International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 30 Epiphyte Diversity on Avenue Trees of National and State Highways of Udupi District, Karnataka, IndiaD’Cunha, Poornima Jyothi* and Gowda P.V.Department of Botany, Bhandarkar’s Arts and Science College, Kundapura, Udupi District, Karnataka, INDIA Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Udupi, Karnataka, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in Received 12th February 2013, revised 6th March 2013, accepted 28th April 2013Abstract The epiphytic diversity on avenue trees was assessed in one national highway and two state highways of Udupi district, Karnataka. The study showed that diversity of epiphytes on woody substratum comparatively similar in two state highways and one national highway of the study area, but recorded high abundance of epiphytes on fast growing, exotic tree varieties in national highways as compared to the state highways. There is no significant difference between Shannon’s diversity and Pielou's evenness values between National Highway 66 (2.183, 0.878) and State Highways (2.304, 0.927). The abundance of encountered epiphytic species belongs to Family Orchidaceae. The native avenue trees with larger girth supported more epiphyte species in both the national and state highways. Keywords: Epiphyte, highways, diversity. Introduction Vascular epiphytes in tropical rain forests are a hyper diverse group. Although they are often overlooked because of their isolation in the treetops, their contribution to the lowland rain forest vascular flora is significant, with estimates of 10% of the total vascular flora1,2. Epiphytes are food sources and habitat for a variety of insects, birds and other organisms. Epiphytes are used extensively by man for medical, agricultural and horticultural purposes. It has been used as bioindicators of climatic changes, pollution, and ecological damage. Epiphytes are responsible for much of the biotic diversity that makes humid tropical forests the most complex of all the world’s terrestrial ecosystems. The shrub layer epiphytes are normally dependant on large mature trees that have upon them an abundant epiphyte community. Epiphyte forms a major component of the diversity of tropical forests. Vascular epiphytes were helpful in water balance and nutrient cycling. Epiphytes are distributed horizontally and vertically. The crowns are much richer than the trunk in epiphytic species. Most of herbaceous vascular epiphytes are lacking from the tropics due to habitat destruction. Epiphytes are extremely important elements of the flora (they represent about 10% of all plant species globally)10. Vascular epiphytes, including orchids, bromeliads, aroids, ferns, among others, are key components of species richness11. The presence of individual species, including crustose lichens and bryophytes, in seven habitats representing different canopy positions, based on a sample of twenty trees in an old conifer forest. Many authors have contrasted epiphytes on various species of trees. The studies demonstrated some important patterns of variation in epiphytes. These are i.quantification of the relative strength of these various patterns, ii. consideration of dead trees as habitat for epiphytes and iii. synthesis and reconciliation of seemingly separate results from various regions12. The vertical distribution of epiphytes is mostly determined by patterns in photon flux density (PFD) and humidity in subsequent forest strata. The specific humidity level is also an important factor for diversity and composition of epiphyte13. The diversity of epiphytic flora may provide an indication of ecosystem health as they are considered as an important component of plant life which constitutes about 10% of world flora. The epiphytic diversity and its abundance depend on the forest structure, tree species composition and atmospheric humidity. Tree species composition affects epiphytic vegetation through substratum characteristics provided by each supporting tree species, giving rise to host-epiphyte specificity14. There are in fact up to 25000 species of vascular epiphytes alone that occur mainly in tropics15. The epiphytes are important with relation to the biological diversity maintaining a balance in nature. Due to anthropogenic activities, pollution is on all the time rises and therefore epiphytes are found declining in number. Due to the shrinkage of forest areas and need for timber and firewood, the avenue trees are also being destroyed day by day, cheating epiphytes of their natural habitat. In the present work an assessment of diversity of epiphytes on avenue trees of the study area has been done. Study Area: The present study is carried out in one National Highway (NH 66) and two State Highways (SH) namely Udupi to Karkala and Kundapura to Siddapura (table-1), 13°06’ 20.86’’N to 13°12.52’’N and 74°47’ 13.12’’ to 74°37’ 43.31’’E. (figure-1). The National Highway (NH 66) is in close proximity to the coastal belt of Karnataka. The Two State Highways (SH) namely Udupi to Karkala and Kundapura to Siddapura the proximity is the rich vegetation of the forest because the study area is nearer to Kudremukh National Park and Kollur Mookambika reserve forest rather than the coastal belt. