Epiphytes have a key role as environmental indicators and may reflect the degree of local preservation. This research was performed at the Ipanema National Forest, São Paulo State, Brazil, and aimed to characterize the vascular epiphytic community, taking into consideration its abundance and distribution at forest-interior and edge site. In the survey, 16 species belonging to 12 genera in six families were found. Characteristic holoepiphytes were the dominant type of epiphytes. At the forest edge, seven epiphytic species were found, with H' = 1.282 and J = 0.658. At the inner forest site, 13 species were sampled, with H' = 1.587 and J = 0.619. The results indicated that the low diversity of the area may be related to forest disturbance and vegetation types studied, and an edge effect was noted in the vascular epiphytes, both at forest edge and forest-interior sites, leading to changes in species composition and vertical distribution of the community.
Atlantic Forest; edge effect; human action; phytosociology
