Dr Devy pioneered canopy ecology in India during the 1990s when she conducted pollination biology experiments in the tall forest canopy with nothing but rickety ladders. “Forest canopies are the first layer to interact with the atmosphere and form the roof of our forest ecosystems and yet, our knowledge about this important ecosystem is incredibly sparse,” said Dr Soubadra Devy, a Senior Fellow at ATREE, and the senior author of the study.

With enhanced techniques to reach canopies, researchers are showing renewed interest in the field.

Dr Nalini Nadkarni, an Indian origin American ecologist, pioneered the field of canopy ecology with her work in the tropical forests of Costa Rica during the 1980s. The study was published in the journal Frontiers for Forests and Global Change.įor a long time, canopy research was not undertaken due to lack of access and so forest canopies have been dubbed the last biological frontier. The study reveals that although it has been over 3-4 decades since the logging stopped, their effects continue to persist and impact the epiphytic community. Some epiphytes have co-evolved with certain fauna exhibiting mutualism, particularly with some ant species.Ī team of researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have recently documented the impact of selective logging of trees on the epiphytic community in the Western Ghats. They also support biodiversity, by being a refuge for insects, besides offering nectar, pollen, fruit and seed for harvest for other organisms. They absorb nutrition with the help of specialised roots instead.Įpiphytes play a critical role in the canopy ecosystem, and their moisture and nutrient retaining properties are required by many terrestrial invertebrates and lower vertebrates. They grow on other plants or trees and don't have any connection to the soil. Epiphytes are one group of plants that grow abundantly in forest canopies.

Changes or damage to any species can cause imbalance and impact the larger ecosystem, which may have long-term ecological implications. The emerging field of canopy ecology is largely associated with studying flora and fauna found high up on the treetops of tropical forests.įorest canopies support species ranging from insects to plants. One of the lesser-known components of this diverse ecosystem in India is the forest canopy. They don't just include trees and animals but also an inclusive ecosystem of various taxonomic groups. Tropical rainforests are unique ecosystems that support critical ecological functions.

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