Throughfall alterations by degree of Tillandsia usneoides cover in a Southeastern US Quercus virginiana forest

Alterations to forest canopy structure directly affect the hydrology and biogeochemistry of wooded ecosystems. Epiphytes alter canopy structure, thereby intercepting rain water, reducing penetration of rain to the surface (as throughfall), modifying throughfall chemistry, and changing throughfall responses to storm conditions. These processes are well established for epiphyte presence-versus-absence; yet, it’s unknown how epiphyte-throughfall interactions change across an epiphyte cover continuum (important information for prediction of ecological changes with epiphyte establishment/decline from disturbance). To fill this gap, we monitored throughfall water and dissolved ions (NaThe 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