Abstract Information on the degree of host specificity is fundamental for an understanding of
the ecology of structurally dependent plants such as vascular epiphytes. Starting with the …

Climatic gradients such as latitude and elevation are considered primary drivers of global
biogeography. Yet, alongside these macro‐gradients, the vertical space and structure …

Hemiepiphytic plants are defined by their ontogeny. They germinate on a host tree but later
establish root contact with the soil. Most hemiepiphytes remain structurally dependent on …

Analysing functional traits along environmental gradients can improve our understanding of
the mechanisms structuring plant communities. Within forests, vertical gradients in light …

Abstract Background and Scope Over more than 120 years of scientific study since
Schimper's seminal work, the recognized categories of structurally dependent plants have …

Altitudinal changes of composition and richness of montane plant assemblages are
complex, depending on the taxonomic group and gradient conditions, with different factors …

Biological traits that are advantageous under specific ecological conditions should be
present in a large proportion of the species within an ecosystem, where those specific …

Edge effects are ubiquitous landscape processes influencing over 70% of forest cover
worldwide. However, little is known about how edge effects influence the vertical …

Although vascular epiphytes contribute substantially to the biodiversity of tropical montane
forests, it is unclear how their diversity and community composition is affected by forest …

Epiphytes are structurally-dependent plants which grow on other plants without taking
nourishment from them. Phylogenetic and ecophysiological differences divide them into non …