ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

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three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data.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. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

Composição florística e distribuição vertical de epífitas vasculares sobre indivíduos de Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz (Nyctaginaceae) em um fragmento florestal na Serra da Brígida, Ouro Preto, MG.

Epífitas correspondem a 10% do total de plantas vasculares e desempenham importante função na flora e ecologia das florestas tropicais. Considerando que existem poucos estudos realizados em hábitats relativamente secos como as florestas estacionais, o objetivo desse estudo foi analisar a riqueza, abundância e o padrão de distribuição vertical da comunidade epifítica sobre indivíduos de Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz, em um fragmento de floresta estacional semidecidual no Parque Natural Municipal das Andorinhas, sudeste do Brasil. Todas as espécies de epífitas vasculares sobre as árvores hospedeiras foram registradas. Os forófitos foram divididos em três estratos (fuste, copa interna e copa externa) e as espécies epifíticas ocorrentes em cada forófito receberam notas de acordo com sua abundância. Foram amostrados 332 forófitos sobre os quais foram registradas 35 espécies de epífitas pertencentes a nove famílias e 28 gêneros. As famílias mais ricas foram Polypodiaceae (10 espécies), Orchidaceae (oito espécies) e Bromeliaceae (sete espécies). Microgramma squamulosa (Kaulf.) de la Sota foi a espécie com maior valor de importância epifítico deste levantamento. A categoria ecológica mais numerosa foi holoepífita facultativa com 18 espécies. A riqueza e abundância de espécies epifíticas apresentou correlação significativa e positiva com o CAP do forófito. A ocorrência das espécies epifíticas não diferiu significativamente entre os estratos dos forófitos.Ten percent of all vascular plants are epiphytes and they play an important role in the flora and ecology of the tropical rain forests. Considering a few studies which have been performed in relatively dry habitats such as seasonal forests, the aim of this study was to analyze the richness, abundance and vertical distribution pattern of the epiphytic community on individuals of Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz, in a seasonal semideciduous forest fragment, in Parque Natural Municipal das Andorinhas, southeastern Brazil. All the vascular epiphytes growing on host trees were recorded. The phorophytes were divided into three strata (stem, inner and outer crown). In each host tree, scores were given for the occurring epiphytic species according to its abundance. In this survey 332 phorophytes were sampled on which 35 epiphytic species belonging to nine families and 28 genera were recorded. The richest families were Polypodiaceae (10 species), Orchidaceae (eight species) and Bromeliaceae (seven species). Microgramma squamulosa (Kaulf.) de la Sota was the species with highest value of importance in the survey. The most numerous ecological categories were facultative holoepiphytes with 18 species. Richness and abundance of epiphytic species per phorophyte showed significant and positive relationships to phorophyte perimeter. The epiphytic species occurrence was not significantly different among strata