​Vascular epiphytes are a conspicuous component of most tropical forests, comprising up to 50% of the local diversity in some tropical rainforests. While small-scale distributional patterns are increasingly well understood, there is limited knowledge of their regional diversity patterns, and little theoretical understanding of the processes and mechanisms driving diversity in this ecologically important group. Diversity patterns are the result of multiple processes at multiple scales. Without studying patterns and drivers at a large scale we will not be able to understand epiphyte diversity fully.
EPIPHYTES
Germinate and grow non-parasitically on other plants without rooting in the soil.
A species of Barkeria spectabilis Bateman ex Lindl (Orchidaceae) in the oak forest of Mexico at 1 550 masl.

Most up-to-date conceptualisation

Zotz & Einzmann (2023) devised a new semi-quantitative approach, parting away from the binarism of epiphytes vs. non-epiphytes (Zotz et al., 2021). Epiphytism may be seen as part of a continuum across substrate preferences reflecting the variation observed in nature. This new concept is based on the assessment of the species growing sites treating lithophytic, terrestrial, and epiphytic habitats within a gradient. They found that a majority of species show clear preferences for either epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial growth, while strict specialisation is not as common. Although this approach provides a more realistic view of the species' ecological attributes, a large amount of data, at the population level is required.  Also, the hemiepiphyte issue remains as is not covered with this approach.
Distribution of 61 Trichomanes species in the epiphyte-lithophyte-terrestrial space. Symbol size varies with the nr of species with the same Epiphyte-, Litophyte- or Terrestrial values (Zotz & Einzmann, 2023).
Conceptually, there are two other types of structurally dependent plants sharing the habitat and some ecological characteristics with epiphytes. “Hemiepiphytic” and climber species are also structural-dependent flora, with a convoluted conceptualization. Most hemiepiphytes remain structurally dependent on their host for their entire life. Tropical ecologists distinguished primary and secondary hemiepiphytes as two structurally dependent life forms with an epiphytic phase at, the beginning or the end of their ontogeny, respectively. Zotz et al., 2021 and Zotz et al., 2021 recommend, given the current uncertainty, to discontinue the use of "secondary hemiepiphyte", instead, use of neutral terms like “nomadic vine". 
HEMIEPIPHYTES
Germinate on other plants, epiphytic stage, but later establish contact with the soil.
A species of Clusia (Clusiaceae) in the lowland rainforest of Panama at 200 m asl.
NOMADIC VINES
Germinate on the ground and may lose their initial contact to soil while climbing the host.
Monstera egreigia Schott​​ (Araceae) in a Mexican rainforest. (Foto T. Kroermer)

OUR GOAL:

 To bring together epiphyte inventory data from across the world​
​EpIG publications:
In our most recent publications we assessed:
Endemism centres
Endemism centres for the five most species-rich families of vascular epiphyte species are located in several biogeographic provinces, including Paramo, Cauca, Guatuso-Talamanca, Atlantic, Yungas and Puntarenas- Chiriqui. We also found that regions with high epiphyte richness exhibited a greater proportion of endemic species, though the composition of  species varied considerably among regions.
Number of endemics per biogeographic province of all epiphyte species combined & each of the five richest families based on convex polygons. Carmona-Higuita et al. 2024a
Conservation status
We also assessed the extinction risk of 11,446 epiphyte species and found nearly 60% (6,721 species) are at risk. This includes 1,766 critically endangered, 3,537 endangered, and 1,418 vulnerable species. Most are in Central America, the northern Andes, and the Atlantic Forest. These areas are biodiversity hotspots, showing that epiphytes are especially vulnerable and need urgent conservation.
Number of threatened epiphyte species within the Neotropics according to the most diverse taxonomic groups  (all together and separated, Carmona-Higuita et al. 2024b.
References:
Do you want to read about what went into the making of the paper, or why studying epiphytes is very hard! and get to know EpIG members? please visit the Journal of Vegetation Science Blog.
If you wish to be part of EpIG or contribute to EpIG-DB, please get in touch with us by filling this form, we will get in touch ASAP.​​

 International Workshop on Vascular Epiphytes

We met in Marburg (Germany) from August 30th to September 1st. We were 25 scientists from Latin America and Europe. For a longer and more detailed video, please click here.
The goals accomplished were:
  • Creation and establishing a standardized protocol of a large-scale vascular epiphytes database
  • Review the taxonomic issues of the epiphyte species included in the data
  • Elaborate a distributional map to update and analyze the dataset

EpIG is funded by:

Design and content by Glenda Mendieta-Leiva, Derio Antonio Jiménez López, Maria Judith Carmona Higuita & contributors (previously: Rosa María Villanueva Espinoza & Helena Einzmann).
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