Epiphytes of Tropics

This discussion topic submitted by Catherine Dilley ( c_dilley@hotmail.com) at 8:36 pm on 3/8/01. Additions were last made on Saturday, May 4, 2002.

My topic is epiphytes of the tropics. I feel that this is an important topic becuase of the abundance and importance that epiphytes have on their environment. I plan to teach the class about some of the different epiphytes and their ecology.

I. What is an epiphyte
I. Tropical epiphytes
A. Orchids
B. Ferns
C. Mosses
D. Lichens
E. Bromeliad
III. Ecology of Epiphytes
A. Differential Substrates
B. Dispersal
C. Colonization
IV. Effects os Epiphytes on their Environment
A. Mutualistic Relationships
B. Nitrogen availability

Anonymous, "The Epiphyte's Friend", Discover, vol.16, no.8, Aug1995, pg.16-18

Bensing, David H., "Vulnerabilities of Tropical Forests to Climate Change: The Significance of Resident Epiphytes", Climate Change, vol. 39, no.2,3, Jul. 1998, pg.519-540

Kernan, Christopher Fowler, Norma, "Differential Substrate Use by Epiphytes in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica: A Source of Guild Structure, The Journal of Ecology, vol. 83, no.1, Feb.1995, pg.65-73

Matelson,John T., Teri J. Nadkarni, Nalini M. Longino, "Longevity of Fallen Epiphytes in a Neotropical Montane Forest", ecology, vol.74, no.1, Jan.1993, pg. 265-269

Williams,Mary H., Susan L. Ruckelshaus,"Effects of Nitrogen Availability and Herbivory on eelgrass(Zostera marina) and Epiphytes", ecology, vol.74, no.3, Apr.1993


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