The genus Peperomia (Piperaceae) is one of the richest genera among angiosperms. It occurs pantropically, with highest diversity in the Neotropics. Species are epiphytic, lithophytic, or terrestrial, as well as geophytic in diverse vegetation types, where specifically endemic taxa with limited distribution ranges are threatened by land-use changes. Many of the 134 Peperomia species recorded are distributed in tropical lowland and humid montane forests in southern Mexico, where natural vegetation has been converted into agricultural and livestock fields. Considering the lack of knowledge about the distribution patterns and conservation status of this genus in Mexico, this research aims to determine the geographic distribution and anthropogenic threats to endemic Peperomia species through an exhaustive review and compilation of their occurrence records, followed by a preliminary conservation assessment using the ConR package based on the IUCN criterion B. We determined that a total of 43 Peperomia species are endemic to Mexico, most of which occur in the Sierra Madre del Sur and Veracruzana biogeographic provinces in tropical rain, oak, and coniferous forests. According to the criteria of the IUCN Red List, more than 80% of these belong to a threatened category, showing that independently of their growth habits most species were Endangered (EN). This is because the ecoregions with warm-humid and temperate forests that keep their highest richness are also among the habitats most affected by human activities. As many of these threatened species have few records, more fieldwork in little explored regions is needed to gather and digitize additional herbarium specimens with reliable identification, which are an essential information source for conservation studies.

Epiphytic plants are vital components of tropical and subtropical forests, contributing significantly to biodiversity, ecosystem function, and structural complexity [...]

Human-caused habitat conversion, degradation, and climate change threaten global biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests where vascular epiphytes—non-parasitic plants growing on other plants—may be especially vulnerable. Epiphytes play vital ecological roles, in nutrient cycling and by providing habitat, but are disproportionately affected by land-use changes due to their reliance on host trees and specific microclimatic conditions. While tree species in secondary forests recover relatively quickly, epiphyte recolonization is slower, especially in humid montane regions, where species richness may decline by up to 96% compared to primary or old-growth forests. A review of nearly 300 pertinent studies has revealed a geographic bias toward the Neotropics, with limited research from tropical Asia, Africa, and temperate regions. The studies can be grouped into four main areas: 1. trade, use and conservation, 2. ecological effects of climate and land-use change, 3. diversity in human-modified habitats, and 4. responses to disturbance. In agricultural and timber plantations, particularly those using exotic species like pine and eucalyptus, epiphyte diversity is significantly reduced. In contrast, most native tree species and shade-grown agroforestry systems support higher species richness. Traditional polycultures with dense canopy cover maintain up to 88% of epiphyte diversity, while intensive management practices, such as epiphyte removal in coffee and cacao plantations, cause substantial biodiversity losses. Conservation strategies should prioritize preserving old-growth forests, maintaining forest fragments, and minimizing intensive land management. Active restoration, including the translocation of fallen epiphytes and planting vegetation nuclei, is more effective than passive approaches. Future research should include long-term monitoring to understand epiphyte dynamics and assess the broader impacts of epiphyte loss on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Antecedentes: Desde 1994 se han publicado cinco listados y una base de datos que incluyen a las plantas endémicas de Veracruz, sin embargo, estos presentan notables discrepancias entre sí. Pregunta: ¿Cuáles son las especies de plantas vasculares actualmente consideradas endémicas del estado de Veracruz y cómo se distribuyen? Especies de estudio: Plantas vasculares endémicas de Veracruz. Sitio de estudio: Estado de Veracruz, México. Métodos: Se compiló una base de datos de especies citadas como endémicas de Veracruz a partir de listados y publicaciones de los últimos 30 años, actualizando su nomenclatura con expertos y bases de datos como POWO y Tropicos. Se elaboraron mapas de densidad y riqueza con análisis espacial de registros georreferenciados. Resultados: De 700 taxones revisados, se depuraron a 564 considerando sinonimias. De estos, 207 se resuelven como endémicos de Veracruz (203 especies, dos subespecies, un híbrido y una variedad); 203 tienen un estatus incierto y 154 se excluyen por registros en otros estados, sinonimias o errores taxonómicos y/o nomenclaturales. Las familias y géneros más representativos del listado actualizado son Piperaceae, Asteraceae y Zamiaceae, así como Peperomia, Piper y Ceratozamia, respectivamente. Se determinaron tres zonas de mayor concentración de registros en Veracruz y se registró un máximo de 21 especies por píxel. Conclusiones: El análisis reveló variaciones en las especies endémicas por nuevas colectas, descubrimientos y sinonimias desactualizadas, subrayando la importancia de actualizar los listados florísticos. También se identificaron áreas prioritarias por su alta concentración de endemismos.

