Plant structure predicts leaf litter capture in the tropical montane bromeliad Tillandsia turneri

Bautista, Fabiola Ospina; Varón, Jaime Vicente Estévez

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.24814

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Projected plant area is a frequently used morphological trait to predict BLC and TL because it reflects not only plant size but also the area for litter interception (Castaño‐Meneses, 2016; Ospina‐Bautista & Estévez Varón, 2016; Richardson, 1999; Richardson et al, 2000). However, this variable and other morphological traits such as sheath length, and leaf number have only poorly explained litter capture by bromeliads (ca.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this variable and other morphological traits such as sheath length, and leaf number have only poorly explained litter capture by bromeliads (ca. 30% of the variance) (Ospina‐Bautista & Estévez Varón, 2016). Unsurprisingly, the results of our LME confirmed a positive effect of PA on BLC, and a significant interaction between month and site, which reflects the differences in litterfall seasonality among forests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Projected plant area is a frequently used morphological trait to predict BLC and TL because it reflects not only plant size but also the area for litter interception (Castaño-Meneses, 2016;Ospina-Bautista & Estévez Varón, 2016;Richardson, 1999;Richardson et al, 2000).…”

Section: Bromeliad Litter Capture and Tank Littermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the ecological importance of tank bromeliads is acknowledged, and they have served as model ecosystems for studying trophic interactions and food webs (Srivastava et al, 2020), quantitative models of litter capture and storage in these plants are surprisingly rare. The few published studies generally focus on phytotelm fauna (Carrias et al, 2001; Castaño‐Meneses, 2016; Paoletti et al, 1991; Richardson, 1999), and measurements of bromeliad litter capture (BLC) are only indirect (Ospina‐Bautista & Estévez Varón, 2016). Moreover, there is a knowledge gap regarding the composition and seasonal variation of litter capture by bromeliads, and carbon and nutrient pools in these plants at the ecosystem level are generally based on their density while variation in size and species identity is ignored (Paoletti et al, 1991; Richardson et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Litter‐trapping tank bromeliads in five different forests: Carbon and nutrient pools and fluxes

2021

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Bromeliads are the most abundant litter‐trapping plants in Neotropical forest canopies. By intercepting litter, bromeliads obtain and retain nutrients before they reach the pedosphere. Here, we analyzed the litter captured and stored by tank bromeliads (TB) in five different forests along an elevation gradient in Mexico. Among those forests, carbon and nutrient pools and nitrogen fluxes in TB were estimated in a mangrove (MF) and a semi‐deciduous tropical forest (SDTF). The composition of the litter trapped by TB along the gradient was similar to forest litterfall and was mainly composed of leaves. Most of the litter was captured in the dry season, and we found a significant effect of projected plant area and the interaction between month and site on bromeliad litter capture. Moreover, litter stored in TB increased exponentially with projected plant area and differed between three studied bromeliad species. In the MF (with ca. 2,700 TB ha−1), barely ca. 1% of annual litterfall is trapped by these plants, but even in the SDTF, with >10,000 TB ha−1, only ca. 2.4% is captured. We found that carbon and nitrogen pools in TB were small and represented <1% of the carbon and nitrogen stored in forest aboveground biomass. Furthermore, the residence time of litter trapped in TB was similar to that of litter on the forest floor. In the light of our results, we conclude that in the studied forests, the effect of TB on the forest carbon and nutrient cycle is negligible. Abstract in Spain is available with online material.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bromeliad Litter Capture and Tank Littermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Litter‐trapping tank bromeliads in five different forests: Carbon and nutrient pools and fluxes

