Functional and taxonomic spatial structure of vascular epiphytes in a neotropical montane cloud forest

The distribution of vascular epiphytes on host trees has been linked to deterministic factors associated with host characteristics and microclimatic variation. To evaluate the taxonomic and functional spatial structure of vascular epiphytes in a lower montane cloud forest of the Colombian Andes, epiphytes were sampled following the SVERA protocol, and their position was recorded using Johansson’s zonation scheme. Epiphytes showed higher abundance below the first branching zones (Z1 and Z2), which also exhibited the highest functional richness, encompassing most of the functional space on host trees. In contrast, specialized nutrient uptake strategies and CAM metabolism were more frequent in upper zones, suggesting environmental filtering along the host gradient. These results demonstrate clear taxonomic and functional spatial structuring of vascular epiphyte assemblages in this lower montane cloud forest.