Diversity, productivity and biomass patters of epiphytes along successional gradient in the Andean Colombian

Our objective was to determine the relationship of different successional stages with the diversity, assimilation rates and net productivity of different growth forms of vascular epiphytes in a humid montane forest in Andean Colombian. Three successional stages were selected according to the site conditions. The 30 trees sampled in the three successional stages 4,610 epiphytic individuals to 54 species. A main finding was that species richness, abundance and biomass increased with stage age. Additionally true epiphytes were the growth form with the greatest richness, abundance and biomass. Regarding photosynthesis rates decreased with stage age and were higher for treelets, shrubs and lower for true epiphytes. According the analysis of the ordering of the epiphytes found by stages shows the existence of a successional trajectory with the presence of representative species of each stage. This research can contribute as a basis to the knowledge of epiphytes, with the purpose of enriching and supporting management measures for these species.