Epífitos como indicadores de deforestación en bosques de Juglans neotropica de El Tundo del cantón Sozoranga

Abstract

Abstract: In the present investigation, the richness and composition of epiphytic cryptogams (bryophytes and lichens) in two types of forests (natural and intervened forest of Juglans neotropica) of El Tundo of the Sozoranga canton were evaluated. The richness is influenced by the type of forest, particularly in the intervened forest in which a greater number of species was recorded (39) compared to the natural forest (25). Despite this, it was possible to show that communities are drastically affected by the degree of alteration, where sensitive species were restricted to natural forests and, contrary, species adapted to conditions of greater light were dominant in altered forests. it was possible to show that the communities are drastically affected by the degree of alteration, where sensitive species were restricted to natural forests and, contrary to that, species adapted to higher light conditions were dominant in altered forests. The conservation of the natural forests of El Tundo in the Sozoranga canton will guarantee the protection of a high diversity of epiphytes.