FORMATIONS OF COASTAL FORESTS IN THE AMAZON AND ECOLOGICAL RELATIONS WITH VASCULAR EPIPHYTES

ABSTRACT Was investigated the vascular epiphytes and relate it to the composition and structure of the arboreal component in two formations of coastal forests in the Algodoal-Maiandeua Environmental Protetion Area, Maracanã, Pará, Brazil. We demarcated four 50m x 50m parcels (two in a dry forest and two in a flooding forest). Were registered and identified all the vascular epiphytes as well as their phorophytes. The abundance and richness of epiphytes were evaluated by the epiphyte/phorophyte ratio and differences in the use of phorophytic species by epiphytes were verified using a MDS. To analyze the influence of phorophyte diameter and height we used a multiple regression. In the dry forest we registered 193 arboreal individuals, of which 96 were phorophytes. Anacardium occidentale was the most abundant arboreal and phorophyte species as well. In the flooding forest we registered 234 arboreal individuals, 131 phorophytes. The most abundant arboreal species were also the ones with the greater number of phorophytes. In both forests the phorophytes were occupied in different ways by the epiphytes. No significant relation was found between phorophyte diameter and height and epiphytes abundance in the dry forest, nevertheless, there was a significant relation in the flooding forest.