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 31 Figure-1 Map of study area The study area was represented in table 1. Table-1 Study area Study area Site no. National Highway (NH66) Mulki to Byndoor S1 State Highway (SH) Udupi to Karkala S2 State Highway (SH) Kundapura to Siddapura S3 Material and Methods50x20 m Belt transacts was used for the epiphytic sampling. Transacts were laid randomly just next to the footpath on either sides. 90 and 60 transacts were laid in NH and SH respectively. Girth at breast height (GBH) 30cm and the height of all trees in transact was recorded. Their occurrence and height were noted. The epiphytes present in transacts were identified using standard key books. Dried specimens are then mounted on herbarium sheets of standard size 29x42 cm using synthetic glue and the woody part of the specimen is stitched using white coloured thread. The specimens like patches of mosses and the orchids are preserved in 70% alcohol. Shannon-Wiener's diversity was used to calculate the variation in epiphytic species diversity of the study area along the national and state highways using the formula: H' = Pi log (P) Where is the number of species, and Pi is the proportion of the total number of individuals consisting of the th species. Results and DiscussionThe avenue trees found in the study area are represented in the table-2. The table-2 reveals more number of avenue trees are found in state highways than in the National Highway 66 (N.H.66). The epiphytes present on the avenue trees are represented in table-3. Table-2 Avenue trees found in the study area Botanical name of the avenue tree S1 S2 S3 Acacia auriculiformis + + Acacia sinuate + Albizia lebbeck + Alstonia scholaris + Artocarpus heterophyllus + Artocarpus hirsutus + Borassus flabellifer - + Casuarina equisetifolia + Calophyllum inophyllum - + Caryota urens - + Dalbergia sissoides + Erythrina variegata + Eucalyptus tereticornis + Ficus benghalensis + Ficus religiosa + Hopea parviflora + Hopea ponga + Mammea suriga - + Mangifera indica + Mimusops elengi + Morinda citrifolia - + Olea dioica - - Pongamia pinnata + Pterocarpus marsupium + Samanea saman + Syzygium cumini - + Tectona grandis + Vatica chinensis - + + Vateria indica + From the current study it is observed that Acacia auriculiformis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Samanea saman, Mangifera indica, and Tectona grandis are more common. The epiphytes and the parasites are absent on Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Vateria indica. The epiphytes are commonly found on Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 32 hirsutus, Dalbergia sissoides, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, Mammea suriga, Mangifera indica, Pongamia pinnata, Samanea saman. The epiphytes whichare commonin the Udupi district are Calymperes tenerum (Calymperaceae), Sematophyllum caespitosum (Sematophyllaceae), Taxithelium nepalense(Sematophyllaceae), Drynaria quercifolia (Polypodiaceae)Acampe praemosa, Bulbophyllum neilgherrence, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium ovatum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda testacea (Orchidaceae) (table-3). There is no significant difference between Shannon’s diversity and Pielou's evenness values between National Highway N.H. 66 (S1) is (2.183, 0.878) and state highways (S2 and S3) is (2.304, 0.927). But on comparison between the two values State Highway has more diversity than the National Highway. The distribution of epiphytes in National and state highways are represented in table-4. Table-3 The epiphytes present on the avenue trees of study area S. No. Name of the plant Type of the plant Family 1 Calymperes tenerum C. Muell. Bryophyte Calymperaceae 2 Sematophyllum caespitosum (Hedw.) Mitt. Bryophyte Sematophyllaceae 3 Taxithelium nepalense (Schwaerg.) Broth. Bryophyte Sematophyllaceae 4 Drynaria quercifolia (L.)J.Sm. Pteridophyte Polypodiaceae 5 Acampe praemosa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann. An orchid Orchidaceae 6 Bulbophyllum neilgherrense Wight. An orchid Orchidaceae 7 Cleisostoma