Branch mortality influences phorophyte quality for vascular epiphytes

Trees generate resources for other guilds (e.g. lianas), including the production of supporting branches for the establishment of epiphytes. In a tropical dry forest of central Mexico, we studied whether branch mortality is associated with phorophyte quality. During a year, we monitored the survival of branches with and without vascular epiphytes in tree species with high (Bursera copallifera, B. glabrifolia) and low (B. fagaroides, Conzattia multiflora, Ipomoea pauciflora, Sapium macrocarpum) epiphyte loads. The lowest (Conzattia multiflora) and highest (Ipomoea pauciflora) branch mortalities occurred in phorophytes with low epiphyte loads, while branch mortality in Sapium macrocarpum was 60%, and all of Bursera species hadThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author