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Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) plots of the effect of bromeliads on a functional and b restricted taxonomic groups, and c of bromeliad-associated predators (“Brom. predators”) on behaviour frequencies at CP. To avoid cluttering of the graphs, the least abundant groups are not plotted, specifically leaf miners, mycophagous and pollen-feeders in a, and herbivorous and predatory heteropterans, lacewings, lepidopterans, predatory beetles and flies, and web-weaving spiders in b. Abbreviations as in Table 1
Source publication
Individual species can have profound effects on ecological communities, but, in hyperdiverse systems, it can be challenging to determine the underlying ecological mechanisms. Simplifying species’ responses by trophic level or functional group may be useful, but characterizing the trait structure of communities may be better related to niche process...
Citations
... The water accumulation in a structure called phytotelmata is a biodiversity-enhancing feature in some Bromeliaceae species (Gonçalves-Souza et al. 2010). The phytotelmata is formed by the rosette-shaped foliage architecture that creates a cistern-like structure, collecting rainwater and organic debris and providing a habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals (Richardson 1999;Benzing 2000;Jocque et al. 2013;Rogy et al. 2020). Invertebrates have been found in various parts of bromeliads, including phytotelmata (Frank and Lounibos 1983;Kitching 2000), inflorescences (Monteiro and Macedo 2014;Jorge et al. 2018), foliage (Richardson 1999), and roots (Fragoso and Rojas-Fernández 1996). ...
... Based on this fact, the term can be expanded to other groups, such as amphibians and reptiles, and to invertebrates themselves, which are part of the "menu" for other groups and also act as "clients." The use of E. spectabile clumps for foraging is a common activity among the invertebrates recorded in this study and others involving invertebrates associated with bromeliads (Benzing 1980;Benzing 2000;Júnior et al. 2017;Rogy et al. 2020). This foraging behavior includes herbivory on the bromeliad's leaf tissue, nectar and pollen collection, predation on other species, and detritivory. ...
Bromeliads play a vital role in preserving biodiversity in the Neotropical region. To understand their impact on arthropod diversity in Brazil's semi-arid region, we studied the rupicolous bromeliad Encholirium spectabile. From 2011 to 2018, we observed the arthropod fauna in E. spectabile clumps, documenting the associated taxa, their abundance, and interactions. We also investigated how seasonality affects arthropod richness and composition during the dry and rainy seasons. Over the observation period, 15 orders and 57 arthropod families were recorded in association with E. spectabile. Insecta dominated, followed by predatory chelicerates. Eight usage categories were identified, with Shelter being the most prevalent, followed by Predators, Nesters, and Nectarivores. Significant differences in taxonomic richness were noted between rainy and dry seasons , with the rainy season exhibiting higher diversity. Seasonal variation was also observed in species composition. Clumps of E. spectabile emerged as crucial habitats for surrounding arthropod fauna. This research underscores the importance of non-phylotelm bromeliads, particularly in high abiotic stress environments like semi-arid regions. The taxonomic diversity observed aligns with findings from diverse environments, shedding light on the relevance of E. spectabile for associated arthropod fauna. These results prompt further exploration of non-phylotelm bromeliads in semi-arid settings, providing a fresh perspective on their significance in shaping arthropod communities.
... Dyckia dissitiflora Schult.f is a rupicolous bromeliad endemic to inselbergs in the Caatinga from northeastern Brazil and therefore suitable for testing hypotheses concerning the influences of pollination and breeding systems on the reproductive success of plants in arid ecosystems. Understanding the reproductive and phenological strategies of xeromorphic Dyckia species contributes to our comprehension of how Bromeliaceae taxa undergo adaptive radiation, improving their ecological interactions, and adapt to diverse environmental conditions (Antonetti et al., 2021;Benzing, 2000;Ladino et al., 2019;Males & Griffiths, 2017;Rogy et al., 2020;Wanderley et al., 2020). ...
The genus Dyckia (Bromeliaceae) is endemic to South America, and its species show important ecological roles in xeric environments. The flowering phenology as well as floral and reproductive biology were monitored monthly in Dyckia dissitiflora at two sites (Bela Vista:11º42'03.4"S 39º05'21.7"W and Barra do Vento:11º37'58.1"S 39º03'33.7"W) in the municipality of Serrinha, Bahia, Brazil. Flowering occurs in the early austral summer with a peculiar time of beginning of anthesis (10:00–11:00), offering resources 18 h after the first petal movements. Pollen viability was 98%, with a high production of pollen grains. Stigma receptivity is continuous from flower opening to senescence, and nectar production initiates at 04:00 and extends until 18:00. The species is self-compatible and autogamous, but not agamospermic. Pollen tubes developed and reached the micropyle within 24 h in all of the reproductive tests. The hummingbird Chlorostilbon lucidus was the only floral visitor and pollinator (frequency=0.82 ± 0.02). Fruiting occurs 3 days after anthesis, and the seeds are wind-dispersed. Self-compatibility and autogamy are essential strategies for the reproductive success of D. dissitiflora in light of the low number and visit frequency of its pollinators, and it is favored by slow floral movements and the position of the stigmas in relation to stamens.
... Microhabitats in the canopy, for example, bromeliads, can buffer high temperatures, acting as refuges and shelter for some organisms, such as insects Scheffers et al., 2014). Indeed, the presence of bromeliads on trees modifies the arboreal invertebrate fauna (Rogy et al., 2020) and seminal studies have shown that bromeliads can be considered islands, in which larger epiphytes present higher diversity of phytotelm fauna (Armbruster et al., 2002), spiders (Méndez-Castro et al., 2018), and ants . However, this is the first study to disentangle the size of bromeliads and the size of trees as factors that enhance the ant diversity on trees, including the bromeliad and tree scales. ...
In tropical forest canopies, host tree characteristics shape epiphyte communities, and both host tree characteristics and epiphytes determine invertebrate communities, for example, ants. Tree height is among the factors most often mentioned as a strong predictor for both bromeliad and ant communities. However, many factors interact dynamically in shaping the tree–bromeliad–ant association. Here, we investigated the effects of the host tree and canopy structural characteristics on both bromeliads and ants. We sampled bromeliads on 180 trees and ants in 360 bromeliads living on a subset of 60 of those trees in a continuum of native forest fragments and agroforestry systems in the Atlantic Forest, a Brazilian biodiversity hotspot. We found that the host trees’ crown area had a positive effect on the abundance of bromeliads. Also, the introduced tree species had higher abundance of bromeliads than native tree species. Moreover, we found that the ant species composition was different between native and introduced trees. In addition, we observed a positive effect of the size of bromeliads and tree crown height on ant species richness on both bromeliad and tree scales, but there was no effect of tree height. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of trees with large crowns for the maintenance of bromeliads, which are also associated with richer ant communities in both Atlantic Forest and agroforestry systems. These results emphasize the importance of trees with larger crowns for biodiversity conservation in both native forest fragments and agroforestry systems.
Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
