How tropical epiphytes at the Eden Project contribute to rainforest canopy science

Donald, J.; Maxfield, P.J.; Murray, D.; Ellwood, M. D. Farnon

Abstract

Understanding the ecological patterns and ecosystem processes of tropical rainforest canopies is becoming increasingly urgent in the face of widespread deforestation. However, accessing rainforest canopies is far from simple, and performing manipulative experiments in the canopy is particularly challenging. Botanic gardens provide an ideal ‘halfway house’ between field experiments and controlled laboratory conditions. As an ideal venue for testing equipment and refining ideas, botanic gardens also provide scientists with a direct route to public engagement, and potentially to research impact. Here we describe the ‘fernarium’, an adjustable canopy research platform for the standardisation, manipulation and detailed study of epiphytic bird’s nest ferns (Asplenium nidus) at the Eden Project in Cornwall. The fernarium provides a platform not only for the scientific study of bird’s nest ferns, but for public engagement, science communication and a wider understanding of the urgent environmental issues surrounding tropical rainforests. We include some preliminary results
from an experiment in which the microbial community of a fern soil at the Eden Project was found to be similar in composition to that of a fern from lowland tropical rainforest in Malaysian Borneo. This study illustrates how preliminary experiments in an indoor rainforest can inform experimental techniques and procedures fundamental to the scientific study of genuine rainforest canopies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 22, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jan 17, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 17, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 12, 2017
• Journal: Sibbaldia
• Print ISSN: 2513-9231
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Library
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Pages: 55-68
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.24823/Sibbaldia.2016.188
• Keywords: Eden Project, rainforest canopy epiphytes, Cultivation, Conservation Botanic Gardens, Horticulture
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/904521
• Publisher URL: https://journals.rbge.org.uk/index.php/rbgesib/article/view/188
• Contract Date: Jun 12, 2017