A importância da palmeira Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Beec. para a conservação da riqueza e diversidade de espécies epífitas vasculares na caatinga

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between the epiphytic diversity and richnesson the phorophytes of licuri, Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Beec., and other species of the Caatinga and checkthe higher frequency of epiphytes on the strata of S. coronata. The study was conducted at the National Parkof Catimbau Valley (Parque Nacional do Vale do Catimbau), in Pernambuco. We randomly selected 50 adultsof S. coronata (L) as well as the individual adult tree closest to each S. coronata (O), excluding individualsof licuri to count the number of epiphytic individuals per species and classify them according to their lifeform in primary hemiepiphytes, secondary hemiepiphytes, mandatory holoepiphytes, optional holoepiphytesand accidental holoepiphytes. We sampled 760 individuals distributed in 16 species, 15 of which taxa ofS. coronata, mainly found in the stem region covered by the remains of old leaf sheaths, and five in anotherphorophyte group. The Shannon-Weaver (L - 1.936; O - 0.155) diversity was significantly higher on S. coronatawhen compared to the one observed on other phorophyte species. The floristic dissimilarity analysis of theepiphytic species according to the two types of phorophytes (L and O) showed the formation of more consistentclusters among individuals of S. coronata in relation to other species. Moreover, considering the sizes of DGH (diameter at ground height) and height, it is evident that the higher these parameters are, the greaterthe richness and abundance of epiphytic individuals. Thus, this study confirms the importance of this speciesas a host of epiphytic diversity and richness in the Caatinga, and for the conservation of S. coronata populations.