2021

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“…Summarizing all the above, it should be noted that forest floor litter thanks to a number of physical properties of its structure -non-high density, loose composition, saturation with various gases, high air and water permeability, increased heat capacity, creates a specific ecological environment influencing all vital aspects of its biota. Although floor litter covers soil and through biochemical and physical pathways transforms part of its resources and energy into soil, it is an independent biogeohorizon connecting phytocenosis and soil (Chornobai, 2000;Ospina-Bautista & Estévez Varón, 2016;Krishna & Mohan, 2017). It serves a number of functions as soil horizon: holds roots and rhizomes of forest plants, it is inhabited by many invertebrate animals, which make vertical migrations and promote formation of the biogenic profile of forest soils by their activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morpho-ecological structure of oribatid mite (Acariformes, Oribatida) communities in the forest litter of recultivated areas

Kulbachko¹,

Дідур²,

Хромых³

et al. 2019

Biosys. divers.

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The study of morpho-ecological organization of oribatid mite communities (Acariformes, Oribatida) inhabiting forest litter of recultivated areas in steppe zone conditions of Ukraine was performed. The role of the forest and forest floor litter in optimization of the ecological situation on degraded lands was demonstrated. The function of environment creation by oribatids, as primary destructors of dead plant matter, supporting such ecosystem services as soil fertility improvement and nutrients turnover was highlighted. The research was performed within different stratigraphic types of bulk edaphotops in the recultivated plot of “Pavlogradskaya” colliery (Pavlograd, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine) planted with red juniper (Juniperus virginiana L.). Withdrawal and collection of mites was performed with thermoeclector. For determination of the domination structure in the mite communities, the Engelmann scale was used. Adaptive (morpho-ecological) groups of oribatid mites were diagnosed by Krivolutsky. It was established that the number of species of oribatid mites in the forest litter of the studied red juniper plantation varied from 16 to 25. Average density of oribatid mites varied from 4,720 to 25,327 ind./m2. Among such morpho-ecological groups as soil surface inhabitants, small soil pore inhabitants, deep soil forms, floor litter inhabitants and unspecified forms, identified in the coniferous litter, the share of unspecified forms increased from loess-like loam type (21% of total amount) to Calcic Chernozem types with different stratigraphy (41.0%, 70.0% and 70.4% accordingly). Deep soil forms in the forest floor litter of the studied red juniper plots were not identified for any of recultivation types. The obtained results expand our understanding of the role of oribatid mites in the processes of ecological rehabilitation of disturbed ecosystems in the conditions of modern nature management.

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Functional Ecology of Vascular Epiphytes

Zotz

Hietz

Einzmann

2021

Annual Plant Reviews Online

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The epiphytic life form characterizes almost 10% of all vascular plants. Defined by their mechanical dependence throughout their life and their non‐parasitic relationship with the host, the term epiphyte describes a very heterogenous and taxonomically diverse group of plants. This article explores the functional ecology of this group, acknowledging from the start that our current knowledge is highly biased, e.g. with a strong focus on particular families like bromeliads or orchids. This bias goes along with a number of problematic and weakly founded generalizations in the literature. Our article covers a set of particularly important aspects of epiphyte ecology, e.g. germination, water and nutrient relationships, and biomechanical aspects of the epiphyte‐host relationship. Throughout our article, we describe ways for future research projects to reach a more comprehensive and representative understanding of the biological responses to the varying challenges of the arboreal habitat, and emphasize that the study of epiphytes should not only be of interest to the narrow expert: a comparison of the functional ecology of epiphytes and ground‐rooted terrestrials offers unique perspectives to understanding both evolutionary and ecological, phenotypic responses to the diverse habitats of vascular plants in general.

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Plant structure predicts leaf litter capture in the tropical montane bromeliad Tillandsia turneri

Cited by 3 publications

References 25 publications

Litter‐trapping tank bromeliads in five different forests: Carbon and nutrient pools and fluxes

Litter‐trapping tank bromeliads in five different forests: Carbon and nutrient pools and fluxes

Morpho-ecological structure of oribatid mite (Acariformes, Oribatida) communities in the forest litter of recultivated areas

Functional Ecology of Vascular Epiphytes

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