Urban forests are remnants of forest habitats within urban areas. Their structural alterations create stressful microclimatic conditions that can influence the morphology of sensitive plants, such as ferns. This study analyzed variations in the morphological traits of ferns in four urban forest sites in central Veracruz, Mexico, considering the microclimatic differences arising from vegetation structure. Temperature, humidity, canopy openness, and radiation were measured, along with eight foliar traits, while assessing the impact of site and habit (terrestrial or epiphytic) on the response. Sites with greater alterations in vegetation structure exhibited increased canopy openness, solar radiation, temperature, and a higher number of days with lower relative humidity. In these sites, leaves showed an increase in dry matter content and vein density, indicating a greater investment in resource storage and structural resistance. In the less-disturbed sites, terrestrial ferns demonstrated larger leaf area and specific leaf area, suggesting greater growth potential. Conversely, epiphytes generally had smaller leaves, which could represent an adaptive advantage for these species. The results also suggest a process of biotic homogenization within this plant group, reflecting a similar morphological response, except for indicator species restricted to less disturbed sites. Thus, this study reveals that microclimatic variations induced by urbanization significantly affect plant morphology and, ultimately, species diversity.

Antecedentes: El género Bartlettina (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae) es un grupo de plantas neotropicales. México presenta la mayor riqueza, donde se conocen 22 taxones de los cuales, 13 son endémicos al país. Los endemismos tienen requerimientos específicos de hábitat, por lo tanto, son más susceptibles a los disturbios antropogénicos y a la extinción. Los esfuerzos de investigación enfocados en estos grupos son prioritarios. Preguntas: ¿Cuál es la distribución de las especies endémicas del género Bartlettina en México?, ¿dónde se encuentran sus principales áreas de riqueza?, ¿cuál es su estado de conservación? Especies de estudio: Especies de Bartlettina endémicas de México. Sitio y años de estudio: México, enero 2022 a febrero 2024. Métodos: Se hizo una revisión de todos los ejemplares herborizados disponibles. Se obtuvo información taxonómica, geográfica y ecológica. Se elaboraron mapas de distribución e identificaron las áreas con mayor riqueza. Se evaluó el estado de conservación siguiendo el criterio B de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza. Resultados: Las especies se distribuyen principalmente en el bosque mesófilo de montaña, de Pinus-Quercus y Quercus. La Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, la zona de confluencia Sierra Madre Oriental-Faja Volcánica Transmexicana y la Sierra Madre Oriental son las regiones con mayor riqueza. Se determinó que seis especies están en una categoría de riesgo, dos Casi Amenazadas y cuatro tienen Datos Insuficientes. Conclusiones: La mayoría de las especies del grupo estudiado presentan distribución restringida y especificidad de hábitat, encontrándose en tipos de vegetación altamente amenazados, por lo tanto, requieren medidas de protección.

Background: Since 1994, five lists and a database have been published that include the endemic plants of Veracruz; however, these lists present notable discrepancies. Question Question: Which vascular plants are currently considered endemic to the state of Veracruz, and how are they distributed? Study species species: Endemic vascular plants of Veracruz. Study site site: State of Veracruz, Mexico. Methods Methods: A database of endemic species of Veracruz was compiled from lists and publications from the last 30 years, updating its nomenclature with expert advice and databases such as POWO and Tropicos. Density and species richness maps were created with spatial analysis of georeferenced records. Results Results: Of the 700 taxa revised, 564 were refined based on synonyms. Of these, 207 are resolved as endemic to Veracruz (203 species, two subspecies, one hybrid, and one variety); 203 have an uncertain status, and 154 were excluded due to records in other states, synonyms, or taxonomic and/or nomenclatural errors. The most representative families and genera in the updated list are Piperaceae, Asteraceae, and Zamiaceae, as well as Peperomia Peperomia, Piper, and Ceratozamia Ceratozamia, respectively. Three areas with the highest concentration of records were identified in Veracruz, and a maximum of 21 species were recorded per pixel. Conclusions Conclusions: The analysis revealed variations in endemic species due to new collections, discoveries, and outdated synonyms, highlighting the importance of updating floristic lists. Priority areas were also identified due to their high concentration of endemic species.

