ABSTRACT

More than a thousand iNaturalist NZ observations were compiled and analysed to determine common vascular epiphyte-host relationships in Hamilton, North Island, New Zealand. Dicksonia squarrosa supported the most epiphytes, followed by Salix cinerea, Melicytus ramiflorus and Cyathea medullaris. Epiphytes displaying stronger host specificity, such as Tmesipteris elongata and Phlegmariurus varius, were often on D. squarrosa. In comparison, generalist epiphytes, including Pyrrosia eleagnifolia and Lecanopteris pustulata, were mainly on M. ramiflorus and S. cinerea. A detailed study of 60 D. squarrosa in a single gully investigated factors supporting the host quality of D. squarrosa. Dicksonia squarrosa diameter at breast height (DBH), height, caudex surface area, and distance to the stream and vegetation patch edge were measured. Dicksonia squarrosa that hosted epiphytes were significantly taller, further from the patch edge and had a larger surface area. Epiphyte species richness was higher on D. squarrosa further from the patch edge. The epiphyte communities examined are likely characteristic of highly modified urban ecosystems. Future research investigating the impact of host traits and microclimate on epiphyte-host networks is required to fully elucidate these relationships in urban environments.

摘要

iNaturalist NZ 收集并分析了一千多个观察结果，以确定新西兰北岛汉密尔顿常见的维管附生植物与宿主的关系。附生植物以Dicksonia squarrosa最多，其次是灰柳、Melicytus ramiflorus和桫椤。表现出较强宿主特异性的附生植物，如Tmesipteris elongata和Phlegmariurus varius，经常出现在D. squarrosa 上。相比之下，普通附生植物，包括Pyrrosia eleagnifolia和Lecanopteris pustulata，主要分布在M. ramiflorus和S. cinerea 上。对单个沟渠中的 60 株D. squarrosa进行了详细研究，调查了支持D. squarrosa寄主质量的因素。测量了Dicksonia squarrosa胸径(DBH)、高度、茎表面积以及距溪流和植被斑块边缘的距离。寄生附生植物的糙狄克森明显更高，距离斑块边缘更远，并且表面积更大。D. squarrosa附生植物物种丰富度较高距离贴片边缘更远。所检查的附生植物群落可能是高度改造的城市生态系统的特征。未来的研究需要调查寄主性状和小气候对附生植物-寄主网络的影响，以充分阐明城市环境中的这些关系。