View at the primary forest at La Carbonera. Before climbing Stefan Engwald shoots a thin fishing line over a thick and trustworthy branch. Then the climbing rope can be pulled up. She is demonstrating the single rope technique equipped with harness, Yumar-ascenders, clips, metal loops, and safety cords. S.Engwald 66 vascular epiphyte species and more than 1000 epiphytic individuals found S. Engwald in the crown of a sampled Decussocarpus -tree.
Scientists move from tree to tree hanging in a strong pulley, which is connected to their harness.
Ecological requirements of some frequent epiphyte species were determined and statistically proved. Another aim comprises the comparison of epiphytic plant communities in a primary cloud forest and neighbouring areas of secondary vegetation, contributing to the still very incomplete knowledge of the effects of anthropogenic alterations to one of the most important structural elements of tropical vegetation, the epiphytes. The bioindicative qualities of vascular epiphytes should be tested. Tieflandregenwaldes in Venezuela.- Dissertation.