tenuifolium (L.) Garay An orchid Orchidaceae 8 Dendrobium ovatum(Willd.) An orchid Orchidaceae 9 Rhynchostylis retusa BlumeAn orchid Orchidaceae 10 Vanda testacea(Lindl.)Reichb. An orchid Orchidaceae Figure-2 Distribution of epiphytes along the study area S2 and S3  \n  \r\r  International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 33 Table-4 The distribution of epiphytes in National and state highways Avenue tree species Cal Sem Tax Dry Aca Bul Cle Den Rhy Van Acacia auriculiformis - - - - - - - - - - Acacia sinuate - - - - - - - - - - Albizia lebbeck + + + + - - - - - - Alstonia scholaris - - - - - - - - - - Artocarpus heterophyllus + + + + + + + + + + Artocarpus hirsutus + + + + + + + + + + Borassus flabellifer + + + + - - - - - - Calophyllum inophyllum - - - - - - - - - - Caryota urens - - - + - - - - - - Casuarina equisetifolia - - - - - - - - - - Dalbergia sissoides + + + + + - - - - + Erythrina variegata + + + + + - - - - - Eucalyptus tereticornis - - - - - - - - - - Ficus benghalensis + + + + + - - - - + Ficus religiosa + + + + + - - - - + Hopea parviflora + - + - - - - - - - Hopea ponga + + + - + + - - - - Mammea suriga + + + + + + + + + + Mangifera indica + + + + + + + + + + Mimusops elengi + + + + + - - - - - Morinda citrifolia - - - - - - - - - - Olea dioica + + + + + + - - - - Pongamia pinnata + + + + + + + + + + Pterocarpus marsupium + + + + + - - - - - Samanea saman + + + + + - - - - - Syzygium cumini + + + + + - - - - - Tectona grandis - - - + - - - - - - Vateria indica - - - - - - - - - - Vatica chinensis - - - - - - - - - - Cal – Calymperes tenerum C. Muell., Sem – Sematophyllum caespitosum (Hedw.) Mitt. Tax – Taxithelium nepalense (Schwaerg.) Broth., Dry – Drynaria quercifolia (L.)J.Sm., Aca – Acampe praemosa (Roxb.) Blatt. & Mc Cann., Bul – Bulbophyllum neilgherrense Wight., Cle – Cleisostoma tenuifolium (L.) Garay., Den – Dendrobium ovatum (Willd.)., Rhy – Rhynchostylis retusa Blume., Van – Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Reichb. Herbaceous vascular epiphyte species are less in number and are within the range of six in study area. Since the study area receives only moderate to heavy rainfall with a dry period of 4–5 months per year, epiphyte diversity is found to be less. Epiphytes mostly occurred on trees located along the State Highways S2 and S3 (figure 2 and 6), than the National Highway S1 (figure 3 and 6). According to Benzing, the high canopy dwellers must be able to withstand frequent periodic droughts. All the orchid species among them are small-sized and succulent and some of them have terete leaves. The water-absorbing capacity of the trichomes of Tillandsia has been demonstrated. In the present study, it has been also observed in Udupi district. The epiphytes mainly the orchids show various modifications like the presence of thick elongated roots along with the velamen tissue, presence of pseudobulbils, and thick succulent leaves which help the plants to absorb moisture from the environment and conserve water. In Drynaria quercifolia the presence of pocket leaves is an additional feature which also helps in the collection of organic matter and debris. Atmospheric moisture seems to be the most important ecoclimatic variable mainly to the cryptogamic types i.e. three genera from bryophytes and one genus from pteridophyta. Six epiphytic genera from angiosperms belong to family Orchidaceae are reported. According to Sanford13, distibution of hemiparasites and hemiepiphytes can vary in at least two ways: horizontally, they can differentiate between host species and forest types, and vertically where they vary from the tree base to its top. The following substratum factors are relevant: texture (roughness) and porosity of bark (water interception and storage, grip for diaspores); pH and nutrient contents of bark, cover and characteristics of litter and bryophyte mats, bark toxins and bark turn-over rate. The vertical distribution of epiphytes is mostly determined by patterns in photon flux density (PFD) and International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) International Science Congress Association humidity in subsequent forest strata. For instance, many epiphytic Bromeliaceae members show specific humidity demands. In present study, it has been found that, in Udupi district distribution of the epiphytes and parasites given study area. On the National Highway the number of epiphytes is less compared to the State Highways and the moss mats are common on the State Highways on the avenue trees. On the National Highway, N.H.66 Acacia auriculiformis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Samanea saman, Mangifera indica, grandis are more