Tropical epiphyte diversity under human impact ? Comparing primary forests, secondary forests, and forest fragments in Ecuador - Bilsa

This study is aimed at determining human land-use impact on epiphyte diversity of tropical rain forests. Vascular epiphytes represent an outstanding part of tropical rain forest biodiversity. Using epiphytes as a odel system, the study intends to systematically assess the effect of human-induced habitat transformation on species richness in rain forest ecosystems. The study evaluates the potential for epiphyte conservation in anthropogenically transformed habitats in a hot spot of global biodiversity. The results are to contribute towards the development of suitable conservation measures for biological diversity in the tropics.