Presence of mucilage on aerial roots in Monteverde, Costa Rica, November 2008

Alternative Title

La presencia de mucílago en las raíces aéreas en Monteverde, Costa Rica

Creator

Chase Kincaid

Files

Publication Date

November 2008

Abstract

Many hemiepiphytes produce aerial roots and some have mucilage on the growing tips of these roots. The purpose of this study was to determine if mucilage varies at different altitudes in the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica. Mucilage may serve to protect the roots from the dry environments, or from altitudes more prone to fungal infections since it has both high water storing capacities and anti-fungal properties. Transects were run along different altitudes, and samples of plants’ mucilage were taken, measuring the weight and length of the mucilage. Monstera was the most common plant with mucilage found in the study and was found at all altitudes ranging from 1,400 m to 1,800 m. There were a total of 12 Monstera plants, two Pitcairnia plants, and one Philodendron plant with a total of 34 mucilaginous roots. Twenty-three of the mucilaginous aerial roots were found on the genus Monstera (Araceae), 4 on Pitcairnia brittoniana (Bromeliaceae) and 7 on Philodendron (Araceae). No correlation was found between the weight and length of mucilage, compared to altitude of all three genera (Spearman rank correlation, N = 32; R2 = 0.135; p = 0.44 and N = 32; R2 = 0,86; p = .62, respectively). No correlation was also found for Monstera roots only, for weight and length compared to altitude (Spearman rank correlation, N = 23; R2 = 0.10; p = .12 and N = 23; R2 = .004; p = .759, respectively). A trend could be seen in the total mucilage frequency for low and high altitudes for Monstera. In this case, 16 Monstera were found at low altitudes, and seven at high altitudes, but this difference was not statistically significant (chi-squared test, x2 = 3.52, df = 1, p = 0.06). In conclusion, no altitudinal difference was found in mucilage size, suggesting genetic determinants might be playing a role, but twice as many Monstera were found at low altitudes compared to high altitudes, although further studies need to be done to clarify the trend.

Resumen

Algunas plantas hemiepífitas producen raíces aéreas y algunas de estas presentan mucilago en las puntas de estas raíces. El propósito de este estudio fue determinar si el mucilago varía en las diferentes altitudes en el bosque nuboso de Monteverde en Costa Rica.

Keywords

Roots--Physiology, Roots (Botany)--Development, Cloud forest ecology, CIEE Fall 2008

Palabras claves

Raíces--Fisiología, Raíces (Botánica)--Desarrollo, Ecología del Bosque Nuboso, CIEE Otoño 2008

Extent

6 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica)

Ubicación geográfica

Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde (Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00498

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Kincaid, Chase, "Presence of mucilage on aerial roots in Monteverde, Costa Rica, November 2008" (2008). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 518.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/518