common. The epiphytes are commonly found on Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus hirsutus, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, Mangifera indica, saman. The epiphytes are absent on Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis indica (table - 4) , where the bark is thin or absent because of peeling. On the State Highway Samanea saman Distribution of epiphytes along the study area S1 Distribution of epiphytes along the study area S1, S2 and S3  \n  International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ International Science Congress Association humidity in subsequent forest strata. For instance, many epiphytic Bromeliaceae members show specific humidity demands. In present study, it has been found that, in Udupi district distribution of the epiphytes and parasites varies in the given study area. On the National Highway the number of epiphytes is less compared to the State Highways and the moss mats are common on the State Highways on the avenue trees. Acacia auriculiformis, heterophyllus, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Samanea saman, Mangifera indica, and Tectona are more common. The epiphytes are commonly found Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus hirsutus, Ficus Mangifera indica, and Samanea Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Vateria , where the bark is thin or absent because of Samanea saman , Artocarpus heterophyllus, Tectona grandis and common. The epiphytes are commonly found on heterophyllus, Artocarpus hirsutus, Dalbergia sissoides, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis Mammea suriga, Mangifera indica, Pongamia pinnata, Samanea saman and Tectona grandis. most of the trees have thick bark. This stores water and organic matter. The National Highway N.H.66 is in proximity to the Arabian Sea with increasing hum comparatively less because of deforestration. In the areas of State Highway, there are wild life conservation parks like Kudremukh National Park near to Udupi Highway and Mookambika Reserve Forest near to Kundapura Siddapura State Highway which have rich ever green vegetation, thereby increasing the moisture and organic matter. Hence epiphytes are more common in State Highways. Figure-3 Distribution of epiphytes along the study area S1 Figure-4 Distribution of epiphytes along the study area S1, S2 and S3 International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. 34 and Mangifera indica are more common. The epiphytes are commonly found on Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus hirsutus, Dalbergia sissoides, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis , suriga, Mangifera indica, Pongamia pinnata, Tectona grandis. On the State Highway, most of the trees have thick bark. This stores water and organic matter. The National Highway N.H.66 is in proximity to the Arabian Sea with increasing hum idity but rain fall is comparatively less because of deforestration. In the areas of State Highway, there are wild life conservation parks like Kudremukh National Park near to Udupi – Karkala State Highway and Mookambika Reserve Forest near to Kundapura – Siddapura State Highway which have rich ever green vegetation, thereby increasing the moisture and organic matter. Hence epiphytes are more common in State Highways. \r\r  International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 35 Figure-5 Distribution of epiphytes along the study area S1, S2 and S3 Figure-6 Percentage of distribution of epiphytes along the study area S1, S2 and S3 \n\n \r\r \r \r\r\r  \n  \r\r\r \r\r \r International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 36 Figure-7 Calymperes tenerum - On tree surface Figure-8 Sematophyllum caespitosum - On tree surface International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 37 Figure-9 Drynaria quercifolia - On tree surface. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(5), 30-39, May (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 38 According to Went14, the different epiphyte vegetations may be found in different lowland rain forest types. This is related to forest structure, tree species composition, and atmospheric humidity. Tree species composition affects epiphytic vegetation through substratum characteristics provided by each tree species, giving rise to host-epiphyte specificity. But in Udupi district, the epiphytes which are present on the avenue trees do not show host specificity but it has been observed that Mangifera indica and Samanea saman supports more number of epiphytes probably because in these plants the presence of very thick bark helps in the accumulation of moisture and organic matter. Limited