Bromeliads accumulate water between their leaves, creating an aquatic habitat that hosts a diverse array of invertebrates.
Bromeliads often serve as phytotelmata, accumulating water between their leaves. The aquatic habitat created as a result is host to a diverse array of invertebrates, especially aquatic insect larvae. These bromeliad invertebrates benefit their hosts by increasing nitrogen uptake into the plant. A wide variety of organisms takes advantage of the pools of water trapped by bromeliads. A study of 209 plants from the Ecuadorian lowlands identified 11,219 animals, representing more than 300 distinct species, many of which are found only on bromeliads. and "Pineapple Dreams", The Wild Side, Olivia Judson, The New York Times, March 18, 2008
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Location: Tirimbina Biological Reserve, La Virgen, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Photo credit: © Kim Hammar / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
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