Visiting dynamics in tank-bromeliads after enrichment of a reforested urban patch of the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Many species of Bromeliaceae store water among their leaves creating microhabitats for several biological groups. Using bromeliads in enrichment of reforestation offers an opportunity to understand the occupation of tank habitat, and the impacts of these plants in increasing biodiversity. We translocated 20 rescued individuals of tank-bromeliad Hohenbergia ramageana to enrich a reforested area in Atlantic Forest. Then, we recorded the visiting dynamics of animals in the tank habitat of H. ramageana. Ten orders of vertebrates and invertebrates visited nine terrestrial and eight epiphyte tank-habitats just one month after the translocation. Richness and composition were similar between epiphyte and terrestrial translocations. We found that precipitation explained a significant proportion of variation of the number of visited plants and richness of animal orders. Our results confirm the importance of using tank-bromeliads in reforested ecosystems and bring novelty that reintroduced bromeliads in alternative habitats also play the same role for animal groups as in their original habitat. This knowledge will orientate future plans of conservation of bromeliads and of ecosystem restoration.

Key words:
bromeliads; conservation; enrichment; translocation