Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- World report
10
Comments
Epiphytes- Have you ever thought about this microhabitat? |
|---|
|
by Asmita Gaire | 31-01-2019 14:40
|
|
Epiphyte, also called air plant, any plant that grows upon another plant or object merely for physical support. Epiphytes have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient source and are not parasitic on the supporting plants. Epiphytes make up a huge part of the biodiversity in a rainforest. Not only do epiphytes account for a large portion of foliage in rainforest, they also support other plants and organisms. Every epiphyte is a microhabitat, in which there can be a food web of arthropods and other animals. Non-vascular epiphytes such as bryophytes, liverworts, and mosses, can be a home for many arthropods. Young forests will accumulate dense coverings of these epiphytes on the bark and on the branches. In old growth forests, epiphytic mats are formed from years of growth and the accumulation of particles and dead tissue. These mats tend to contain insects including mites, springtails, beetles, ants, moth larvae, thrips, bark lice, wasps, and spiders. The insects thrive while living in the epiphytes in the rain forest canopy, but when they die they help to supply the epiphytes with nutrients and minerals. Without question, epiphytes are one of the most important plants in the rainforest. They are a major producer of food for many of the organisms of the rain forest, and they are the home of many arthropods. Unfortunately, 100 epiphyte orchids alone go extinct every year due to deforestation and farming (Butler 4/10/2007). Without epiphytes, Neotropical forests would not be able to support the diverse amount of plants and animal life. It is worth the resources to research this important group of plants learn out more about how they can support such a diverse ecosystem. |
|
|
|
|
|
Previous : The 17 sustainable development...
10 Comments
Greetings basanta
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this compliments
Regards
Asmita
Posted 03-04-2020 00:01
Greetings ishma
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this compliments
Regards
Asmita
Posted 03-04-2020 00:01
Greetings hema
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this compliments
Regards
Asmita
Posted 03-04-2020 00:01
Greetings susmita
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this compliments
Regards
Asmita
Posted 03-04-2020 00:00
Greetings asmita
I hope you are doing well
This is a nice article
Thank you so much for this report.
Keep writing
Green cheers!
Regards
Hema
Posted 18-03-2020 11:13
Greetings asmita
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this great report
I hope to read more from you!
Green cheers
Regards
Ishma
Posted 17-03-2020 12:08
Greetings asmita
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report.
I hope to read more from you.
Keep up with great works
Green cheers
Regards
Basanta
Posted 16-03-2020 10:20
Greetings asmita
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report
Keep writing
Waiting for your next report
Thank you
Green cheers
Regards
Susmita
Posted 13-03-2020 11:52
Yes, they are significant. But we are so careless and have no time to visualize and understand their importance.
Thank you faith cherotich for compliments.
Posted 01-02-2019 20:38
I've always wondered what these plants are called.. now I know! Epiphytes! I also did not know that they played such a vital role in our ecosystem and it's a shame that they are facing threat through deforestation. Thank you for this article and spreading awareness. It is the first step in taking action:)
Posted 01-02-2019 04:59