Biogeography of different life forms of the southernmost neotropical tank bromeliad

Aim: Factors affecting bromeliad distribution depend on the life forms of the studied species, some could grow as terrestrial, saxicolous, or epiphytic depending on the type of habitat. We analyzed the distribution patterns of the life forms of a bromeliad species on different biogeographic domains and associated them with environmental variables and vegetation types. Location: Chaquenian, Amazonian, and Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest domains; South America. Taxon: The tank bromeliad Aechmea distichantha (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae). Methods: We compiled records of the biogeographic distribution and the vegetation types where Aechmea distichantha occurs based on bibliographic data, digital datasets, herbaria, and personal observations. We associated the distributional records of this species with altitude, five selected bioclimatic variables, four soil variables, and with the vegetation types where it occurs. Results: Aechmea distichantha has been recorded as epiphytic, terrestrial, an...