Epiphytic CAM bromeliads indicate vulnerability of tropical forest communities to climate change.

Background And Scope: Vascular epiphytes have a variety of mechanisms to trap and retain water, including crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Niche segregation was investigated for epiphytic bromeliads on the tropical Caribbean island of Trinidad, where habitats range from lowland deciduous forests to high-rainfall montane tropical forests, ~1000 m in elevation.

Methods: Four tank-impounding bromeliad epiphytes in the genus Aechmea (Ae.

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Trinidad.

Background: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted on the Caribbean island of Trinidad to identify medicinal plants commonly used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Methods: A pilot survey was conducted to identify the top ten most common ailments where medicinal plants were used. The results of the foregoing study guided a wider national survey conducted between October 2007 and July 2008.