Ecological Characterization of Epiphytes Orchids in the Meridional Zone of Mount Togo

Abstract

Togo’s semi-deciduous forest zone has a great diversity of plants and ecosystems that constitute a natural heritage that should be well studied for sustainable and efficient management. Thus, the main objective of this study is to determine the environmental factors responsible for the vertical stratification of Orchidaceae epiphytes. This study investigated the diversity of these epiphytes and their hosts in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Togo. A habitat characterization of these epiphytes has been done to define the adaptive strategies of these species to their natural environment. The floristic inventory identified 37 species of Orchidaceae and 50 species of phorophytes. These epiphytes are found particularly at 36.36% in position IV and 26, 46% in position V on phorophytes. Perceived luminosity, moisture content and anthropogenic pressure are the indicators responsible for the dispersion of Orchidaceae epiphytes according to different positions on phorophytes. The inventoried phorophytes are 40% mesophanerophytes and the megaphanerophytes represent only 27%. The chorology of phorophytes indicates a high proportion of introduced species represented at 20% and rank second behind those of Guinea- Congo which are represented at 49%.