부산대학교 도서관

Vascular epiphytes live non-parasitically on other plants and are a distinctive and intergral component of tropical forests. There is a general lack of studies examining epiphyte diversity in urban settings. The aim of this study was to document the diversity of epiphytes on host trees in the eThekwini Metropolitan Area (EMA). In addition, the number of individuals of each epiphyte, host tree circumference at breast height and height were recorded. In total, 30 epiphyte species from 12 families were recorded, with most epiphyte species belonging to the Moraceae (n= 8) and Araliaceae (n= 5). A total of 34 host species from 15 families were recorded. These numbers did not increase when considering herbarium material within the EMAsensu stricto.The highest epiphyte richness (n= 13) was reported on the palmRaphia australis.The high number of both alien host and epiphytic taxa are of concern. More studies are needed to understand how epiphyte/host interactions in the urban landscape are established and maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]