Epiphyte diversity on coffee bushes: A management question?

We evaluated the diversity of vascular epiphytes on coffee bushes growing in shaded plantations with different management intensities in terms of the removal of epiphytes: high (all branches), moderate (some branches) and zero (no removal). We chose 160 coffee-bushes within plots with different management regimes and evaluated the species richness and abundance of the vascular epiphytes adhered to those trees. We estimated diversity (Shannon-Weaver index), and dominance (Berger-Parker index) and compared abundances. We found 20, 24 and 20 species of vascular epiphytes in the zero, moderate and high management plots, respectively. The families with greatest species richness were: ferns (5, 8, 8 spp.), orchids (7, 7, 6 spp.) and bromeliads (3, 3, 2 spp.). Abundance was statistically similar for all three management intensities, while diversity was numerically greater at moderate management intensities (1.69) and significantly smaller for intensive management (1.38) (4.28; 108; p < 0.001). Two species were exclusive to moderate management intensity plots Pleopeltis angusta var stenoloma and Anthurium scandens, Pleopeltis astrolepis was the dominant species in all management regimes (0.617, 0.532, and 0.673). High management intensity had a negative effect on epiphyte diversity. The possible impact of other factors is discussed.