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Orchid—phorophyte relationships in a forest watershed in Puerto Rico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Luis E. Migenis  and
James D. Ackerman
Luis E. Migenis
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931–3360, USA and Institute of Tropical Forestry, Southern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, Call Box 25000, Rio Piedras, PR 00928–2500, USA
James D. Ackerman
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931–3360, USA
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Abstract

Orchid diversity, distribution and host specificity were examined in a tropical watershed in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico. Eleven orchid species occur in the area. The low diversity is attributed to island isolation and large-scale hurricane disturbances. Pleurothallis ruscifolia and Maxillaria coccinea were by far the most abundant species in the area and occurred on the largest number of host species and host zones. None of the orchids were host specific or host zone specialists although preferences for hosts and vertical host zones were encountered.

Only 8.2% of the 426 trees and shrubs and 24.4% of the 45 species surveyed were orchid phorophytes (= hosts). Examination of host distribution by diameter at breast height (DBH) showed that 80.5% were greater than 16 cm DBH. Orchid species in the area tend to occur on rough bark hosts, but their preferences are not statistically significant. Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae) and Dacryodes excelsa (Burseraceae) are the two most important orchid hosts in our study site comprising 62.9% of all host trees. Careful management of these two tree species is suggested, since these species may be crucial to the maintenance of orchid abundance and diversity in the area.

Resumen

Se examinó la diversidad, distributión y especificidad de especies epifiticas de orquídeas por árbol hospedero en una cuenca hidrográfica de Bosque Experimental de Luquillo, Puerto Rico. Se observaron once especies de orquídeas en el área de estudio. Sugerimos que la diversidad baja es una consecuencia de aislamiento de la isla y destructión periódica de la selva por huracanes. Pleurothallis ruscifolia y Maxillaria coccinea fueron las especies de orquiódea más abundantes en el área y estas ocurren en el mayor número de especies y zonas de hospedero. Ninguna orquídea es específica a algún hospedero o especialista a alguna zona de éste, aunque se notaron preferencias por árboles y zonas.

Sólo el 8.2% de los 426 árboles y arbustos y el 24.4% de las especies examinadas hospedaron orquídeas. Se observó que el 80.5% de los árboles hospederos poseen diámetros a la altura del pecho mayores de 16 cm. Las especies de orquídeas en el area tienen una tendencia a ocurrir en cortezas ásperas, pero la preferencia no es significante estadisticamente. Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae) y Dacryodes excelsa (Burseraceae) son las especies hospederas de orquideas más importantes en el área de estudio componiendo un 62.9% de todas las especies hospederas. Se sugiere el manejo cuidadoso de estos dos especies ya que estas especies podrian jugar un papel crucial en mantener la abundancia y diversidad de orquídeas.

Keywords

biodiversityconservationepiphytehost specificityhurricane damageNeotropicsPuerto Ricorain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , May 1993 , pp. 231 - 240
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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