriately epiphytes in large trees. Resumo: A presença de epífitas vasculares em florestas tropicais está freqüentemente associada a ambientes mésicos e de altitude média. Este trabalho objetivou investigar a diversidade e a composição de espécies de bromélias epífitas na Reserva Natural da Serra do Teimoso que é uma área de transição entre as florestas ombrófila e a semidecídua. A amostragem foi adaptada do "Protocolo para Amostragem Rápida e Representativa da Diversidade de Epífitas Vasculares e Não-Vasculares de Florestas Tropicais" utilizando-se oito indivíduos de Cariniana legalis localizados entre 285 m e 573 m de altitude. Foram registradas 19 morfoespécies e 526 grupos de bromélias. Quase um terço das espécies possui distribuição ampla e 27,3% é endêmica do sul da Bahia. O índice de Shannon foi 2,2 nats.indivíduo -1 e o número de espécies estimado foi 25 (SD = ±3,5). A maioria dos indivíduos de Jequitibá possuiu abundância e composição de bromélias semelhantes entre si com predominância de espécies de Aechmea e Hohenbergia. Três novas ocorrências para o sul da Bahia e mais um gênero ainda não coletado na área foram registrados. Os resultados estão de acordo com o padrão de menor diversidade de epífitas em florestas mais secas. Somente com técnicas específicas para acessar as grandes árvores do dossel, foi possível ...
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