Background: The genus Bartlettina (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae) is a group of neotropical plants. Mexico is the country with the greatest richness; 22 taxa are known, of which 13 are endemic to the country. Due to their specific habitat requirements, they are more susceptible to anthropogenic disturbances and therefore to extinction. Thus, research efforts focused on these groups are a priority. Questions: What is the distribution of the endemic species of the genus Bartlettina in Mexico?, where are their main richness areas?, what is their conservation status? Studied species: Species of Bartlettina endemic to Mexico. Study site and dates: Mexico, January 2022 to February 2024. Methods: A revision of all available herbarium specimens was carried out. Taxonomic, geographic and ecological information was obtained. Distribution maps were prepared and the areas with the greatest richness were identified. The conservation status was evaluated according to criterion B of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Results: The species studied are distributed mainly in the humid montane, Pinus-Quercus and Quercus forests. The Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, the Sierra Madre Oriental-Faja Volcanica Transmexicana transition zone and the Sierra Madre Oriental are the regions with the highest richness. Six species were identified as Endangered, one as Vulnerable, two as Near Threatened and four as Data Deficient. Conclusions: Most of the species in the group studied have restricted distribution and habitat specificity, being found in highly threatened vegetation types and therefore require protection measures.

Assessments of the conservation status of species included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are crucial for prioritising global conservation action, particularly for the most threatened species. A notable example of an endangered plant group in the Neotropics is the genus Puya (Bromeliaceae), which comprises 229 species primarily distributed across the Andean region. Studies have shown that Puya species have been increasingly threatened by habitat transformation caused by human activities, including burning, agriculture, construction, quarrying, and mining. We compiled a database using information from digital sources and local herbaria across several Neotropical countries to analyse their conservation status. Using the Geospatial Conservation Assessment Tool (GeoCAT) and ConR tools under the IUCN Criterion B, all Puya species were assessed. We compared these preliminary assessments with one another and with the current IUCN lists, from which only 83 species have been formally evaluated. GeoCAT classified all species into some risk category, while ConR identified 145 species at risk, 32 as non-threatened, and 52 as Data Deficient. Our findings highlight the complementary nature of both methods and the importance of integrating information from diverse sources. Moreover, they emphasise the need to prioritise botanical exploration to gather more records for species with insufficient data and to regularly update assessments in official lists and the IUCN Red List. The results confirm that Puya is a highly threatened genus, and each species, with its unique threats, requires specific conservation strategies.

Background Tropical montane cloud forests contain high levels of epiphyte diversity. Epiphytic tank bromeliads play an important role in the functioning of these ecosystems and provide a microhabitat for many species of invertebrates. Microbial ecology theory suggests that the environment serves as a source of microbes for animals, but the contribution of this factor to the composition of an animal microbiome varies. In this study, we examined the extent to which tank bromeliads (Tillandsia multicaulis) serve as a source of microbes for two species of fly larvae in a cloud forest fragment in central Veracruz, Mexico. Methods We used 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize the bacterial communities in the organic matter within bromeliad tanks and in the whole bodies (surface and gut) of larvae from two fly taxa (Austrophorocera sp., Tachinidae, and Copestylum sp., Syrphidae) that inhabit these bromeliads. To assess the contribution of bromeliads to the microbiome of the fly larvae, we conducted fast expectation-maximization microbial source tracking (FEAST) analysis. Results The bacterial communities in bromeliad tanks were primarily composed of Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, and Spirochaetota. Similarly, communities of the fly larvae contained Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, Bacillota, and Actinomycetota. Bromeliad tanks exhibited the highest bacterial richness, followed by Copestylum and Austrophorocera larvae. Beta diversity analyses indicated that bacterial communities clustered by species. We found a modest contribution of bromeliads to the fly microbiome, with nearly 30% of the larvae microbiome traced to the organic matter deposited in the tanks. Conclusions Our data suggest that the microbiome of flies, which inhabit tank bromeliads during their larval stage, is nourished to some extent by the bacterial communities present in the organic matter within the tank.