epiphytes were observed on the plants like Dalbergia sissoides, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus, Mammea suriga and Pongamia pinnata probably because of their thin bark which is unable to support organic matter and moisture. The epiphytes were totally absent in Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Vateria indica because in these peeling of bark reduces the moisture and organic matter to almost nil (table - 4). In the present study, it is observed that Drynaria quercifolia is more common and present on most of the avenue trees of the study area. The present study also indicates that Acampe praemosa was more commonly present on Mangifera indica. The rest of the orchids are present on most of the avenue trees. Among the mosses Sematophyllum caespitosum was more common. The three types of the mosses (Calymperes tenerum, Sematophyllum caespitosum and Taxithelium nepalense) were more commonly present on Mangifera indica and Samanea saman. Epiphytes grow very well on old avenue trees. In most of the young trees the epiphytes were absent. As the plant becomes older the number of epiphytes and parasites increases. In young trees only one type of moss was found where as in older avenue trees all the three types of mosses reported in the present study were found. When the tree grows older and becomes woody the variety of epiphytes goes on increasing. ConclusionThe epiphytes are absent on Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Vateria indica. The epiphytes are commonly found on Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus hirsutus, Dalbergia sissoides, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, Mammea suriga, Mangifera indica, Pongamia pinnata, Samanea saman and Tectona grandis. In most of the avenue trees, mosses and Dynariaquercifolia are more common and occur in large number. The epiphytes whichare commonin Udupi district are Calymperes tenerum (Calymperaceae), Sematophyllum caespitosum (Sematophyllaceae), Taxithelium nepalense(Sematophyllaceae), Drynaria quercifolia (Polypodiaceae)Acampe praemosa, Bulbophyllum neilgherrence, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium ovatum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda testacea (Orchidaceae) (table - 3). There is no significant difference between Shannon’s diversity and Pielou's evenness values between National Highway (N.H.66) the study area S1 (2.183, 0.878) and State Highways the study area S2 and S3 (2.304, 0.927). It shows more epiphytic diversity on the avenue trees of State Highway than on the avenue trees of National Highway. Pielou's evenness value shows that the distributions of epiphytes were more or less same. On the National Highway, due to dust, pollution, heavy traffic and lesser amount of rain fall, the epiphytes were found fewer in number and variety. Many epiphytes were found on older trees having thicker bark containing more organic material and moisture. Younger trees did not support much epiphytes growth. On the State Highway, owing to less traffic and heavier rain fall, the varieties of epiphytes were much greater than on the National Highways. In National Highway (N.H.66), (S1) lots of trees were being cut for the purpose of broadening of the road in order to allow more traffic. Because of this, epiphytes have lost their natural habitat and in the process some rare epiphytes belonging to the family Orchidaceae are on the verge of extinction. Afforestration is taking place on a large scale but the trees used for afforestration are Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis,Vateria indica etc. These trees are fast growing but have a very thin or no bark due to peeling probably they cannot support epiphytes, thus leading to a reduction in their number. On the State Highways S1 and S2, (Udupi to Karkala and Kundapura to Siddapura) however avenue trees are naturally growing and have epiphyte supporting characteristics. Hence here the growth of epiphytes was found much more than on the avenue trees of National Highway. But due to lack of awareness, the avenue trees are also being cut for different uses. Hence these avenue trees show the risk factor for the survival of the epiphytes on them. AcknowledgmentsThe authors wish to thank Dr. K.G.Bhat Retd. Prof. and H.O.D. of Botany, Poornaprajna College Udupi for his kind support in identifying epiphytes. References1.Benzing D.H., Bromeliad trichomes structure, function and ecological significance. Bark surfaces and the origin and maintenance of diversity of angiosperm epiphytes, a hypothesis, , 248-255 (1976)2.Benzing D.H., The Biology of vascular epiphytes. 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