Endemism Centres of the Five Richest Vascular Epiphyte Families in the Neotropics

Researchers have identified key endemism centers for vascular epiphytes, focusing on the five most species-rich families—Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, Araceae, Piperaceae, and Polypodiaceae—in the neotropical region. These areas, including Paramo, Cauca, Guatuso-Talamanca, Atlantic, Yungas, and Puntarenas-Chiriqui biogeographic provinces, exhibit high levels of endemic species, particularly within the Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park. The study analyzed geographic ranges for 11,446 epiphyte species, revealing that regions with greater epiphyte richness tend to have a higher proportion of endemic species, though composition varies significantly among families. Orchidaceae, representing 71% of the analyzed species, largely shaped the overall distribution pattern. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing these endemism centers for conservation efforts to protect unique and threatened epiphyte species.

Carmona‐Higuita, M. J., Mendieta‐Leiva, G., Gómez‐Díaz, J. A., Villalobos, F., Ramos, F. N., Elias, J. P. C., Jiménez‐López, D. A., Zuluaga, A., Holst, B., Kessler, M., Mathieu, G., Zizka, A., Zotz, G., & Krömer, T. (2024). Endemism Centres of the Five Richest Vascular Epiphyte Families in the Neotropics. Journal of Biogeography, 52(1), 80–91. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.15016