Ecosystem services provided by bromeliad plants: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Ecosystem Services

Background:

• Biological diversity loss negatively impacts ecosystems and human benefits.
• Bromeliads, diverse in the Neotropics, face threats from habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and commercialization.
• Bromeliads create microecosystems supporting diverse aquatic and terrestrial species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the ecosystem services provided by bromeliads across their native Neotropical distribution.
• To identify knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions for bromeliad conservation and ecosystem service understanding.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of research on bromeliad contributions to ecosystem services.
• Analysis of studies focusing on bromeliad's role in biodiversity, nutrient cycling, water regulation, and other services.

Main Results:

• Bromeliads provide critical ecosystem services including biodiversity maintenance, community structure support, nutrient cycling, and provisioning of food and water.
• They play roles in regulating disease spread, water, and carbon cycling, with potential for pharmaceutical applications.
• Research is predominantly from Brazil; broader Neotropical studies are needed.

Conclusions:

• Bromeliads are indispensable for ecosystem functioning and provide numerous services vital to human welfare.
• Future research should prioritize overlooked provisioning, regulating, and cultural services to fully understand bromeliad contributions.
• Conservation efforts for bromeliads are essential to maintain ecosystem health and mitigate negative consequences of their loss.