Vertical distribution and transplanted survival of epiphytes in a Neotropical premontane c

Cameron McKenzie's dataset, last updated April 2026, documents an experimental study on epiphyte vertical niche specialization. It includes assessments of the vertical distribution of 35 common epiphyte morphospecies across 30 host trees and the survival rates of individuals transplanted to the understorey. The findings support the vertical niche differentiation hypothesis and inform sustainable horticulture practices.

Use Cases

• Test the vertical niche differentiation hypothesis based on epiphyte distribution data across forest strata.
• Model epiphyte survival probabilities based on original canopy height and transplant outcomes.
• Identify conservation priorities for cloud forest management based on observed vertical stratification patterns.
• Inform sustainable horticulture practices for tropical epiphytes based on experimental survival results.

Strengths

• Includes data on 35 distinct epiphyte morphospecies, providing a multi-species perspective.
• Based on an experimental design involving transplants across vertical strata, allowing for causal inference.
• Covers 30 focal host trees, offering replication within the study site.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale modeling.
• The dataset's 8.3 MB size suggests a relatively small scale of observations.

Provenance

Source

Cameron McKenzie via figshare

Collection Method

Field assessment of vertical distribution across 30 host trees followed by an experimental transplant of individuals to the understorey.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-28 11:50:21; freshness should be verified.

Geography

A Neotropical premontane cloud forest.