Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the floristic composition of vascular epiphytes along the Tibagi River forests, Paraná, in 23 study areas distributed at different altitudes, climatic types and vegetacional units. The ecological characteristics and distribution of the species were analyzed along the gradient established from upstream to downstream. The vascular epiphytes were represented by 188 species, belonging mainly to Orchidaceae, Polypodiaceae and Bromeliaceae and to the characteristic holoepiphytes group. The epiphytic communities of Tibagi River were segmented, from upstream to downstream, in two vegetacional units, mixed ombrophillous forest and semidecidual seasonal forest, and in the transition between both, the ecotone. These segments have distinct richness and floristic composition, what emphasize the importance to conservation and maintenance of epiphytic diversity at Paraná state. The ecotonal vegetation, situated in the medium segment of the river, presented the major epiphytic richness, which is associated, probably, to the contact of the vegetacional units, to the good conservation status of the forests and the presence of rapids and waterfalls.
Key words:
environment heterogeneity; floodplain; ecotone; Orchidaceae