International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 229-239 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 23 1 (such as fibrous lichen, long moss) and the bedding type (moss covering the bark to form a blanket) (Dias-Pereira et al., 2022). Figure 1 P. formosana in the canopy of old-growth yellow cypress forest at Yuanyang Lake in northern Taiwan (Adopted from Hsu et al., 2024) Based on functional features, it can also be classified as: "tank epiphytes" (such as some species of the Bromeliaceae family, where water accumulates in the leaf tubes to form water tanks) and "atmospheric epiphytes" (such as air bromeliads, which have no obvious water storage structure) Absorb moisture from the air entirely by scales, etc. (Gao et al., 2025). These classifications reflect the differences in the adaptation strategies of epiphytes to microhabitats. In addition, there is the coexistence relationship between epiphytes and other climbing plants. For instance, nomadic vines, which start as epiphytes and then move among the canopies, can be regarded as a life form that lies between vines and epiphytes. 2.3 Influencing factors of epiphytic plant diversity The factors influencing the diversity and distribution of epiphytic plants can be classified into macroscopic climatic conditions and microscopic host and stand characteristics. Among climatic factors, moisture and humidity are the primary limiting factors. Epiphytes do not take root in the soil and rely on atmospheric moisture. Therefore, epiphytes thrive more in areas with high air humidity and abundant precipitation (Suissa et al., 2021). Temperature also has an impact. The tropical environment with high temperature and humidity is suitable for the growth of various epiphytic plants. However, in cold regions, many epiphytic angiosperms cannot tolerate low temperatures, so mainly cold-resistant mosses and lichens are used (Francisco et al., 2019). The characteristics of host tree species are important influencing factors at the local scale. The bark properties, branch structures and chemical environments provided by different tree species vary, thereby affecting the colonization of epiphytes (Shen et al., 2022). In addition, the age and size of the host tree are also crucial: older and taller trees, having more time and more complex structures, can accumulate a richer epiphytic community (Wagner et al., 2021). In terms of stand structure, there are often significant differences in the diversity of epiphytic plants between primary forests and secondary forests. The primary forest has complex layers and stable microclimate, which is more conducive to the preservation of epiphytes (Kromer et al., 2025).
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