Background: The Bromeliaceae family has undergone one of the most remarkable adaptive radiations within angiosperms, partly due to its diversity of reproductive strategies. However, pollinators are known for only 4 % of its about 3,800 species. Questions: What is the flowering pattern like? Which are the characteristics of nectar? What is the breeding system? Which are the effective pollinators? Studied species: Tillandsia limbata Schldl. Study site and dates: The study was carried out in Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico, from April to October, 2021. Methods: Phenology was determined by recording daily the number of open flowers and their characteristics at different stages of anthesis. Nectar secretion was evaluated by extractions during anthesis. Identification of floral visitors was carried out through recordings and direct observations. The breeding system and pollinator effectiveness were determined using controlled pollination experiments. Results: Tillandsia limbata produces on average 2.6 flowers per day, with a constant nectar secretion during the day and a self-incompatibility system with high xenogamous capacity. Ten species of floral visitors were recorded, of which the most frequent were the bee Trigona fulviventris and the hummingbird Anthracothorax prevostii. Conclusions: The effective pollinators of T . limbata are hummingbirds, as they favor the highest fruit and seed production. Bees are secondary pollinators; however, they steal pollen and nectar, consume floral parts and displace hummingbirds from flowers, which negatively affects the reproductive success of this bromeliad.

AimEndemic species, characterised by limited geographic ranges, face a high risk of extinction. The neotropical region harbours diverse ecosystems and a substantial number of endemic species, thus identifying areas of high endemism is crucial for protecting unique and threatened species and ecosystems. Vascular epiphytes-nonparasitic plants that grow on other plants without contact with the soil-exhibit remarkable diversity in the neotropics, with 63% of the global total of ca. 31,000 epiphyte species found in this region. This study aims to describe the endemism centres for the five most species-rich families of vascular epiphytes.LocationNeotropics.TaxonTracheophyta.MethodsWe gathered information from free-access web repositories, specific epiphytic plant databases and scientific and grey literature on epiphyte species of the families Araceae, Bromeliaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae and Polypodiaceae within the neotropical realm as defined by Morrone et al. (2022). Geographical ranges were calculated using minimum convex polygons for 11,446 species, accounting for about 70% of all epiphyte species in the neotropics. Narrow endemic species were defined as those within the first quartile of the density distribution of geographic range sizes within each family and we identified endemism centres for epiphyte species of the five families.ResultsOur study identified endemism centres for vascular epiphyte species in several biogeographic provinces, including Paramo, Cauca, Guatuso-Talamanca, Atlantic, Yungas and Puntarenas-Chiriqui. Orchidaceae, accounting for most of the analysed species (71%), drove the overall distribution pattern; however, endemism patterns varied among families.Main ConclusionsRegions with high epiphyte richness exhibited a greater proportion of endemic species, though the composition of epiphyte species varied considerably among regions. The endemism centres identified in this study could be prioritised as conserved and protected areas.

Antecedentes: La familia Bromeliaceae presenta una de las radiaciones adaptativas más notables dentro de las angiospermas, en parte debido a su diversidad de estrategias reproductivas. No obstante, apenas se conocen los polinizadores para el 4 % de sus más de 3,800 especies. Preguntas: ¿Cómo es el patrón de floración? ¿Cuáles son las características del néctar? ¿Cuál es el sistema reproductivo? ¿Cuáles son los polinizadores efectivos? Especie estudiada: Tillandsia limbata Schldl. Lugar de estudio y fechas: Catemaco, Veracruz, México, de abril a octubre de 2021. Métodos: La fenología se determinó registrando diariamente el número de flores abiertas y sus características morfológicas en las diferentes etapas de la antesis. La secreción de néctar se evaluó realizando extracciones durante la antesis. Los visitantes florales se registraron mediante grabaciones y observaciones directas. El sistema reproductivo y la efectividad de los polinizadores se determinó empleando experimentos de polinización controlada. Resultados: Tillandsia limbata produce en promedio 2.6 flores diarias, con una secreción de néctar constante durante el día y un sistema de autoincompatibilidad con alta capacidad xenógama. Se registraron diez especies de visitantes florales, los más frecuentes fueron la abeja Trigona fulviventris y el colibrí Anthracothorax prevostii. Conclusiones: Los polinizadores efectivos de T. limbata son los colibríes, ya que propician la mayor producción de frutos y semillas. Las abejas son polinizadores secundarios; sin embargo, roban polen y néctar, consumen partes florales y desplazan a los colibríes de las flores, lo que afecta negativamente el éxito reproductivo de esta bromelia.

