The role of host tree characteristics in epiphyte community in Northern Andean cloud forests: a case study in El Centello Nature Reserve

Despite their perilous status, cloud forests boast a remarkable flora, with vascular epiphytes playing a pivotal role, especially in the northern Andes. These forests are crucial for preserving biodiversity. Our study focused on the El Centello Nature Reserve, located in the western cordillera of the northern Andes, home to some of the region’s last remnants of cloud forests. We explore the drivers of epiphytic species’ local distribution patterns by analyzing the horizontal distribution of functional groups and the influence of host tree characteristics. Specifically, we evaluate how tree size and the spatial arrangement of host trees shape epiphyte richness, abundance, biomass, and community composition. We recorded 131 species, 25 families, and 2280 individuals over 0.25 ha using the SVERA methodology. Orchids, anthuriums, and bromeliads represent over 40 % of the abundance and are the most diverse taxa. Our findings reveal that larger and, thus, older trees harbor more diverse and abundant epiphytic and nomadic communities. Species composition was significantly related to structural variables and geographic distances of host trees. This research underscores the importance of host tree characteristics in shaping epiphyte communities and highlights the need for conservation strategies to preserve cloud forests’ plant structural diversity. Understanding these distribution patterns is essential for directing conservation plans to protect this vital component of the Andean ecosystem.