Recovery of vascular epiphyte communities in secondary forests

What is it about?

This paper examined whether vascular epiphyte communities would recover in secondary forests after 35-115 years after land-abandonment. Although species richness, abundance, and composition of vascular epiphytes were on a trajectory towards old-growth forests, they did not fully recover after 115 years.

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Why is it important?

This study was the first to examine the conservation value of secondary forests greater than 50 years old. It showed that secondary forests surrounded by old-growth forest are likely able to recover old-growth vascular epiphyte communities if they are conserved for more than 115 years.