Ante un contexto global marcado por la creciente preocupación respecto a los efectos del cambio climático, como son la pérdida de biodiversidad y la degradación de los recursos naturales, la sustentabilidad ha emergido como una prioridad ineludible para las políticas públicas y como un eje de acción necesario en las instituciones de educación superior. El estado de Veracruz, con su riqueza natural y cultural enfrenta desafíos que necesitan ser atendidos a partir de acciones con un enfoque integral y colaborativo para asegurar un desarrollo sustentable, socialmente inclusivo y económicamente viable. Este libro busca promover, desde la investigación, las estrategias y políticas necesarias para enfrentar estos desafíos. En sus capítulos se exploran las principales problemáticas ambientales de la región, al tiempo que se presentan propuestas concretas para su abordaje y teorización, con un enfoque que privilegia la cooperación interinstitucional, la participación comunitaria y la educación ambiental.

Background: The terrestrial bromeliad Puya ctenorhyncha is a near-threatened endemic species that grows between 2,500-4,050 m asl. Hypotheses: Hummingbirds are the most important visitors of this plant given its morphological and floral traits. Study site: The study was carried out along the “Death Road”, located in the Yungas montane cloud forest, La Paz, Bolivia. Methods: We monitored an average of 216 individuals monthly for two years (2018-2019). Besides we conducted direct observations of focal plants to quantify the visits of animals. Results: The reproductive season lasted from April to August in the first year and from May to June in the second. The mean nectar volume was 8.09 ± 1.59 μL per flower and its composition included fructose, glucose, and 86 % of water. With 341 hours of observations, we determined that Coeligena torquata (Trochilidae) is the main visitor and putative pollinator, followed by C. violifer. Males of both species were more frequent visitors than females. Coeligena torquatashowed the highest activity during the afternoon while C. violifer was more active in the morning. Conclusions: Floral phenology seems to be annual and unimodal. Although the main pollinators seem to be hummingbirds, the nectar concentration and composition is more similar to bromeliad species of other genera which are pollinated by bats or passerine birds. It is important to evaluate, in future studies, the dependence of both hummingbirds and their behavioural response towards the plant.

Understanding the mechanisms driving community assembly has been a major focus of ecological research for nearly a century, yet little is known about these mechanisms in commensal communities, particularly with respect to their historical/evolutionary components. Here, we use a large-scale dataset of 4,440 vascular plant species to explore the relationship between the evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) (as measured by the ’species evolutionary history’ (SEH)) of host species and the phylogenetic diversity (PD) of their associated epiphyte species. Although there was considerable variation across hosts and their associated epiphyte species, they were largely unrelated to host SEH. Our results mostly support the idea that the determinants of epiphyte colonization success might involve host characteristics that are unrelated to host SEH (e.g., architectural differences between hosts). While determinants of PD of epiphyte assemblages are poorly known, they do not appear to be related to the evolutionary history of host species. Instead, they might be better explained by neutral processes of colonization and extinction. However, the high level of phylogenetic signal in epiphyte PD (independent of SEH) suggests it might still be influenced by yet unrecognized evolutionary determinants. This study highlights how little is still known about the phylogenetic determinants of epiphyte communities.

