The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae) is a good host tree for vascular epiphytes in a protected area in the Brazilian Amazon

Context The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl., Lecythidaceae) produces one of the main non-timber forest products from the Brazilian Amazon. Mature Bertholletia excelsa trees are tall, wide, and have well-developed crowns, characteristics that favor the occurrence of vascular epiphytes. Aims In this study, we evaluated the richness and vertical distribution of vascular epiphytes in the Ipaú-Anilzinho Extractive Reserve, a protected area located in the Deforestation Arc of the Brazilian Amazon, aiming to assess the importance of B. excelsa for the epiphyte community. Methods We compared species richness, abundance, alpha diversity, floristic composition and vertical distribution of vascular epiphytes in two groups of host trees, namely, B. excelsa and neighboring overstory trees (other 19 species). Key results The richness of vascular epiphytes was similar between the two groups, but epiphyte abundance and diversity were higher on B. excelsa. The floristic composition also differed; ferns were most frequent on B. excelsa and orchids on the neighboring host trees. Epiphytes were more abundant in the inner overstory of both groups of host trees. However, only B. excelsa had epiphytes on the lower trunk. Regarding specificity, we found the same number of generalist and specialist species (11 species), a result that contradicted the expectation of finding more generalist species. Conclusions We conclude that B. excelsa is a good host tree for vascular epiphytes in the Amazon Forest, exhibiting greater diversity, hosting a high richness of species (18 species), high abundance of vascular epiphytes and locally monospecific species. Implications In view of the importance of B. excelsa and neighboring overstory trees for vascular epiphytes and the need for their conservation, we recommend further investigations of isolated populations of Brazil nut trees in managed areas.