Comparisons of habitat types and host tree species across a threatened Caribbean orchid’s core and edge distribution

Abstract Tropical forest ecosystems are rich in epiphytes that make up a significant portion of the overall plant diversity. However, epiphytic plants often understudied due to inaccessibility and lack basic ecological information poses challenges their conservation, particularly time rapid global change. The mule-ear orchid, Trichocentrum undulatum (Orchidaceae), is large flowering epiphyte found southern Florida (USA), Greater, Lesser Antilles including Cuba. state-listed as endangered with only one remaining small declining population coastal mangrove historical extraction habitat destruction. Currently, there no systematic understanding species’ requirements. To fill this void, we compared microhabitat species on its northern distribution edge (southern Florida) core range (in Cuba). has host species, Conocarpus erectus , type. This sharp contrast 92 documented hosts 5 habitats across 8 provinces Based our findings from Cuba, suggest conservation restoration options by proposing potential suitable habitats. Proactive will help ease threat sea-level rise securing expanding margins.