Question: Understanding the specific distribution patterns of vascular plants on different spatial scales is central in ecology and conservation. We evaluate the distribution patterns of five plant life forms (climbers, epiphytes, herbs, shrubs, and trees) along the elevation gradient and geographic space of a mountain system, analyzing climate, topography, and human disturbance to explain variation in the richness of each life form, and determine the contribution of each life form to total richness along the elevation gradient.Location: Sierra Madre of Chiapas, southeastern Mexico.Methods: We used linear models to evaluate the elevational pattern of richness for each life form, as well as total richness, and analyzed the effects of climate (water-energy dynamics, thermal range), topography (topographic heterogeneity), and disturbance (Human Influence Index) on variation in total richness as well as of each life form using Generalized Linear Models (GLM). We used Non-Metric Multidimensional (Distance) Scaling to determine variation in species composition along the elevation gradient. Finally, the contribution of each life form to total richness was evaluated using GLM.Results: We recorded 235 families, 1,439 genera, and 5,196 species. Total richness and the richness of each life form increased with increasing elevation. GLM explained a high proportion of the variation in the richness of each life form (34.3% for total richness; climbers 17.2%, epiphytes 44.9%, herbs 20.4%, shrubs 33.5%, and trees 24.9%). The proportion of richness of herbs and trees to total richness decreased, and the proportion of shrubs, epiphytes, and climbers increased with elevation. Climate largely determined species richness for all life forms, whereas disturbance was significant only for epiphyte richness.Conclusions: Results suggest that mechanisms driven by climatic variables (especially thermal range) contribute to maintaining the richness of each life form. However, human disturbance modifies distribution patterns and leads to a decrease in epiphyte richness. The differential contribution of each life form to total richness along the elevation gradient presents a challenge for designing conservation strategies applicable to all plant groups.

The Neotropical realm hosts some of the Earth’s most species-rich biodiversity hotspots, with vascular epiphytes significantly contributing to this diversity, regionally accounting for up to 39% of the vascular flora. However, many regions of the Neotropics where epiphytic species of restricted distribution are reported coincide with threatened ecosystems, such as the tropical montane cloud forest. Moreover, epiphytes may be especially vulnerable to land use and climate change impacts due to their dependence on host trees. We assessed the conservation status of vascular epiphytes in the Neotropics for the families that represent over 80% of the global epiphyte diversity (Araceae, Bromeliaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae, and Polypodiaceae) and identified geographical centres of accumulation of threatened epiphyte species. We gathered information from free-access web repositories, specific epiphytic plant databases, and scientific and grey literature. We assessed the extinction risk of 11,446 epiphyte species following IUCN Red List guidelines, using Criterion B (geographic range size). We found nearly 60% (6,721 species) to be threatened, with 1,766 critically endangered (CR), 3,537 endangered (EN), and 1,418 vulnerable (VU). The threatened species are mainly found in the centres of endemism of vascular epiphytes in Central America, the northern Andes, and the Atlantic Forest. Our study emphasises that the centres of threatened species largely coincide with diversity hotspots, highlighting epiphytes as an especially vulnerable group that requires urgent conservation actions.

Mesoamerican mountains are important centers of endemism and diversity of epiphytes. The Sierra Madre of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico is a mountainous region of great ecological interest due to its high biological richness. We present the first checklist of epiphytes for this region based on a compilation of various information sources. In addition, we determined the conservation status for each species based on the Mexican Official Standard (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010), endemism based on geopolitical boundaries, spatial completeness with inventory completeness index, richness distribution with range maps, and the relationship between climatic variables (temperature and rainfall) with species richness using generalized additive models. Our dataset in-cludes 9,799 records collected between 1896 and 2017. Our checklist includes 708 epiphytes within 160 genera and 26 families; the most species-rich family was Orchidaceae (355 species), followed by Bromeliaceae (82) and Polypodiaceae (79). There were 74 species within a category of risk and 59 species considered endemic. Completeness of epiphyte richness suggests that sampling is still largely incomplete, particularly in the lower parts of the mountain system. Species and family range maps show the highest richness at high elevations, while geographically richness increases towards the southeast. Epiphyte richness increases with increased rainfall, although a unimodal pattern was observed along the temperature gradient with a species richness peak between 16 and 20 C degrees. The Sierra Madre of Chiapas forms a refuge to more than 40% of all epiphytes reported for Mexico and its existing network of protected areas overlaps with the greatest epiphyte richness.